Photoassisted and photocatalytic degradation of sulfur mustard using TiO2 nanoparticles and polyoxometalates

Abstract

The decomposition of highly toxic chemical warfare agent, sulfur mustard (bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide or HD), has been studied by homogeneous photolysis and heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation on titania nanoparticles. Direct photolysis degradation of HD with irradiation system was investigated. The photocatalytic degradation of HD was investigated in the presence of TiO(2) nanoparticles and polyoxometalates embedded in titania nanoparticles in liquid phase at room temperature (33 ± 2 °C). Degradation products during the treatment were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Whereas apparent first-order kinetics of ultraviolet (UV) photolysis were slow (0.0091 min(-1)), the highest degradation rate is obtained in the presence of TiO(2) nanoparticles as nanophotocatalyst. Simultaneous photolysis and photocatalysis under the full UV radiation leads to HD complete destruction in 3 h. No degradation products observed in the presence of nanophotocatalyst without irradiation in 3 h. It was found that up to 90 % of agent was decomposed under of UV irradiation without TiO(2), in 6 h. The decontamination mechanisms are often quite complex and multiple mechanisms can be operable such as hydrolysis, oxidation, and elimination. By simultaneously carrying out photolysis and photocatalysis in hexane, we have succeeded in achieving faster HD decontamination after 90 min with low catalyst loading. TiO(2) nanoparticles proved to be a superior photocatalyst under UV irradiation for HD decontamination.

A computational study of water in UiO‐66 Zr‐MOFs: Diffusion, hydrogen bonding network, and confinement effect

“…2,3 However, significant drawbacks of those filters, such as low adsorption capacities, deactivation of the active sites and slow degradation kinetics, present an urgent need to develop improved materials capable of fast adsorption and decontamination of CWAs under ambient conditions. 4 These challenges have motivated research into a new category of catalytically active materials for CWAs decontamination, including metal oxides, 5 polyoxometalates, 6 and metal organic frameworks. 7,8 Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are a novel class of materials, formed by inorganic cores connected by organic linkers to extended networks with high porosities and ultrahigh surface areas.…”

Selective trimethylsilylation of alcohols and phenols with hexamethyldisilazane catalyzed by LaCoO3 perovskite

“…Gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) is an analytical technique that combines the features of gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify different substances within a test sample. GC-MS method is used in explosives investigation, drug detection, fire investigation, environmental analysis, and identification of unknown samples [18][19][20].…”

Acute Toxicity and Efficacy of Nanomaterial based Decontamination Formulation Developed for Personal Decontamination against Chemical Warfare Agents

“…Nanostructured inorganic metal oxides, such as Zinc Oxide (ZnO), Magnesium Oxide (MgO), and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), were widely studied and used with good results in chemical warfare agents oxidation and/or degradation reactions [7]. The catalytic performance of inorganic oxides in the decontamination is related to their form, size, and shape.…”