Hydrolysis of VX on Concrete: Rate of Degradation by Direct Surface Interrogation Using an Ion Trap Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 36; no. 22; pp. 4790 - 4794
• Main Authors: Groenewold, Gary S, Williams, John M, Appelhans, Anthony D, Gresham, Garold L, Olson, John E, Jeffery, Mark T, Rowland, Brad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.11.2002
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical Warfare Agents - chemistry; Concrete; Construction Materials; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Global environmental pollution; Hydrology; Hydrolysis; Ions; Kinetics; Mass Spectrometry; Organothiophosphorus Compounds - chemistry; Pollution; Scientific imaging; Monolayer; Surface reaction; Organic thiophosphonate; Buildings; Pollutant behavior; Secondary ion mass spectrometry; Chemical degradation; Chemical reaction kinetics; Hydrolysis; Toxin; Chemical warfare agent; Ion trap; Pollution; Adsorbed state; Neurotoxin; Reaction mechanism; Environment; Concrete; War gas; Degradation product

The nerve agent VX (O-ethyl S-2-diisopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate) is lethal at very low levels of exposure, which can occur by dermal contact with contaminated surfaces. Hence, behavior of VX in contact with common urban or industrial surfaces is a subject of acute interest. In the pres...