Tracy Lohr, PhD Candidate

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

CHEMISTRY 601/603

INORGANIC SECTION

 

SPEAKER:            Tracy Lohr, PhD Candidate

DATE:                     Tuesday, November 3, 2009

TIME:                      12:30 pm

PLACE:                  SB 324

TITLE:                    "Catalytic Methods for the Destruction of Chemical Warfare Agents".      

                                

ABSTRACT:           

The face of warfare changed forever during WWI and II with the large scale development of chemical warfare agents.  Most of these agents are the organophosphorus esters known as G-agents and V-agents, as well as the vesicant known as sulfur mustard (or mustard gas). After ratifying the Chemical Weapons Treaty in 1997, the United States is now faced with the requirement of destroying all chemical weapon stockpiles. The major challenges are destruction to form non-toxic products and with relatively low environmental impact. Destruction conditions used by emergency responders in terrorist attacks also need to be at realistic temperatures and pressures. This talk will focus on the destruction of sulfur mustard, the G-agents, and VX to non-toxic products under ambient conditions.