IDENTIFICATION OF STABLE PHOSPHORUS-CONTAINING COMBUSTION BY-PRODUCTSBY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS SPECTROMETRY PRECEDED BY DERIVATIZATION/

The technique of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry preceded by trim ethylsilyl derivatization has been applied to identify combustion bypr oducts from a premixed CH4/O-2/N-2 flame doped with dimethyl methylpho sphonate, a simulant for organophosphorus chemical warfare agents. The following species or their derivatization products were detected: dim ethyl methylphosphonate, methyl methyphosphonate, dimethyl phosphate, monomethyl phosphate, methylphosphonic acid, orthophosphoric acid, pho sphorous acid, and phosphonic acid. Reference mass spectra are provide d for three of these species. Tests indicate that mixtures of these sp ecies did not participate in interchange reactions during sampling and analysis. Remaining to be investigated are the fate of reactive compo unds from the flame, the possibility of reactions other than interchan ge reactions, and the possibility of losses of stable compounds at var ious points in the sampling and analysis procedure.