Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of using a portable chemical decontamination system for decontamination of chemical warfare agents, including agent VX. Specifically, the present invention provides a portable chemical decontaminant system that is rapidly effective against chemical warfare agent VX. The disclosed method decontaminates agent VX using both electrochemically generated chlorine dioxide and chlorine dioxide generated by the reaction between a chemical warfare agent VX degradation product and excess sodium chlorite. The method using the portable system eliminates the need to transport corrosive or highly reactive chemicals, and dramatically simplifies the logistics of delivering an effective chemical decontaminant system to wherever it may be needed. The portable chemical decontamination system electrochemically generates chlorine dioxide and hypobromite.