Commodore Applied Technologies, Inc.

Wood E Hunter

Gerry D Getman

Albert E Abel

Robert W Mouk

Rudolph H Moyer

Jon E Rogers

Organophosphorous compounds containing C&mdash;P chemical bonds are oxidized with alkaline peroxysulfate to yield orthophosphates. For example, phosphinates, including certain chemical warfare agents, as well as phosphinate salts produced by the solvated electron reduction of the chemical warfare agents, are oxidized to orthophosphates.

Method for oxidizing organophosphorous compounds

Energetic materials, such as nitrocellulose, TNT, RDX, and combinations thereof, optionally in combination with chemical warfare agents, such as mustard gas, Lewisite, Tabun, Sarin, Toman, VX, and combinations thereof, are destroyed when chemically reacted according to the method of the invention. The method comprises reacting the energetic materials and chemical warfare agents, of present, with solvated electrons which are preferably produced by dissolving an active metal such as sodium in a nitrogenous base such as anhydrous liquid ammonia.

Method for destroying energetic materials

Methods for decontaminating toxic waste, particularly solid carrier materials, such as soil contaminated with a toxin, or solid mixed wastes are more efficiently decontaminated with solvated electrons by first extracting the toxin from the carrier with a nitrogenous base at elevated temperatures, followed by a temperature reduction before initiating chemical reduction of the toxin with solvated electrons. Pre-extraction of the toxin at elevated temperatures followed by temperature reduction minimizes competing side reactions, improves selectivity of solvated electrons for the toxin and improves the economics of the process with more efficient metal utilization. The process can be performed without separation of the toxin from the extraction vessel holding the solid carrier material. Alternatively, elevated temperatures can be used to perform one or more extractions of toxin with nitrogenous base followed by reduction with solvated electrons by performing the reaction in a separate reactor. The processes of the invention are useful in the destruction of virtually any chemically reducible hazardous substance.

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The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

Wood E Hunter