title: Efficient heterogeneous and environmentally friendly degradation of nerve agents on a tungsten-based POM.
abstract: Common (chemical warfare agent) CWA decontaminants exhibit harsh and corrosive characteristics, and are harmful to the environment. In the course of our quest for active sorbents as efficient decontaminants, Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM) (NH(4))(3)PW(12)O(40) was tested for oxidative degradation of CWAs. Although oxidation did not take place, sarin (GB) and VX were smoothly decontaminated to non-toxic products within 1 and 10 days, respectively. Degradation was carried out directly on the powder, eliminating the need for solvents. Mustard gas (HD), whose degradation is highly dependent on oxidation, was not decontaminated by this POM. Solid state MAS NMR ((31)P and (13)C) was utilized both for POM characterization and for decontamination studies monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Israel Institute for Biological Research, P.O. Box 19, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel. danami@iibr.gov.il
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mizrahi
authors.forename: Sigal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saphier
authors.forename: Ishay
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Columbus
mesh_terms: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000032:analysis; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D011208:Powders; D012524:Sarin / Q000032:analysis; D014414:Tungsten / Q000737:chemistry*; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D000099294:Polyoxometalates
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009151:Mustard Gas; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D011208:Powders; D012524:Sarin; D014414:Tungsten; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; C102296:polyoxometalate I; D000099294:Polyoxometalates; C009680:VX-agent