Carbon Textiles Modified with Copper-Based Reactive Adsorbents as Efficient Media for Detoxification of Chemical Warfare Agents

Abstract

Carbon textile swatch was oxidized and impregnated with copper hydroxynitrate. A subsample was then further heated at 280 °C to form copper oxide. The swatches preserved their integrity through the treatments. As final products, they exhibited remarkable detoxification properties for the nerve agent surrogate dimethyl chlorophosphate (DMCP). Based on the amount of reactive copper phases deposited on the fibers, their adsorption capacities were higher than those of the bulk powders. After 1 day exposure to DMCP (1:1 weight ratio adsorbent/DMCP), 99% of the initial amount of DMCP was eliminated. A synergistic effect of the composite components was clearly seen. GC-MS results showed that the main surface reaction product was chloromethane. Its formation indicated hydrolysis as a detoxification path. Surface analyses showed phosphate bonding to the fibers and formation of copper chloride. The appearance of the latter species results in a clear textile color change, which suggests the application of these fabrics not only as catalytic protection agents but also as sensors of nerve agents.

Nanoflake-Engineered Zirconic Fibrous Aerogels with Parallel-Arrayed Conduits for Fast Nerve Agent Degradation

“…Due to the complex and turbulent international situation in contemporary society, chemical warfare agents (CWAs) remain pose huge and acute threats to ecological environment, agriculture and human health despite being explicitly banned decades ago by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. − Recent incidents in Syria and Malaysia have attracted renewed interest in novel materials for rapidly neutralizing and degrading these deadly agents that exist in liquid and aerosol forms. − To date, apart from the impermeable encapsulated protective barriers with built-in breathing apparatus for personnel protection, activated carbon and its modified compounds have been the most exclusively used sorbents in filters to prevent accidental inhalation of CWAs. , However, these carbon-based materials still suffer from poor sorption capacity, secondary pollution after saturation, and high-cost ultimate disposal, which limit their practical application in the long run. , Thus, it is imperative to develop multifunctional chemical protective materials not only with appealing adsorptive capability but with the ability to decompose lethal chemical toxins into less toxic or nontoxic ones.…”

“…4−6 To date, apart from the impermeable encapsulated protective barriers with built-in breathing apparatus for personnel protection, activated carbon and its modified compounds have been the most exclusively used sorbents in filters to prevent accidental inhalation of CWAs. 7,8 However, these carbon-based materials still suffer from poor sorption capacity, secondary pollution after saturation, and high-cost ultimate disposal, which limit their practical application in the long run. 9,10 Thus, it is imperative to develop multifunctional chemical protective materials not only with appealing adsorptive capability but with the ability to decompose lethal chemical toxins into less toxic or nontoxic ones.…”

Mustard Gas Surrogate Interactions with Modified Porous Carbon Fabrics: Effect of Oxidative Treatment

“…Other fibers such as modified polyamide-based 8,25 or carbon have been also recently tested for CWAs surrogate detoxification. 21,26,27 In the case of cotton or synthetic fiber modifications, a fibrous support acts mainly as a catalyst dispersant. Carbonbased textiles, on the other hand, besides being chemically and thermally stable and lightweight, have also the capability to adsorb CWA, not only on the external surface, owing to their hydrophobic surface, but also in the pores.…”

“…Our recent work on nonporous carbon fiber swatches loaded with copper oxides showed higher reactivity of these materials toward a nerve agent surrogate existing in the vapor phase. 26 Taking the above into account, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the detoxification ability of a next generation of elastic carbon fabrics against two mustard gas surrogates, 2chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) and diethyl sulfide (EES). The experiments have been carried out from the vapor phase, which might be the condition of the real life deployment of mustard gas.…”

Novel Approaches Utilizing Metal-Organic Framework Composites for the Extraction of Organic Compounds and Metal Traces from Fish and Seafood

“…Moreover, covering fibers with a layer of the active phase showed as an alternative functional approach, leading to high dispersion and availability of the active sites. Finally, the formation of graphitic/carbon-based material with incorporated NPs, derived after carbonization of functionalized MOFs, is a prosperous technique which can additionally serve as a potential way for the use of the spent samples for alternative applications [64][65][66].…”