Further studies into the feasibility of using aqueous alum solutions in the destruction of VX

Issue title: Sensing and Destroying Chemical Weapons and Pesticides Based on the Symposium at the 238th American Chemical Society Meeting Washington DC, USA, August 18–19, 2009

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Williams, Daniel J.^; | Creasy, William R. | Fry, Roderick A. | Bevilacqua, Vicky L.H. | Durst, H. Dupont

Affiliations: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA | Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood, MD, USA | SAIC, Gunpowder Branch, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Edgewood, MD, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The destruction of phosphorus based chemical warfare agents using aqueous buffer mixtures of aluminum sulfate (alum) and sodium aluminate is pursued. The production of VX (O-ethyl-S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl]-methylphos-phonothiolate) hydrolysis products ethyl methyl phosphonic acid (EMPA), an aluminum complex of EMPA, and S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl]methylphosphonothiolate (EA-2192) is characterized in acidic and basic alum buffers. The study employs ^{31}P high resolution magic angle nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HRMAS NMR) for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The acidic buffer results in a slower reaction rate and is less effective than the basic buffer.

Keywords: Aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminate, VX, EMPA, EA-2192, [TeX:] ^{31}P HRMAS NMR

DOI: 10.3233/MGC-2010-0030

Journal: Main Group Chemistry, vol. 9, no. 3-4, pp. 309-314, 2010