In-vitro Evaluation of Bis-pyridinium Oximes Connected by Xylene Linkers as Reactivators of DFP-inhibited Electric EEL Acetylcholinesterase

Bis-pyridinium oximes connected by xylene linkers were synthesised and their in-vitro reactivation efficacy was evaluated for DFP inhibited AChE. The reactivation efficacy data were compared with those of 2-PAM and obidoxime. However, it was observed that none of these oximes were able to surpass the reactivation efficacy of 2-PAM and obidoxime in reactivating DFP inhibited AChE. 2-PAM and obidoxime respectively exhibited52 per cent and 43 per cent reactivation of DFP inhibited AChE, where as the synthesised oximes 3a, 3d, and 3f showed 37 per cent, 30 per cent, and 31 per cent reactivation, respectively within 10 min at 10-3 M

A Non aqueous Formulation for Efficient Detoxification of Chemical Weapons at Sub zero Temperatures

An effective decontamination methodology based on nucleophilic non-aqueous decontaminant has been developed against chemical weapons sulfur mustard and soman. This new formulation consists of non-aqueous solution of 2-aminoethanol (60%, w/v), potassium hydroxide (2%, w/v), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (38 %, w/v) and detoxified more than 99 % of sulfur mustard and soman within a period of 30 min at -35 °C. It was found to be operable over a wide range of temperatures starting from -35 °C to +55 °C without losing its fluidity and detoxicant efficiency at sub-zero temperatures promising hassle-free application against chemical weapons. It degrades sulfur mustard to divinyl sulfide and 2-chloroethyl vinyl sulfide and converted soman into O-pinacolyl O’-(2-amino) ethyl methylphosphonate, which are relatively non toxic to humans. This formulation is environmentally benign, relatively non corrosive and has an improved capability to dissolve and decontaminate chemical weapons within 15 minutes at ambient conditions. This approach paves the way for efficient and rapid decontamination platform for chemical weapons and holds considerable promise for field application in near future

Chemical Protection Studies of Activated Carbon Spheres based Permeable Protective Clothing Against Sulfur Mustard, a Chemical Warfare Agent

Technological advancements in the field of chemical threat have made it possible to create extremely dangerous chemical warfare agents (CWA). Hence, the effective protection of personnel is very important in a chemical warfare scenario amidst the current climate of terrorism awareness. In particular, body protection plays a substantial role in the chemical defence considering the urgency of situation in the nuclear, biological and chemical environment. Activated carbon spheres (ACS) based permeable chemical protective clothing (coverall) was developed for protection against CWA. The adsorbent material i.e, ACS used in this protective clothing provided higher adsorption capacity (1029 mg/g in terms of iodine) and low thermal burden (34 °C WBGT index) compared to earlier indigenously developed NBC suit. This article focuses on the extensive evaluation of chemical protective clothing against sulfur mustard (HD), a CWA. The results revealed that the developed protective clothing provided more than 24 h protection against HD. This chemical protective suit is light weight (< 2.75 kg for XL size). It also has higher air permeability (> 30 cm3/s/cm2) as well as less water vapour resistance (< 9.6 m2Pa/W). With continued innovations in materials and attention to key challenges it is expected that advanced, multifunction chemical protective suit will play a pivotal role in the CWA protection scenario

Simultaneous detection of Anatoxin-a and Microcystin-LR from cyanobacterial strains using high-performance liquid chromatography and LC-ESI-MS method

1867-1870A method has been developed for the simultaneous extraction, purification and detection of cyanobacterial toxins (hepatotoxin and neurotoxin) from a single batch of Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena flos-aquae. After several ex tractions and ad sorption on to C- 18 sep-pak cartridge, the cyanobacterial tox ins have been detected both by high performance liquid chromatography and LC-ESI-mass spectrometry. Anatoxin-a and Microcystin –LR have been detected in UTEX-2383 and UTEX-2385 strains of Anabaena flos-aquae and Microcystis aeruginosa respectively