PHOTOCHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF A TOXIC ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS ANALOG (PMSF) IN MICROEMULSION MEDIA

A study has been made of the photodegradation of an analog, phenylmeth ylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), of a toxic chemical warfare agent. The ag ent was solubilized in a water-in-oil surfactactant stabilized microem ulsion system comprising sodium dodecyl sulphate, pentanol and water. Loss of the parent PMSF molecule upon exposure of the system to UV irr adiation was monitored by F-19 NMR spectroscopy. Consideration of the changes in the chemical shifts, splittings in conjunction with GC/Mass spectroscopy data strongly suggest the degradation leads to partial f luorination of pentanol. Analysis of peak areas also indicates the for mation of volatile degradation products such as HF. The addition of Ti O2 or hydroquinone to the system did not appreciably change the overal l amounts of degradation. The results are interpreted in terms of the possible radical based reaction pathways and show that such a microemu lsion medium to have significant potential as a vehicle for effecting such a degradation process.