Hydrogen peroxide-based decontamination of chemical warfare agents

Abstract

Chemical warfare agents (CWA) are rapidly decontaminated using a hydrogen peroxide-based decontamination solution. In the weakly-basic decontaminant (pH 8) – activated and buffered with bicarbonate, molybdate, and citrate – nerve agents such as VX and GD undergo perhydrolysis (OOH $^{-}$ ) whereas the blister agent HD is catalytically oxidized, primarily, by tetraperoxomolybdate [Mo(OO) $_{4}^{2-}$ ] to the non-vesicant sulfoxide. The decontaminant, once mixed, exhibits remarkable stability, maintaining efficacy (pot-life) for at least 12 h. On non-sorptive, non-porous surfaces such as aluminum, the decontaminant decontaminates VX, GD, and HD to below acceptable levels (i.e., < 0.078, 1.67, and 10.0 μg/cm $^{2}$ , respectively).