Australian scientists improve our understanding of how peroxides destroy chemical warfare agents. Peroxides are efficient and effective chemicals for chemical warfare agent decontamination, both in solution or as a vapour. Although these chemicals are widely used, the way that they work - their reaction mechanisms - are not well understood. Now Andrew McAnoy, at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Melbourne, and Stephen Blanksby and colleagues at the University of Wollongonghave identified the reaction pathway for the perhydrolysis degradation reaction. The chemical reaction between the chemical warfare agent stimulant, dimethyl methylphosphonate, and the hydroperoxide (HOO~-) anion was carried out in the gas phase with surprising results.
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