Tungsten oxide: a catalyst worth studying for the abatement and decontamination of chemical warfare agents

Abstract

Tungsten(VI) oxide, WO 3 , was studied and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the liquid-phase oxidative abatement and solid-phase decontamination of simulants of chemical warfare agents, CWAs. The catalytic performance of WO 3 was compared to the one of a soluble W-containing model catalyst, W(IV)-heptaisobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, W-POSS. In liquid-phase abatement tests, WO 3 promoted a complete degradation of the toxic agent simulant within 24 h, in the presence of aqueous hydrogen peroxide, at room temperature. In solid-phase decontamination tests, when WO 3 was mixed with sodium perborate as a solid oxidant, it was also tested in the decontamination of a cotton textile support from organosulfide and organophosphonate agents (simulants of blistering and nerve CWAs, respectively), showing promising performances comparable to, or sometimes better than, a nanostructured TiO 2 catalyst, taken as a reference material. The environmental impact of the WO 3 catalyst was assessed on bioluminescent Photobacterium leiognathi Sh1 bacteria, over which no acute nor chronic detrimental effects were recorded. Then, when in contact with a vegetable species such as Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean), WO 3 did not cause damage to the photosynthetic apparatus of the plant, whereas a clear inhibition of the seed germination was evidenced.

Retracted: Comparative study of cyto‐ and genotoxic potential with mechanistic insights of tungsten oxide nano‐ and microparticles in lung carcinoma cells

“…Further, they have been recognized in strategic sectors such as military and aerospace for various kinetic energy projectiles, engine components and jet vanes. WO 3 NPs are also used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the liquid-phase oxidative abatement and solid-phase decontamination of simulants for chemical warfare agents (Costenaro et al, 2017;Ryu, Sohn, Hwang, & Fang, 2009). Although the quantity of WO 3 NP world production is not known to date, the global reserves of tungsten were 86 400 metric tons according to Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2017 (US Geological Survey, 2017; Reston, VA, USA).…”