Catalytic Degradation of Methylphosphonic Acid Using Iron Powder/Iron Oxides

Abstract

The catalytic degradation of methylphosphonic acid, the final hydrolysis product of some nerve agents, using Fe, Fe2O3, FePO4 and Al/Al2O3 was studied by evolved gas analysis - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (EGA-FTIR) under nitrogen, air and oxygen atmospheres. All of the compounds catalysed the reaction to some extent (in comparison to heating MPA alone) with Fe2O3 being the best catalyst with carbon-containing gases evolving at 375 C under all atmospheres. Temperatures of formation of carbon containing gases using the other catalysts were 400-450 C for Fe, 400-425 C for FePO4 and ca. 510 C for Al/Al2O3. There is some evidence that Fe and Fe2O3 reacted with MPA to form an iron phosphate species, which further catalysed the reaction although to a lesser extent.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA462794

Entities

People

  • Gary Mathys
  • Harry Rose
  • John Webb
  • Joseph J. Moniodis
  • Robert Mathews

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aluminum Oxides
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Chemistry
  • Gas Evolution
  • Infrared Spectroscopy
  • Iron Oxides
  • Metal Oxides
  • Nerve Agents
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Oxides
  • Oxygen
  • Spectra
  • Spectroscopy
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Powder metallurgy of Titanium alloys.