CHARACTERIZATION OF LACHRYMATORS BY AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE ION MOBILITY SPECTROMETRY

Current methods for the detection of tear gas residues require extensi ve sample preparation before spectral measurement. This contrasts with the present work in which a new detection method for the active ingre dients of CN (alpha-chloroacetophenone), CS (2-chlorobenzylidenemalono nitrile), and pepper sprays (capsaicin and crude pepper extracts) base d on ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure ion mobility spectromet ry has been developed. The minimum determinable limits were: alpha-chl oroacetophenone 0.1 mu g, 2-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile 25 mg, and cayenne pepper 5 mg. These limits were dependent on the vapor pressure , proton affinity and electronegativity of the target molecule.