Simple and highly active strontium-based catalyst for detoxification of an organophosphorus chemical warfare agent simulant

Abstract

A mixture of strontium carbonate, hydroxide and oxide was prepared by thermal decomposition of SrCO3 and employed as catalyst in the decomposition of the chemical warfare agent simulant methyl paraoxon, by means of its transesterification with 1-propanol. The catalyst, which was characterized by N2 physisorption (BET method), temperature programmed desorption (CO2-TPD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, promoted rate enhancements of the order of 107-fold in comparison to the spontaneous propanolysis reaction, the greatest catalytic effect promoted by metal oxide-based catalysts ever reported for this reaction. Compared to the fresh catalyst, the catalyst directly stored in the reaction solvent showed similar catalytic performance. Analysis of the reaction products by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection confirmed the transesterification of the substrate leading to dimethyl n-propyl phosphate, a product structurally related to a family of trialkyl phosphate flame retardants.