Semiquantitative TLC Analysis

Matthias GIGER and Beat SCHNYDER (11/2013)

Slow detoxification of VX in water

TIME
TL C Calibration for Sarin
Terminal line

References
Sample
ng 5 1 0,5 0,1 0,05
Rf-Value = a / b
------------------------------
b = 0,47
mm 19 13 10 6 4 Identifies GB !
a Concentrations in
the extract: 1 ng / 2 l
Starting Line

l loaded 2 2 2 2 2 2
 How much Sarin is in 1 liter of Water ?

Basic informations for the calculation:

Amount extracted = 20 ml
200 ml
Water Sarin amount on TLC sheet = 5 ng
Sarin Volume of Extract on TLC sheet = 2 l

Calculations: Answers:
Concentration in ng / l ? 2.5 ng/l
Amount of Sarin in g in 20 ml 2.5 ng x 20000
(20000 l) of the extract? = 50000 ng = 50 g
Amount of Sarin in mg in 1 liter of water? 50 g x 5 = 250 g
(we have extracted 200 ml = 1/5 of a liter) (0.25 mg / L)
 Threshold values for Nerve Agents
in potable water
Cold war threshold for water <0.02 mg/L

STANAG Arsenic
Cyanide Threshold for
2136 Values S- and N-Mustard
Nerve Agents
potable water

Arsenic
Cyanide Threshold for
S- and N-Mustard
Nerve Agents
preparation of
water
STANAG 2136: Minimum Standards
of Water Potability (NATO Standards)
What is here the problem?

Merging
Spots!

What can
you do?

DILUTE THE
EXTRACT!!

REFERENCES SAMPLES