Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants Utilizing Pyrolyzed Cotton Balls as Wicks

Abstract

A simple method to improve the thermal decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants is reported. Utilizing pyrolyzed cotton balls as a substrate for the delivery of an incendiary agent into a bulk volume of chemical warfare agent simulants, significant enhancements in the burning rates were achieved with respect to either other wicks or the incendiary agent by itself. To perform the decomposition experiments and follow the reaction in real time, while still addressing the important safety considerations related to experiments involving chemical warfare agent simulants and incendiary agents, a simple instrument was assembled in a laboratory hood, where all experiments were performed. Under ambient conditions, this method was able to enhance the decomposition of simulants for both sulfur mustard (HD) and sarin (GB) chemical warfare agents. Overall, the proposed approach represents one of the simplest and more cost-effective ways to improve the decomposition of these dangerous substances, presenting options for field expedient and low-cost processes that could be applied in the near future to the safe destruction of an actual CWA.

Capture and Decomposition of the Nerve Agent Simulant, DMCP, Using the Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF-8)

“…G-type agents can bind to material surfaces through physical and chemical interactions . Recent focus on solid reactive adsorbents has paved the route to the fundamental research of novel decontamination materials. , For example, polymers, polymer gels, textiles, metal oxides, activated carbons, covalent organic frameworks, and other hybrid materials have shown promise for the removal and decontamination of CWAs. − Studies of nerve agent chemistry and materials for their filtration and decomposition have substantially increased in laboratories by the utilization of simulants that have similar functionalities to agents but are safer and readily available with much lower acute toxicity than the live agents. Typical simulants for GB nerve agent are dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP), dimethyl chlorophosphonate (DMCP), and dimethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP) (Figure S1, Supporting Information, SI).…”

A continuous flow generator of organic hypochlorites for the neutralization of chemical warfare agent simulants

“…The most common destruction of HD is through incineration at dedicated facilities, 29 which comes with significant safety concerns associated with its transportation. An emerging and inherently safer strategy relies on a chemical decontamination to form less toxic compounds prior to incineration.…”