Rheologically improved microemulsion for deactivation of simulants of blister and nerve agents

Abstract

The efficiency of decontamination of blister and nerve agents was studied using the example of nucleophilic decomposition of paraoxone (O,O-diethyl-O-4-nitrophenyl phosphate) and oxidation of methylphenyl sulfide. Hydrogen peroxide solutions in an oil-in-water microemulsion containing synthetic nanoclay Laponite EP and polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer were studied as reactive decontamination systems. The base of the microemulsion consisted of an aqueous phase, a codetergent (isopropanol), oil (hexane), with a variation of detergent (cetylpyridinium chloride, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and Triton X-100). It was shown that the solubility of paraoxone and methylphenyl sulfide in the studied microemulsions increases by an average of 100 times or more compared to the solubility in water, and the substrate binding constants are 2–3 times higher than the binding constants in similar microemulsion media. It was found that the presence of nanoclay in the microemulsion provides a catalytic effect, i.e. an increase in the rate of decomposition of paraoxone and methylphenyl sulfide by at least 2 times. In addition, nanoclay thickens the microemulsion and, together with the polymer, increases the viscosity of the reaction medium. The determined kinetic parameters of decontamination and solubility of substrates allow us to conclude that the use of the investigated microemulsion system provides an acceleration of nucleophilic substitution and oxidation reactions by 150–350 times compared to the reaction rate in water.