Degradation of Sulfur Mustard on Moist Sand as Determined by¹³C Solid‐State Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Abstract

The degradation of sulfur mustard, bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide, on three types of moist sand at 228C and 358C was followed using 13 C solid statemagic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (SSMAS NMR). The sulfur mustard degraded completely on moist sand within 8 weeks at 228C and 1 week at 358C, whereas degradation on dry sand at 228C required more than 6 weeks. The major product, the toxic sulfonium ion H-2TG, and the minor product, nontoxic thiodiglycol, were detected on all sand samples. The intermediate chlorohydrin was detected on one sand at 228C, and evidence for the intermediates CH-TG and H-TG was detected on this same sand at 358C. The H-2TG that was initially formed degraded to thiodiglycol; completion of this degradation would require months. The lack of reaction on the ambient substrates, plus the formation of sulfonium ions, similar to the products that were previously seen in water and on moist soil, suggested that the sand functioned as a support on which the reaction between sulfur mustard and water occurred.