Thermophysical treatment technologies for chemical warfare agents sulfur mustard, sarin, and Venomous Agent X - A Review

Abstract

Over the past few decades, technical advances have been made in the destruction of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) due to an enhanced understanding of reaction chemistries. This review focuses on summarizing the deactivation of the following CWAs: sulfur mustard (HD), sarin (GB), and Venomous Agent X (VX). This review includes multiple aspects of the agents, such as chemical/physical properties, lethal doses, and common surrogates. However, the primary focus of the review is on various thermophysical approaches to deactivate these harmful chemical agents. Conventional deactivation technologies such as incineration and neutralization, are discussed along with advanced approaches, such as wet air oxidation, catalytic and metal-organic frameworks (MOF) treatments. The review indicates that all three agents can be destroyed to nearly 100% Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE) with incineration, but with a high cost and large energy demand and only at secure established facilities. Several countries have used incineration to reduce large volumes of CWA stockpiles. Other neutralization, wet air oxidation, and supercritical oxidation technologies are demonstrated at lab and pilot-scale levels to achieve 98-99.99% DRE depending on the operating conditions. Other relatively new technologies, such as catalytic deactivation and treatment on MOF, can achieve 70-100% but are still at the embryonic or laboratory development stage. Deactivation of CWAs with MOFs shows high degradation potential achieve 100% DRE, but it may not be suitable for large volumes. Catalyst and MOF treatment may be suitable for small volume CWA deactivation. However further development and demonstrations are required.