Analyzing decomposition of diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP) in high-explosive detonations using absorption spectropscopy and gas concentration measurements

A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is defined as a device or weapon that contains an agent or toxic capable of causing death or serious injury through biological or chemical means. WMD threats are present both foreign and domestic. In particular, the use of highly toxic organophosphorus nerve agents is a significant concern for national security. In response to this threat, work is being done to develop methods for destroying nerve agents through the use of fireballs. Various chemicals are being developed to add to the explosive that create the fireball, with the aim of finding the most efficient way to neutralize the nerve agents. To quantify the effectiveness of the explosive and the chemical additives, techniques such as absorption spectroscopy are employed. This research focuses on the development of a secondary system, composed of gas sensors, to measure products formed from the detonation of a chemical nerve agent surrogate, Diisopropyl Methylphosphonate (DIMP). Gas concentration measurements of the products (CO2 and O2) can be used to verify the absorption measurements for the decomposition of DIMP. Absorption measurements of DIMP are obtained using rapid scanning, broadband absorption spectroscopy with measurements taken at approximately 2.3kHz, covering a wavenumber range of 925 – 1350 per scan. Spectra are collected both before and immediately after detonation to measure the changes in both the DIMP peak and its products peak. By comparing the absorption and gas concentration measurements, a high sensitivity of the gas concentration measurements was observed, which presents challenges of verifying the absorption measurements.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• McKenzie, Kaitlyn Rose

Contributors dc:contributor

• Glumac, Nick G.

• Organophosphorus Nerve Agents
• Diisopropyl Methylphosphonate
• Absorption Spectroscopy
• Gas Concentration
• Agent Defeat
• Mass Spectroscopy

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Kaitlyn McKenzie

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129344

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129344