Temporal Stability of Solid Oxidizers at High Temperature and Humidity
Abstract
Chemical Warfare/Biological Warfare (CW/BW) decontamination operations may rely on aqueous solutions prepared from stored solid oxidizers. Needed are data defining the shipboard storage stability of candidate oxidizers. Therefore, the stability of a series of potential decontaminants has been examined at high temperature (90 + C) and humidity (95 + % R.H.). The loss of oxidizing capacity in aliquots of the oxidizers was followed with time by iodometric titration. Calcium hypochlorite lost over 99% of its oxidizing capacity in less than two days, whereas lithium hypochlorite retained one-third oxidizing capacity for approximately twenty days. Sodium perborate, and sodium persulfate were very hygroscopic and unstable with time. H-48 decomposed in approximately two days, while sodium isocyanurate lost about 80% of its oxidizing capacity in two weeks. The data presented documents severe stability problems of one sort or another with all the materials tested, although overall the sodium isocyanurate appeared to be the more stable candidate undr extreme conditions. In any case, packaging and storage considerations are shown to be important for any potential decontaminant to be stored under environmentally severe conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA159735
Entities
People
- D. A. Dotson
- R. E. Pellenbarg
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory