Decontamination of chemical, biological and nuclear CBN agents

Metal oxide nanoparticles such as MgO, and ZnO, have been 

Chen et al. (2009) functionahzed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers so as to enable their use in the development of self-detoxifying chemical protection fabrics. The authors reacted PAN nanofibers with excess of hydroxylamine in methanol at 70 °C. The oximation of the nanofiber mats resnlted in the formation of polyaciylamidoxime on the snrface of the fibers. The authors proved that the functionalized nanofibers snccessfully hydrolyzed diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) in the presence of water. The rate constant of the pseudo-first order reactions was found to increase with the presence of water in the nanofiber mats. According to the authors, the water in the mats facihtates the nucleophilic attack of amidoximes to accelerate the decomposition of DFP.  

Results from a study using live mustard agent showed that the dry wipe was able to adsorb the off-gassing mustard vapors better than the particulate activated carbon and M291 reactive adsorbent substrate. In addition, this wipe performed better in its material compatibility characteristics with strong acids and bases. Another study has proven that the dry decontamination wipe is capable of adsorbing vapors from organophosphorus compoimds like methyl parathion.  

Fibertect decontamination product is available in different forms of varying sizes, as shown in Table 12.3.  

1 Fibertect mitt being used to wipe away the bulk toxic liquid (First Line Technology, LLC, Chantilly, VA, USA). 

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