YELLOW RAIN-ANALYSIS EVALUATION OF WHITE POWDERS-ANALYSIS EVALUATION OF PAPER DATE 841106

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00037505
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2017
• Case Number: F-2012-01432
• Publication Date: November 19, 1984

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alytical Research DiVi5i0i
Research Directorate
Analysis/Evaluation of White Powders
6,1 ,
19 Nov 84
A shipment designated 10027PPPP was received by the
Analytical Research Division 13 December 1983 from FSTC.
The shipment was identified with TH831117-1XX. No
identification was made, of the four subsamples. No
information was available concerning the samples.
Subsamples 10027PPPP-1 and -2 consisted of white powders,
each individually containerized in plastic bags.
10027PPPP-1 weighed approximately 200 g and 10027PPPP-2
weighed approximately 50 g. (Figure 1). A spot report has
previously been issued on these samples.
Vapor samples withdrawn from within each bag of powder
were subjected to analysis by gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry (GC/MS). Portions of each powder sample
leached in chloroform formed a gel. Portions leached in 1:1
methanol:water did not gel. The solvent soluble materials
were analyzed by GC/MS, ion chromatography (IC), thin layer
chromatography (TLC), and infrared spectrometry(IR).
Portions of each neat powder were analyzed by Atomic
Absorption spectroscopy (AA).
10027PPPP-1
The GC/MS spectra of the vapor associated with the
powder identified the major components as hexanoic acid and
heptanoic acid. Minor components detected included octanoic
acid, methyl naphthalene, toluene, benzaldehyde and
t-butyl-isobutyl hydroxytoluene. The GC/MS spectra of the
chloroform solubles identified the presence of propanoic,
pentanoic, hexanoic and octanoic acids, their aldehydes, and
aliphatic hydrocarbons from C25 to C30. IC was negative for
all ions. No components were separated by TLC.
Derivatization with negative ion chemical ionization MS
detection for trichothcenes was negative. IR spectra
identified the presence of the aluminum salts of hexanoic
and octanoic acids. Elemental analysis by AA detected 7.89$
aluminum.
Classified b : CIA
Declassify: OADR
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10027PPPP-2
The GC/MS spectra of the vapors associated with the
powder identified only traces of xylenes. The GC/MS spectra
of the ch3oroform solubles identified .the presence of
hexanoic and octanoic acids. IC detected no ions. No
components were separated by TLC. Derivatization with
negative ion chemical ionization MS detection for
trichothecenes was negative. IR spectra identified the
presence of the aluminum salts of hexanoic and octanoic
acids Elemental analysis by AA detected 8.75S aluminum.
Conclusions
No evidence of any known CW agents, agent degradation
products, or trichothecenes was detected. The detection of
hexanoic, heptanoic and octanoic acids and related compounds
with approximately 8% aluminum agrees with the-formulation
of the M-4 thickener for Napalm. Each of these powders is a
diacid aluminum soap of octanoic acids used in the M-4
formulation.
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Analytical Research Division
Research Directorate
06 Nov 84
Analysis/Evaluation of Paper
A shipment designated 10027PPPP was received by the
Analyti,-al Research Division 13 December 1983 from FSTC The
shipment was identifiecl with TH831117-1XX. No
identificationwas made 'of the four subsamples. No
Information Was available concerning the samples.
Subsamples 10027PPPP-1 and -2 have previously been
identified and reported. Samples 10027PPPP-3 and -4 each
consisted of paper containerized in a wide mouth screw top
glass jar. 10027PPPP-3 was shredded paper,-4 was -e folded
piece of paper with Thai writing on it (Figure 1).
Vapor samples withdrawn from within each jar containing
paper were subjected to analysis by gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry (GC/MS). Portions of each _paper sample were
leached in chloroform. Other portions of each were leached
in 1:1 methanol:water. The solvent soluble materials were
analyzed by GC/M51 ion chromatography (1C), thin layer
Chromatography (TLC), and infrared spectrometry(1R).
10027PPPP-3
The GC/MS spectra of the vapor associated with the paper
Identified the major components as o-creso: and three
isomers of dimethyl phenol. Minor components detected
included benzaldehyde, phenol, benzonitrtle, methyl
heptanoate, p-cresol, aceLophenone, methyl benzoate and
methyl octanoate. The chloroform soluble materials did not
give a definitive GC/MS spectra. IC was negative for all
ions. No components were separated by TLC. Derivatization
with negative ion chemical ionization MS detection for
trichothcenes was negative. IR spectra identified the
presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons, a carbonyl at 1720 cm-1,
and possibly pctassium nitrate, C-00 cellulose and inorganic
Si licate.
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10027PPPP- 4
The CC/ M'i pee,�1, of the vapors associated with the
folded papers ide..ntafied methyl hexinorte as the major
component. Mino: components detected included hexane
nitrile, acetic acid, furanccrboxaldehyde (2-fura1dehydc),
ethyl ether, xytene and possibly ethyl hexanoate. The
chloroform soluble, did not give a definitive GC/MS �pectrs.
IC detected co ions. No components were sepn71110iv TLC.
Derivatization with negative ion chemi....e!
detection for trichothecenes was negc.;...
identified the presen.c.e, of alipha, a
carbonyl and possibly C-0:
Conclusions
No evidence of any known CW agents, t_gradation
products, or trichothecenes was detected. the detection of
hexanoic, heptanoic and octanoic acid esters could be
related to :he identification of 10027PPPP-1 and -2 as
diacid aluminum soaps of octanoic acids. it is possible
that the papers were in contact with the other two samples.
without any information about the samples, no further
conclusions can be drawn from the analyses.
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