All-Weather Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Decontamination of CBRN Contaminants

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research 2010-04, Vol.49 (7), p.3099-3105
• Main Authors: Wagner, George W., Procell, Lawrence R., Sorrick, David C., Lawson, Glenn E., Wells, Claire M., Reynolds, Charles M., Ringelberg, David B., Foley, Karen L., Lumetta, Gregg J., Blanchard, David L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 08 HYDROGEN; Applied Chemistry; Applied sciences; BACILLUS; BORATES; BRASSICA; Chemical engineering; CHEMICAL WARFARE SAMPLES; CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROMETRY; DECONTAMINATION; DEGRADATION-PRODUCTS; DETOXIFICATION; Exact sciences and technology; HEAT SOURCES; HYDROGEN; NERVE AGENT VX; OXIDATION; REACTION KINETICS; REMOVAL; SARIN; SULFUR MUSTARD; WATER; WEAPONS
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/ie9019177

A hydrogen peroxide-based decontaminant, Decon Green, is efficacious for the decontamination of chemical agents VX (S-2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate), GD (Soman, pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate), and HD (mustard, bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide); the biological agent anthrax (Bacillus anthracis); and radiological isotopes 137Cs and 60Co; thus demonstrating the ability of this decontamination approach to ameliorate the aftermath of all three types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Reaction mechanisms afforded for the chemical agents are discussed as are rationales for the enhanced removal efficacy of recalcitrant 60Co on certain surfaces. Decontaminants of this nature can be deployed, and are effective, at very low temperatures (−32 °C), as shown for studies done with VX and HD simulants, without the need for external heat sources. Finally, the efficacy of a lower-logistics, dry decontaminant powder concentrate (utilizing the solid active-oxygen compounds peracetyl borate and Peroxydone) which can be reconstituted with water in the field prior to use, is presented.