Experimental and numerical study of spread and sorption of VX sessile droplets into medium grain-size sand.
The experimental measurement and modeling of liquid chemical agent spread and sorption on a porous substrate are described. Experimental results with the nerve agent O-ethyl S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothiolate (VX) demonstrate that the wetted imprint volume increases, even after the sessile drop volume is exhausted. This indicates the wetted imprint is only partially saturated, and a multiphase flow problem formulation is needed to predict the VX fate in porous substrates. Three characteristics and their changes in time: (i) sessile volume remaining, (ii) wetted imprint area on the sand surface where the droplet is deposited, and (iii) VX penetration depth into sand, are computed numerically and compared to experimentally measured values. A very good qualitative and quantitative agreement was found between the numerical and experimental results. These numerical and experimental methods can be used to determine the spread and sorption of hazardous materials into a variety of substrates.
D'Onofrio
Terrence G
TG
Department of the Army, Edgewood Chemical Biological Center Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA. terrence.donofrio@us.army.mil
Navaz
Homayun K
HK
Markicevic
Bojan
B
Mantooth
Brent A
BA
Sumpter
Kenneth B
KB
D000327:Adsorption; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C009680:VX-agent