A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for analysis of the contents of aerosol irritant projectors

A convenient method for the sampling and total analysis of the propellents and active agents contained in aerosol irritant projectors has been developed. A gas chromatograph equipped with a column packed with 6% Carbowax 20M on Chromosorb G and coupled to a mass spectrometer provides both quantitative and qualitative analysis for the components of a typical irritant projector. The main lachrymator, bromoacetone, represented 1.5% and the propellents dichlorodifluoromethane and trichlorofluoromethane, comprised 97.7% of the aerosol mixture.