METHOD OF LEWISITE DETOXICATION

FIELD: chemical technology of utilization of regular chemical warfare agents; applicable in destruction of lewisite resources in the Russian Federation. SUBSTANCE: method is based on use for lewisite detoxication of its decomposition with aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide with subsequent processing of formed suspension of arsenic-containing slime in water- alkali solution of arsenite and sodium chloride, with production of low-toxic and suitable for prolonged storage of dried residue of salts Na3AsO3 and NaCl resulting from evaporation and drying of said mixture, and allowing recovery of elementary arsenic from it as required. Lewisite is subjected to reaction with 20-40 wt.% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide with 0.1-10 wt.% excess at 90- 110C and atmospheric pressure with subsequent processing of reaction mass by evaporation and drying at 74-125 C and pressure of 0.4-0.6 atm into salt residue of Na3AsO3 and NaCl obtained with help of additions of 8.0-15.0 wt.% of 1,1,2,2- tetrachloroethane and 0.5-1.0 wt.% of montmorillonite clay. Realization of claimed method on industrial scale allows ecologically safe destruction of lewisite resources in Russia. EFFECT: higher efficiency.