Solubility and selective oxidation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide in imidazole-based ionic liquids

In this study, a novel decontamination method against mustard agent simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) was conducted with 30% H2O2 aqueous solution in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs). More than 99% of the CEES was oxidized within H2O2/[BMIm]HCO3 at a concentration of 20 mg mL−1 in 30 min with the corresponding sulfoxide yield more than 97%. Decontamination was effective at very low temperatures (−32 °C). [BMIm]HCO3...