Hydrogen peroxide-based decontamination of chemical warfare agents

Chemical warfare agents (CWA) are rapidly decontaminated using a hydrogen peroxide-based decontamination solution. In the weakly-basic decontaminant (pH 8) - activated and buffered with bicarbonate, molybdate, and citrate - nerve agents such as VX and GD undergo perhydrolysis (OOH(-)) whereas the blister agent HD is catalytically oxidized, primarily, by tetraperoxomolybclate [Mo(OO)(4)(2-)] to the non-vesicant sulfoxide. The decontaminant, once mixed, exhibits remarkable stability, maintaining efficacy (pot-life) for at least 12 h. On non-sorptive, non-porous surfaces such as aluminum, the decontaminant decontaminates VX, GD, and HD to below acceptable levels (i.e., <0.078, 1.67, and 10.0 mu g/cm(2), respectively).