The Use of Methyltricaprylylammonium Chloride as a Phase Transfer Catalyst for the Destruction of Methyl Bromide in Air Streams

Methyl bromide has been used for decades as a pesticide, primarily as an insecticide. It has also been recently advocated as an excellent agent for the destruction of anthrax spores via fumigation. Related to this use is the need to efficiently destroy methyl bromide safely, once fumigation is complete. This paper describes the selection of a nucleophile for instantaneous decomposition of methyl bromide to destroy methyl bromide in a fumigation vent air stream from an office trailer. Our preliminary data showed that sulfide anion dissolved in water is an exceptionally effective nucleophile for the purpose of CH3Br decomposition. We show data proving the effectiveness of the sodium sulfide aqueous solution accompanied by methyltricaprylylammonium chloride as a phase transfer catalyst for scrubbing methyl bromide present in air.