Elimination of A-234 from the environment: Effect of different decontaminants

Hyunsook Jung; Jiwoong Heo; Nahye Park; Kyoung Chan Lim; Heesoo Jung; Vinh Do Cao; Seewon Joung

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131150

Elimination of A-234 from the environment: Effect of different decontaminants

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Jun 5:451:131150. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131150. Epub 2023 Mar 4.

Authors

Hyunsook Jung¹, Jiwoong Heo², Nahye Park², Kyoung Chan Lim², Heesoo Jung², Vinh Do Cao³, Seewon Joung³

Affiliations

¹ Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34063, Republic of Korea; Weapon Systems Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Gajeong-ro, Yuseung-gu, Deajeon 34113, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: junghs@add.re.kr.
² Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34063, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Chemistry, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 36893597
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131150

Abstract

With the fact that there are Novichoks in the list of toxic chemicals by the Chemical Weapons Convention parties, it is necessary to develop methods of effective neutralization of the agents as well as for other organophosphorus toxic substances. However, experimental studies on their persistence in the environment and effective decontamination measures remain scarce. Therefore, here, we investigated the persistence behavior and decontamination methods of A-234 (ethyl N-[1-(diethylamino)ethylidene]phosphoramidofluoridate), a Novichok series, A-type nerve agent to assess its potential risk to the environment. Different analytical methods were implemented, including ³¹P solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid ³¹P NMR, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and vapor-emission screening using a microchamber/thermal extractor with GC-MS. Our results showed that A-234 is extremely stable in sand and poses a long-lasting risk to the environment even when released in trace quantities. Moreover, the agent is not easily decomposed by water, dichloroisocyanuric acid sodium salt, sodium persulfate, and chlorine-based water-soluble decontaminants. However, it is efficiently decontaminated by Oxone® monopersulfate, calcium hypochlorite, KOH, NaOH, and HCl within 30 min. Our findings provide valuable insights for eliminating the highly dangerous Novichok agents from the environment.

Keywords: Chemical weapon; Ethylhydrogen; Nerve agent; Oxone® monopersulfate; Perhydrolysis.