Oxidative Decontamination

Abstract

A review concerning decontamination mechanisms for civilian facilities subjected to a terrorist incident involving chem. or biol. agents, particularly VX, is given. These facilities will, of necessity, be re-occupied for long periods of time without protective equipment. The gelled solution of the com. oxidizer, Oxone, was the chosen reagent for oxidative decontamination, to protonate the amine- in VX to a quaternary ammonium ion. The gelled oxone decontaminating reagent generally met requirements for application in civilian facilities. Topics discussed include: rationale for oxidative approach; surrogates (dichlorophenyl phosphate, chloroethyl ethylsufide, amiton); and gel selection (experiments with gelled oxone).