Characterization of Continuous Neutralization of a Chemical Warfare Agent and Its Simulants

Abstract

The persistent threat posed by chemical warfare agents (CWAs) necessitates the development of efficient and safe methods for their neutralization. In this study, we investigated the continuous neutralization of CWAs and their simulants using flow chemistry, which combines the benefits of safety, precise control over reaction parameters, and scalability. We focused on the integration of continuous-flow reactors to achieve controlled and rapid neutralization, thus addressing challenges such as the need for rapid reaction kinetics and the establishment of robust pathways for neutralization. Because the flow-chemistry approach can contribute significantly to the development of neutralization technologies for CWAs, we performed a thorough characterization in terms of reaction kinetics and neutralized product identification. The results demonstrated that the proposed continuous-flow-type neutralization reaction was faster and more efficient than batch-type neutralization reactions. Furthermore, in the early stages of the neutralization reaction, flow-type neutralization not only required less neutralizing agent than batch-type neutralization but was also faster. Thus, the chemical neutralization process proposed in this study can be used as a pragmatic foundation for developing demilitarization methods for CWAs.