Destruction Of Chemical Weapons

[Khandro]

It seems that Libya's stockpile of chemical weapons has now been removed to German soil;
http://www.expatica.com/de/news/Libyas-last-chemical-arms-reach-German-destruction-plant_768109.html
How dangerous, and what is the process of neutralising this material?

[agchristie]

I don't know but I'm sure there are plenty of experts that do.

Why Germany though?

[Khandro]

Thanks, but what is the process?

[Khandro]

what I'm wondering is do these highly dangerous chemicals and gases return to a completely benign state in nature?

[tonyav]

Two way's to break neutralise sulphur mustard on this link, Khandro.

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-09/fyi-chemical-weapons-and-disposal

[Peter Pedant]

well they have been made from innocent chemicals
so it should notbe beyond the wit of man to reverse the process

actually as pongoparrot says - it depends what they are
Phosphorus - burn it to phosphorus pentoxide and then add what to get it to phosphoric acid and er flush it down the bog ....
good as a fertiiliser

phosgene - that is COCl2 innit ? oxidise to CO2 and HCl

Assads fave - Chlorine Cl2 - bubble thro water ( to get HCl and HOcl and then neutralise with sodium hydroxide ) ....

I used to work at Porton Down but that was years ago
MRE and not CDEE as they then were

[Khandro]

Thanks PP. I need reassurance that the process is feasible and an uneasy feeling that in fact, that though it is claimed that they have been neutralised, they might be simply stored somewhere (possibly near me!).

[theprof]

You're perfectly safe Khandro. Peter Pedant has outlined typical methods of neutralising certain toxic compounds and nowadays the methods are fundamentally the same with some variation due to improved technologies. Nevertheless, other methods are available.The instrumentation cited in Pongoparrot's post has been improved upon considerably which allows scientists, engineers and weapon experts to decide on the best method of destruction.

None of these compounds are particularly difficult to neutralise in practice. They are certainly not stored anywhere in Europe as the legislation on the matter throughout the EU is very specific on the issue. The legislation concerned is solid and the EU has been very good at ensuring compliance in all affected countries.

I've been known to spend a good few hours every month mooching around within Porton Down so I've some contemporary experience on this matter.

[Peter Pedant]

oo er my time at porton was 1968