Formation of 2-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS riot control agent) thermal degradation products at elevated temperatures

Authors

Timothy A. Kluchinsky, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Michael Sheely, United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine
Paul B B. Savage, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Philip A. Smith, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Date of this Version

1-28-2002

Citation

Journal of Chromatography A, 952 (2002) 205–213

Abstract

2-Chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS riot control agent) has been shown to produce a number of thermal degradation products when dispersed at high temperature.We hypothesized that these CS-derived compounds are formed by energy input from heating during the dispersion process. Here we identified organic CS-derived compounds formed from purified CS subjected to temperatures ranging from 300 to 900 degrees C in an inert atmosphere with analysis of tube furnace effluent by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. We conclude that the production of many CS-derived compounds previously observed during high-temperature dispersion is likely to be heat related.