Overall, chemical warfare agents pose a significant threat to human health and can cause a range of symptoms from irritation to death. It is important for law enforcement agencies and military personnel to have the knowledge and tools necessary to detect and prevent exposure to these harmful substances. Blistering agents, also known as vesicants, are chemical warfare agents that cause skin blisters, eye damage, and respiratory damage. These agents are typically oily liquids that can persist on surfaces for extended periods. Exposure to blistering agents can result in severe burns, lung damage, and even death. Irritant agents, on the other hand, cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. These agents are less lethal than nerve agents and blistering agents but can still cause significant harm to individuals exposed to them. Irritant agents include substances like chlorine gas, phosgene gas, and tear gas.
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) is a reliable and widely used analytical technique for the identification of blistering agents and irritants. HPTLC separates the individual components of a mixture, making it possible to identify specific blistering agents and irritants based on their characteristic retention factor (RF) values. In this case study, we have transferred the initial TLC method to HPTLC for the detection of six blistering agents and irritants HD, TTA, CS, CN, CA and CB.