Improvement of the procedure for bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide determination in matrices with high sorption activity

A rapid, unified, highly sensitive and selective procedure for bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide (sulfur mustard, SM) determination in matrices with high sorption activity using gas chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was developed. Ceramic tile, concrete, various types of bricks and polymers were studied as objects of the analysis. The parameters for the GC-MS/MS determination of SM were optimized. The efficiency of five solvents (diethyl ether, 2-chloropropane, acetonitrile, hexane, and acetone) for the extraction of SM from the various matrices was studied. 2-chloropropane was the extraction solvent of choice. The developed procedure is based on the extraction of SM from the matrix and the concentration of the extract under the stream of nitrogen to 0.2 mL followed by GC-MS/MS analysis. The LODs for SM in all investigated matrices were 0.7-0.9 ng/g (0.007-0.009 MPC). The long-term stability of SM in various materials was studied. It was shown that in brick, concrete and ceramic samples the residual amount of SM after five months of storage at 4°C was below the LOD of the method, while in polymer samples under the same storage condition the amount of SM has not changed significantly. The developed procedure has been applied to the analysis of samples from the former chemical weapons destruction facility.