Chemical warfare agent simulants in Gamble's fluid: Is the fluid toxic? can it be made safer by inclusion of solid nanocrystalline metal oxides?

The reactions of chemical warfare agent simulants,2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-cees) and di-i-propyl fluoro phosphate (dfp),in fluids have been investigated. data analyses confirm the major degradation pathway to be hydrolysis of 2-cees to 2-hydroxyethyl ethyl sulfide,along with minor self-condensation products. among the three fluids examined,2-cees degradation was the fastest in gamble's fluid during a 96 h period. upon addition of exceptional hazard attenuation materials (ehams) to 2-cees containing gamble's fluid,degradation was generally improved during the first 24 h period. the 96 h outcome was similar for fluid samples with or without eham 2 and eham 4. eham 1-added fluid contained only one degradation product,2-nitroethyl ethyl sulfide. dfp degradation was the slowest in gamble's fluid,but was enhanced by the addition of ehams. ftir and solid state 31p nmr confirm the destructive adsorption of 2-cees and dfp by the ehams. the results collectively demonstrate that 2-cees and dfp decompose to various extents in gamble's fluid over a 96 h period but the fluid still contains a considerable amount of intact simulant. eham 1 appears to be promising for 2-cees and dfp mitigation while eham 2 and eham 4 work well for early on concentration reduction of 2-cees and dfp. copyright © 2013 dennis karote et al.