Hydrolysis of Sulfur Mustard(HD) in Water

The hydrolysis reaction of sulfur mustard(HD, bis 2-chloroethylsulfide), one type of the blister agents was studied in water to find the operation conditions which can convert HD into less toxic compounds. The reaction was proceeded into two steps. First, 10 similar to 20 wt% of HD was hydrolyzed in water at 90 degrees C for 2 hr and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution(2.1 eq) was subsequently added to the reaction mixture at room temperature. The efficiency of HD hydrolysis at this experimental conditions was greater than 99.99% and the final degradation products of HD were 68 wt% of thiodiglycol, 8 wt% of 1,2-bis(2-hydroxyethylthio)ethane and 24 wt% of bis(2-hydroxyethylthioethyl)ether.