Download 8492_Chemichal Weapons Production Indicators

Phosgene:
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At room temperature (70°F), phosgene is a poisonous gas.

Phosgene can be formed when chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds used or
created in industry are exposed to high temperatures.

The vapors of chlorinated solvents exposed to high temperatures have been
known to produce phosgene. Chlorinated solvents are chlorine-containing
chemicals that are typically used in industrial processes to dissolve or clean other
materials, such as in paint stripping, metal cleaning, and dry cleaning.

Phosgene is used as an intermediate in the manufacture of many organic
chemicals. The largest amount (approximately 80% of world production) is used
to produce toluene diisocyanate and other isocyanates.

polyurethane foam production
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preparation of plastics
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pesticides.
Hydrogen Cyanide:

Hydrogen cyanide is manufactured by oxidation of ammonia- methane mixtures
under controlled conditions and by the catalytic decomposition of formamide.

Hydrogen cyanide may be synthesized directly from ammonia and carbon
monoxide or from ammonia, oxygen (or air), and natural gas.

It is a byproduct of the production of coke from coal and is recovered (along with
hydrogen sulfide) from coke-oven exhaust gases.

The principal use of hydrogen cyanide is in the manufacture of organic chemicals,
e.g., acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, and adiponitrile, which are used in
producing synthetic fibers and plastics.
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It is also used in the chemical laboratories
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Hydrogen cyanide is used in fumigating; electroplating; mining, metallurgy and
metal cleaning processes; and in producing synthetic fibers, plastics, dyes, and
pesticides.

It also is used as an intermediate in chemical syntheses

It is a combustion by-product of nitrogen-containing materials such as wool, silk,
and plastics.

Sometimes used in agriculture as a fumigant and as a fumigant to kill rats.

It is also used in electroplating metals and in developing photographic film. It is
also produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of nitriles and related chemicals.
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Hydrogen cyanide gas is a by-product of coke-oven and blast-furnace operations
Sarin:

There are many different methods of manufacture, but the Tokyo product appears
to have been prepared using a procedure involving phosphorus trichloride and
methyl iodide.

To stockpile Sarin, the product has to be pure ( 90-99% of the Iraqi Sarin
degraded in < 2 years, whereas US Sarin only degraded a few % over 30 years ).

Sarin precursors are dimethyl methylphosphanate, hydrogen fluoride, and
isopropyl alcohol

In the final process, methylphosphonyl difluoride and methylphosphonyl
dichloride was mixed with isopropyl alcohol to produce Sarin
VX:

The vital precursors are phosphites, phosphorous chlorides, and alkyldiethanolamines. Sales of these chemicals are restricted under the Chemical
Weapons Convention, most likely in an attempt to make synthesis of nerve gases
more difficult.

In particular, compounds containing the methyl-phosphite group are wellcontrolled, as the only known uses for these compounds are in the synthesis of
nerve agents.

The four-stage VX production process is difficult, but the Muthanna (Iraq)
scientists reverse engineered the recipe from a list of controlled chemicals issued
by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague.
Saeed says he supervised production of his last two batches of liquid VX in April
1990 but that they failed to achieve his goal of 50 to 60 percent purity, and they
deteriorated within a week. "It couldn't be used as a weapon," he insists.
Lewisite:

The earlier producers favored the Levinstein Process, which consists of bubbling
dry ethylene through sulfur monochloride, allowing the mixture to settle and
(usually) distilling the remaining material.

More recent production has involved chlorination of thiodiglycol, a relatively
common material with a dual use as an ingredient in some inks..

Lewisite is an arsenical and as such would require unusually large amounts of
arsenates in its production.
Sulfur Mustard:
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Sulfur mustards are vesicants and alkylating agents.

They are very sparingly soluble in water but are soluble in oils, fats, and organic
solvents..
Selected Precursors are:

2-Chloroethanol

Ethylene

Hydrochloric acid

Sodium sulfide
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Sulfur dichloride

Sulfur monochloride
Manufacturing
Common
Process can also result in Chemical
Capability
Commercial
Weapons
Required
Products Produced
chlorination
Insecticides
Phosgene
Herbicides
Nitrogen and sulfur
Polymers, Dyestuffs
mustards
Pharmaceuticals
Lewisite
Solvants
Sarin
Paint Stripper
VX
Metal cleaning
Polymers, Solvants
Pharmaceuticals
fluorination
Pesticides,
Sarin
Herbicides
Soman
Cooling gases
Anesthesic Gases
Insecticides
esterification
Solvants
Odorants
Pharmaceuticals
phosphoration
alkylation
Sarin
Tabun
BZ
Insecticides
Sarin
Flamme retardants
Tabun
Oil additives
BZ
Flamme retardants
Sarin
Oil additives
Soman
Petrol chemicals
VX