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2282139 
Journal Article 
Detection of Carbon Disulphide (a Disulfiram metabolite) in Expired Air by Gas Chromatography 
Wells, J; Koves, E 
1974 
1 
Journal of Chromatography
ISSN: 0021-9673 
NIOSH/00132678 
92 
2 
442-444 
English 
4836244 
A method for the detection of carbon-disulphide (75150) (CS2) in breath by gas chromatography was developed and tested. Three milliliters of a 5 percent solution of diethylamine in acetone were placed in a bubbler, and expired air was bubbled through the solution. After five expirations, the solution was transferred into a 15 milliliter (ml) centrifuge tube and six drops of methyl-iodide were added. The solution was reduced almost to dryness with a stream of nitrogen, then 2ml of distilled water were added followed by three drops of 3 Normal sulfuric-acid and approximately 1ml butyl-chloride. The mixture was shaken for 1 minute and then centrifuged. The upper organic layer was evaporated with a stream of dry nitrogen. The residue was taken up and injected into the gas chromatograph. The basis of the method was the formation of the methyl ester of diethyldithiocarbamic-acid (686077). This methyl ester was detected in submicrogram quantities by a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. The authors conclude that the quantitative estimation of CS2 in breath is possible if fixed volumes of alveolar air can be collected.