Since the development and use of organophosphorus compounds as nerve agents, methods of dealing with their toxicity have been intensely researched. Detection of nerve agents, such as Sarin and VX, in the atmosphere and in public water supplies is critical. Sarin has no taste or odor and only very small quantities are required to produce toxic symptoms from ingestion. This research focused on the design, synthesis and characterization of novel smart hydrogels which could be used to detect and destroy organophosphorus chemical warfare agents. Smart hydrogels incorporating chemical agent markers and dye sensor molecules were synthesized and characterized. The novel polymeric materials use a chemical reaction to detect and destroy the organophosphorus nerve agents. The stimuli-responsive hydrogels will act as sensors when immersed in water supplies, used as filtering materials or as boundary layers in surgical masks.

Smart hydrogels for organophosphorus nerve agent detection

247th National Meeting (2014)

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