Adsorption of nerve agent simulants onto vermiculite structure: Experiments and modelling.

Chemical warfare agents are still a threat to humanity despite the existence of a ban on their production and use. There are many new materials that have been experimentally verified to be effective in degrading and eliminating various chemical warfare agents; however, clay minerals still remain very effective, environmentally friendly and not expensive. Vermiculites modified with hexadecylpyridinium, hexadecyltrimethylammonium and tetramethylammonium cations were used for static sorption of vapours of two simulants of nerve agents: dimethyl methyl phosphonate and diethyl ethyl phosphonate.