Photostability of Dyes Used for Sprayed Chemical Agent Simulants

摘要

Polyethylene glycol 200 and water mixtures are used as training aids for field exercises. To train troops in accepted methods of decontamination, simulated aerial spray per unit area is determined by collecting in a sampling pan the aerial spray of a known area and washing the collected material with a known volume of water. The intensity of absorption of the collected material, measured photometrically, is related to a mass of dyed aerial spray. If the dye is sensitive to sunlight, fading or photodecomposition occurs and leads to erroneous measurement of the mass of aerial spray collected. This investigation studied various potential dyes for their photostability and their potential use as color for aerial spray simulants.