Di-isopropyl methyl phosphonate (DIMP) has no major commercial uses but is a by-product or a precursor in the synthesis of the nerve agent sarin (GB). Also, DIMP is utilized as a simulant compound for the chemical warfare agents sarin and soman in order to test and calibrate sensitive IMS instrumentation that warns against the deadly chemical weapons. DIMP was measured from 2 ppbv (15 μg m-3) to 500 ppbv in the air using a pocket-held ToF ion mobility spectrometer, model LCD-3.2E, with a non-radioactive ionization source and ammonia doping in positive ion mode. Excellent sensitivity (LoD of 0.24 ppbv and LoQ of 0.80 ppbv) was noticed; the linear response was up to 10 ppbv, while saturation occurred at >500 ppbv. DIMP identification by IMS relies on the formation of two distinct peaks: the monomer M·NH4+, with a reduced ion mobility K0 = 1.41 cm2 V-1 s-1, and the dimer M2·NH4+, with K0 = 1.04 cm2 V-1 s-1 (where M is the DIMP molecule); positive reactant ions (Pos RIP) have K0 = 2.31 cm2 V-1 s-1. Quantification of DIMP at trace levels was also achieved by GC-MS over the concentration range of 1.5 to 150 μg mL-1; using a capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm) with a TG-5 SilMS stationary phase and temperature programming from 60 to 110 °C, DIMP retention time (RT) was ca. 8.5 min. The lowest amount of DIMP measured by GC-MS was 1.5 ng, with an LoD of 0.21 μg mL-1 and an LoQ of 0.62 μg mL-1 DIMP. Our results demonstrate that these methods provide robust tools for both on-site and off-site detection and quantification of DIMP at trace levels, a finding which has significant implications for forensic investigations of chemical agent use and for environmental monitoring of contamination by organophosphorus compounds.

Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering Babeș Bolyai University RO 400294 Cluj Napoca Romania

Nuclear Biological and Chemical Defence Institute University of Defence Vita Nejedleho 1 682 03 Vyskov Czech Republic

Raluca Ripan Institute for Research in Chemistry Babeş Bolyai University RO 400294 Cluj Napoca Romania

Transcend SRL RO 400568 Cluj Napoca Romania

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