GD-6 Decontamination Agent
Highly efficient chemical decontamination agent fielded by NATO
GD-6 – the enhanced water-free chemical
decontamination formulation for civilian
and military applications from OWR
After the success and fielding of GD-5 with
NATO several years ago, development has
taken place leading to the improved
formulation of GD-6
GD-6 has been extensively tested by several
renowned institutes and is fielded by NATO:
NSN 6850-12-377-2705
FOGBOOSTER
using GD-6
In 2009 the Canadian Armed Forces chose
GD-6 due to its water-free formulation for the
detoxification of high-value equipment
GD-6 Decontamination agent
Highly efficient chemical decontamination agent fielded by NATO
GD-6 was developed
and produced in
Germany
GD-6 has been developed and tested to
standards higher than the recommended
NATO Decontamination Triptych.
Scientific experiments have been undertaken
to proof the absolute detoxification capability
of GD-6 and study the reaction kinetics when
used with the highly toxic nerve agents
Soman, VX and blister agent S-Mustard (HD).
Within the performed experiments the
evaluated GD-6 formulation was found to
exhibit the expected capabilities and exceed
demands.
• Remains fluid down to at least -20 C.
• Capability to easily dissolve chemical
warfare agents
• Impressive absolute detoxification capacity
of 1 : 1 to 3 : 1 (gram GD-6 : gram CWA).
• High to very high detoxification rates. At
ambient temperature Soman was detoxified
in less than 1 minute, VX in less than 3 min.
and S-Mustard in less than 10 minutes.
Micro-droplet application of GD-6
According to the required demand, thin
layers of GD-6 can be applied to sensitive
surfaces like the inside of vehicles, ships,
aircraft and infrastructure.
The outside of vehicles and heavy
equipment can be decontaminated using
low pressure applications to protect
sensitive modules like sighting
mechanism, heat image optics etc.
Subject to technical changes
OWR GmbH · Oberschefflenzer Str. 9 · 74834 Elztal-Rittersbach · Germany
phone: +49 (0)6293 73 1 · fax: +49 (0)6293 73 219 · [email protected] · www.owrgroup.com
VOP-026 Šternberk, s.p., Division VTÚO Brno,
Department for Testing
NBC Defence Testing Laboratory
REPORT OF TESTING THE ACTIVITY & CAPACITY
OF THE GD-6A DECONTAMINATION FORMULATION
Authors
František OPLUŠTIL
Marek ANDRLE
Marcela OLŠANSKÁ
Brno, February 2010
VX Agent
Rate constant, 1/s
3.5E-02
3.0E-02
2.5E-02
2.0E-02
1.5E-02
1.0E-02
Comp
Exper
5.0E-03
0.0E+00
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
Temperature, °C
Figure 10
Fit between experimental (points) and computed values (line)
of the 1st order rate constants for the VX detoxification reaction
The nerve agents are said to require fifteen half-times to attain their full decomposition in reaction media with regards to the respective toxicities, while the HD detoxification is expected to
be fully detoxified within a period that corresponds to ten half-times of the reaction.
Following Table 7 summarises computed periods of time to reach full decomposition of the VX
and HD at elected operational temperatures. Calculations were performed taking into account
the above-mentioned prepositions and computed activation parameters that characterise
decomposition reactions in the GD-6A, see above on pages 12 and 14.
Table 7 Predicted values of the respective rate constants, half-times, and times to attain
full detoxification of the VX and HD
VX
Operational
temperature,
°C
HD
Rate
constant of
the first
order, s-1
Half-time of
the reaction,
min
Time to
achieve full
decomposition, min
Rate
constant of
the first
order, s-1
Half-time of
the reaction,
min
Time to
achieve full
decomposition, min
-5
3.56×10-3
3.2
48.7
1.82×10-3
6.4
63.6
0
6.52×10-3
1.8
26.6
2.73×10-3
4.2
42.3
5
1.17×10-3
1.0
14.8
4.04×10-3
2.9
28.6
10
2.05×10-2
0.6
8.4
5.90×10-2
2.0
19.6
15
3.54×10-2
0.3
4.9
8.50×10-2
1.4
13.6
20
5.99×10-2
0.2
2.9
1.21×10-2
1.0
9.6
25
9.95×10-2
0.1
1.7
1.70×10-2
0.7
6.8
30
1.63×10-2
0.1
1.1
2.37×10-2
0.5
4.9
15
As it can be seen from Table 7 the VX agent may be fully detoxified at ambient temperature
(20 °C) within 3 minutes while the HD in some 10 minutes. By the ice point (0 °C) the VX is
detoxified in ca. ½ hr and the HD after some ¾ hr, which means an excellent reactivity. The
GD was found to be so reactive that its decomposition reaction proceeds nearly immediately
even at very low temperatures down to -20 °C.
4
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Within performed experiments the evaluated GD-6A formulation was found to exhibit
− tendency to form a super-freezing liquid down to at least -20 °C.
− capability to dissolve at least 1 volume part of CWA in 9 volume parts of GD-6A easily.
− absolute detoxification capacity of 800 mg GD, 580 mg HD or 280 mg VX
per 1 gram of the GD-6A.
− high to very high detoxification rates. At ambient temperature the GD was detoxified
immediately in less than 1 minute, while the VX in less than 3 minutes and HD in less
than 10 minutes.
According to these excellent results it could be recommended to the Customer to evaluate
efficiency of this formulation on samples of real materials as it is recommended by the NATO
Decontamination Triptych.
16