Low Temperature Effects on Sorption, Hydrolysis and Photolysis of Organophosphonates: A Literature Review

摘要

A survey was made of the open literature to determine the information available on the persistence of organophosphonate chemical agents in the environment. This review focuses on low temperature hydrolytic and photolytic degradation of the nerve agents GA (Tabun), GB (Sarin), GD (Soman) and VX. The role of adsorption to ice, snow and frozen soils and sediments is also discussed in relation to these degradative processes. Suggestions are made for the investigation of agent decomposition using simulants. The method proposed for the study of agent persistence is based on the use of linear free energy relationships, which should allow for more reliable prediction of agent behavior than if a single simulant is used as a model compound.