Detection of Pyrolyzed CW Simulant and Agents by Phosphate Fluorescence Quench

摘要

An effort was made to expand the capability of the E40 alarm, which detects pyrolyzed GB by fluoride fluorescence quench, to the detection of nerve gases as a class, by indirectly detecting phosphorus. To achieve this objective, it was necessary to improve the efficiency of transport of phosphorus simulants to the detection system and to develop a fluorescent chelate system sufficiently sensitive to detect trace amounts of agent pyrolysis products. Addition of steam to the sample stream of pyrolyzed triethylphosphate (TEP), a CW simulant, resulted in doubling the amount of phosphorus transported to the fluorescent tape. The fluorescent aluminum-morin was the most sensitive chelate found for phosphate detection and was quenched 25% by a solution of 0.5 micrograms of phosphoric acid. A highly sensitive quantitative method for phosphate was developed utilizing the fluorescent quench principle. Upon the pyrolysis of 12 micrograms of TEP, a strong signal was obtained in 10 seconds after reaching the fluorescent tape. However, while still giving a strong signal, 5.50 micrograms of TEP required a two minute reaction time to give approximately the same amount of quench. The lengthy time delay before obtaining an adequate signal was cause to conclude the method unfeasible for incorporation in a shipboard alarm and work on this approach has consequently been terminated. (Author)