One of the major problems associated with the disposal of chemical
weapons is that the agents have degraded over time, some quite
seriously. Detecting and identifying the products of this decomposition
are necessary prerequisites to the safe, complete and environmentally
benign destruction of stockpiled weapons. The book presents and
discusses both basic and novel techniques in a variety of areas of
analytical chemistry which are relevant to achieving the ultimate
destruction of chemical weapons. Presentations address sample collection
and preparation, mass spectrometry, chromatographic techniques, NMR, and
air monitoring techniques.
The work shows that analytical methods do exist to effectively support
the destruction of chemical munitions. While further research is needed,
the book provides an excellent baseline for further advances in the
field.