| abstract |
(57) [Summary]nA method for treating toxic substances, for example, a mixture of inorganic substances, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), halogenated organic compounds such as dioxins and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and chemical weapons such as sarin and mustard gas. Regarding This method is based on the discovery that mechanical activation can induce chemical reactions that degrade the molecular structure of toxic substances and form products that are simple, non-toxic compounds. The method involves subjecting a mixture of a toxic substance and a suitable reagent to mechanical activation to produce a non-toxic end product. Mechanical activation is preferably carried out in a mechanical mill, such as a ball mill. It has been found that ball milling various toxic substances with the appropriate reagents results in virtually complete destruction of the toxic generating substances. |