Sulfur mustard, decontamination oxidation

Sulfur mustards are oxidized with strong oxidants and are hydrolyzed with alkali, generally producing reaction products that are less toxic. Reactions with chlorine or chlorinating agents such as NaOCl or Ca(OCl)2 yield nontoxic products. This reaction is suitable to inactivate and decontaminate sulfur mustards. The physical, chemical, and toxic properties of mustard gas and a few selective compounds of this class are outline below. 

Under environmental conditions, CWAs (vesicant agents, sulfur mustard (H, HD and HT) and lewisite (L) nerve agents, GA, GB, GD and VX) can undergo multiple-degradation processes such as hydrolysis, oxidation, dehydration and photolysis. These baseline degradation reactions can vary in rate and completeness, depending upon reaction temperature and pH, as well as the presence of free radicals and catalysts. Knowledge of these baseline reaction parameters has formed the basis for many modern decontamination procedures. 

Prasad, G.K., Mahato, T.H., Singh, B., et al., 2007a. Decontamination of sulfur mustard on manganese oxide nanostructures. AIChE J. 53 (6), 1562-1567. 

Three types of chemical mechanisms have been used for decontamination water/soap wash oxidation and acid/base hydrolysis.9 Mustard (HD) and the persistent nerve agent VX contain sulfur molecules that are readily subject to oxidation reactions. VX and the other nerve agents (tabun [GA], sarin [GB], soman [GD], and GF) contain phosphorus groups that can be hydrolyzed. Therefore, most chemical decontaminants are designed to oxidize mustard and VX and to hydrolyze nerve agents (VX and the G series).1 Water and Water/Soap Wash... 

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