Thermophysical treatment technologies for chemical warfare agents sulfur mustard, sarin, and nerve agent VX – 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 nerve agent X (VX). This review includes multiple aspects of the agents, including chemical and 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, including 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 at a high cost and with a significant 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 98–100% DRE depending on the operating conditions. Other relatively new technologies, such as catalytic deactivation and treatment using MOF, can achieve 70–100% efficiency but are still in the embryonic or laboratory development stage. Deactivation of CWAs with MOFs exhibit high degradation potential, reaching 100% DRE, but it may not be suitable for large volumes. Catalyst and MOF treatment may be ideal for deactivating small-volume CWA. However, further development and demonstrations are required.