YELLOW RAIN-ANALYSIS EVALUATION OF YELLOW POWDER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00037498
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2017
• Case Number: F-2012-01432
• Publication Date: September 20, 1984

Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 000037498
ANALYTICAL RESEARCH DIVISION
RESEARCH DIRECTORATE
20 September 1984
Analysis/Evaluation of Yellow Powder
A shipment desinnated 10027Y(3), idantified with TH830513-36CL, was received
by the Analytical Research Division, 3 June 1983, from FSTC. The shipment
was containerized it those designated 10027Y(3), 10027!:(3), 10027X(3) and
100271(3) carrying the Registry ;to. C-115-33. The sample con-
sisted of mg of yellow powder fo1d2d into a piece of paper
in a plastic container from a charcoal sampler (Figure 1).
A vapor samp.:e withdrawn from within the plastic container was subjected to
analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/HS). A-portion of the
powder was extracted with chloroform. Another portion of the powder was
extracted with 1:7! methanol:water. The solvent soluble materials were analyzed
by GC/MS, ion chromatography (IC), thin layer chromatooraphy (TLC) and
infrared spectrometry (IR). The GC/NS spectra of the vapors associated with the
yellow powder identified the presence of 1,2 dimethy1-4 (phenyl methyl):
benzene cz as the major component, with aliphatic hydro-
carbons including n-pentadecane, 5-phenyl decane, 6-phenyldecane and an
unidentified compound Ma = 71, 143. 242 as minor components. The GC/MS spectra
of the chloroform solubles identified phenacetin as the major component with
phenol, ethyl salicylate, caffeine and C25 and C27 aliphatic hydrocarbons
as minor components. IC detected a possible trace of cyanide. TIC separated
six components, one a visual dark spot, Rf 0.50-0.66. The others were detected
by reaction with o-anisaldehyde yielding purple spots at Rf 0.30-0.39,
0.44-0.50, 0.80-0.91, 0.83-0.86 and beige at 0.ES-0.66. The purple reaction
products are similar to those detected in reference vegetation samples. The
beige spot could be related to a trichothecene or similar structure. GC
separations did not yield retention times matching beeswax. IR spectra indicated
a very complex mixture including aliphatic hydrocarbons, two carbonyls with
bands at 1715 and 1730 cm-1, possible nitrates, aromatics, C-0 and phosphoryl.
Due to the overlay of bands, positive identification was virtually impossible -
for these components.
Conclusions:
No evidence of any known CW agent, agent degradation product or trichothecene
was detected. The phenacetin detected is used as an analgesic and antipyretic.
The ethyl salicylate and phenol are normal components of the marketed
analgesic mixture.
Declassify: OADR
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 C00037498A-Alfi
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