Evaluation of Catalyst Activity - Detoxification of Chemical Warfare Agents Under Oxidation and Hydrolysis Conditions
Abstract
This project screened potential catalysts for the detoxification of chemical warfare (CW) agents by catalytic oxidation and hydrolysis under ambient conditions. TDA contacted interested researchers, who submitted their candidate catalysts directly to CUBRC (Ashford Test Site, Springville, NY). CUBRC evaluated the activity of catalysts and their ability to detoxify the chemical warfare agents GD, VX and HD. The specific focus of this test program was to screen a wide range of candidate catalyst under the same conditions using live agents. Hydrolysis catalysts were evaluated using GD and VX in buffered aqueous solution (pH 7.2). Oxidation catalysts were evaluated using VX and HD in methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) solution with a headspace of air. All samples were shaken continuously on a mechanical shaker. Aliquots were removed at time intervals of t = 0, 1, 2, 6, and 22 hours and analyzed by Electron Impact - Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (EI-GCMS) with high-resolution capillary chromatography. None of the catalysts evaluated displayed significant activity under the test conditions. However, some of these materials may display useful activity under other conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA482413
Entities
People
- Brian H Smith
- James P. Gerovac
- Meg Stapleton
- Richard Fitzpatrick
- Trudy Scholten
- William Bell