Research Highlights

Technology Performance Summary: Truetech M18A3 Kit for Toxic Industrial Chemicals

All Hazards Receipt Facilities (AHRFs) were developed to prescreen for chemical, radiochemical, and explosive hazards in samples collected during suspected terrorist attacks. The technologies used in AHRFs are intended to screen samples prior to a full analysis, helping protect responders, laboratory workers, and others from potential injury.

Evaluations of these technologies are summarized in the technology evaluation report, Testing of Screening Technologies for Detection of Toxic Industrial Chemicals in All Hazards Receipt Facilities. The toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) included in the report were chosen because they might be used during, or develop as a by-product from, a terrorist attack.

The screening technologies are intended:

• To be rapid and qualitative
• To be simple to use and of relatively low cost
• To indicate if samples contain hazardous chemicals of concern.

Not all of the technologies evaluated were deemed suitable for the AHRF, although they might be useful for responders on the scene.

Technology Evaluated: Truetech M18A3 Kit

Sample Types Evaluated for Indication of: Hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, and phosgene in vapor.

Conclusions:
The Truetech M18A3 Kit:

• Reliably detected hydrogen cyanide in vapor (i.e., 100% accuracy).
• Reliably detected phosgene in vapor expect at high temperature and relative humidity conditions (defined in Table 1, footnote b).
• Did not reliably detect cyanogen chloride in vapor.
• Typically responded (color change) within minutes; however, some color changes were difficult to distinguish.
• Uses a relatively complex procedure (for some analytes) of breaking tube, inserting into bulb, drawing sample, and then adding reagent to tube.
• Repeated use can cause ends of tubes to shred bulb orifice, which causes blockage and potential leak problems.

Technology Description and Requirements: This technology uses color-indicating tubes to detect the presence of TICs. A hand pump draws air through the tubes, with 60 compressions of the pump providing the required sample volume within several minutes.

Testing Methodology and Results: Testing was conducted with one TIC at a time. The tested gases were generated by diluting a commercially obtained compressed gas standard. To evaluate the technology, a flow of clean air passed through the clean air plenum, and an equal flow of air containing the target TIC passed through another plenum: the challenge plenum. The instrument was connected to a 4-way valve, through which clean air or the tested gas flowed before being vented into a chemical laboratory hood. The technology was first exposed to the clean air flow. After this, the 4-way valve was switched to the challenge plenum to deliver the TIC gas. The sequence of exposure to clean air followed by exposure to the TIC gas was carried out three times in succession. This sequence was followed for each TIC and condition identified in Table 1. For this evaluation, a hydrocarbon mixture interferent was added to the blank, or TIC gas, at a ratio of 1:100 interferent mix to air flow.

Table 1: Summary of Truetech M18A3 Kit Test Results

^aA hydrocarbon mixture was used as the interferent.
^bTemperature and relative humidity conditions for vapor tests were: Base = 20 °C and 50% relative humidity, Low = 10 °C and 20% relative humidity, and High = 30 °C and 80% relative humidity.
^cAEGL = Acute Exposure Guide Level and TEEL = Temporary Emergency Exposure Limit.
^dThe instrument did not correctly identify phosgene at high temperature and relative humidity conditions.

Contact: Eric Koglin

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