Elimination of dimethyl methylphosphonate by plasma flame made of microwave plasma and burning hydrocarbon fuel

Abstract

Elimination of dimethyl methylphosphonate ͑DMMP͒ in liquid phase was studied by making use of a microwave plasma burner, exhibiting a safe removal capability of stockpiled chemical weapons. The microwave plasma burner consisted of a fuel injector and a plasma flame exit connected in series to a microwave plasma torch. The burner flames were sustained by injecting hydrocarbon fuels into the microwave plasma torch in air discharge. The Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated near perfect elimination of DMMP in the microwave plasma burner. This was confirmed by gas chromatography spectra as supporting data, revealing the disappearance of even intermediary compounds in the process of DMMP destruction. The experimental results and the physical configuration of the microwave plasma burner may provide an effective means of on-site removal of chemical warfare agents found on a battlefield.

Reduction of Dichlorvos and Omethoate Residues by O2 Plasma Treatment

“…In addition, the lack of chemistry control and the failure of expeditious and complete decomposition and detoxification of trace pesticides have been a major hurdle to overcome. To resolve these challenges, nonthermal plasmas (NTPs) as an innovative tool have been proven to be effective for the degradation of OP molecules in some literature (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). The main characteristic of NTPs is its high electron temperatures (10 5 K); i.e., the electrons are preferentially excited with the energies of 1-10 eV, whereas the bulk gas (contained the more massive reactive species) temperature remains at ambient temperature.…”