[TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITy 02-057]

<< Back to Physical Sciences

>Printer-friendly version

A Novel, Catalytic Method For Destroying Chemical Warfare Agents, Insecticides And Pesticides

Dr. Stan Brown and Dr. Alex Neverov of the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University have developed a novel method for the decontamination of toxic chemical warfare agents, insecticides and pesticides.

The process is fast, catalytic, occurs at room temperature, and produces non-toxic products. It is broadly suitable for decomposing neutral organophosphorous compounds, including chemical warfare agents (e.g., G-, V- and VX-agents) and pesticides (e.g., paraoxon, fenitrothion).

In testing with live chemical warfare agents, full decontamination of both G- and V-agents is achieved within 30 seconds. In panel testing to explore surface decontamination, >99.9% decon is achieved within 10 minutes.

Description:

The controlled decomposition of organophosphorous agents is achieved through a catalytic alcoholysis promoted by metal ion catalysts in an alcohol solvent. The method comprises combining the organophosphorous compound with a non-aqueous solution, preferably an alcohol, comprising metal ions and at least a trace amount of alkoxide ions. The alkoxide ions serve to activate the catalyst.

Testing:

The system has been tested by a third-party organization on GA, GD and VX. In solution, full decontamination of all agents is achieved within 30 seconds. In panel testing to explore surface decontamination, >99.9% decontamination is achieved within 10 minutes (the earliest time point measured). The toxic degradation product of VX, EA2192, is not detectable at the detection limit of 0.5ng/mL.

Beyond this live agent testing, the method has been demonstrated to work for a variety of neutral organophosphates including phosphorous triesters, phosphonates, phosphorothioates (P=S and P=O(SAr) compounds), and phosphonothioates.

Proof-of-concept systems include:
1. Billion-fold acceleration of the methanolysis of paraoxon promoted by lanthanum catalyst. This system provides the largest reported acceleration for any man-made catalyst capable of promoting the solvolysis of a phosphate triester.
2. Cu(II)-mediated decomposition of phosphorothioate P=S pesticides: Cu(II)-ligand system promoted billion-fold acceleration of methanolysis of fenitrothion.
3. Catalytic degradation of pesticides paraoxon and fenitrothion through Zn2+-catalyzed methanolysis.
4. Million-fold acceleration in destruction of V-agent simulants: La3+-catalyzed methanolysis of phosphorothioates.
5. Millions-fold acceleration of the destruction of phosphonothioates with La3+ and a Zn2+ complex.

Benefits:

This method has a number of advantages:
• Catalytic: a billion-fold acceleration in reaction rate is achieved in model systems
• Occurs in non-aqueous media
• Can be performed at room temperature
• Can be performed under neutral conditions
• Produces non-toxic products
• Products are more easily disposed of than those of hydrolytic methods
• Displays excellent turnover of catalyst
• Enhances the solubility of the organophosphorous agents due to the greater hydrophobicity of the alcoholic medium, thereby improving decontamination

Status of Commercialization:

U.S. Patent No. 7,214,836 issued on May 8, 2007. Corresponding international patent applications are pending.

PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer office of Queen’s University, is seeking licensees for the technology.

To discuss further, or to request additional information, please contact:

Davis Hill, MBA
Manager, Commercial Development
P. 613.533.2342
E. dhill@parteqinnovations.com
Ref: Tech ID 2002-057