Application of hydrogen bond acidic polycarbosilane polymers and solid phase microextraction for the collection of nerve agent simulant /

by Boglarski, Stephen L

Title: Application of Hydrogen Bond Acidic Polycarbosilane Polymers and Solid-Phase Microextraction for the Collection of Nerve Agent Simulant Stephen L. Boglarski, Master of Science in Public Health, 2006 Directed By: Gary L. Hook, CDR, USN Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is used to conduct analyses for trace levels of nerve agent. Measurements can be improved by using a SPME polymer coating that is selective for nerve agents in place of current commercial polymers. This research focuses on three hydrogen bond acidic polymers developed by the Naval Research Laboratory that have an increased affinity for nerve agents. These polymers were coated onto fused silica fibers using three methods: dip coating, applicator coating, and ink jet coating. Vapor and aqueous phase sampling of nerve agent simulant was conducted to evaluate the performance of these polymers. The hydrogen bond acidic polymers showed significantly higher uptakes than commercial polymers and were able to detect vapor phase nerve agent simulant at 0.005 mg/m3 for a 1 minute sample and aqueous phase simulant at 1 ppm for a 10 minute sample. The use of these polymers with SPME extraction has the potential to provide rapid field sampling for the detection of trace levels of nerve agent. iii