Continuous Flow Composite Membrane Catalysts for Efficient Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c08276
• Publication Date: 2020-06-27T07:35:23Z
• Authors: Jin Young Seo; Kie Yong Cho; Jung-Hyun Lee; Min Wook Lee; Kyung-Youl Baek
• Keywords: Chemical Warfare Agents; Chemical warfare

Continuous and safe decomposition of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is a critical requirement to protect both soldiers citizens eliminate the stockpiles after cold war. The Zr-based metal–organic framework (Zr-MOF) has been known as most effective catalyst for decomposing CWAs, especially fatal nerve agents, however, its low processability due powder form limits expansion actual military applications. To this end, composite membrane catalysts (CMCs) comprising Zr-MOF (UiO-66 catalyst) nylon 6 nanofiber (porous supporter) are developed by simple integration electrospray electrospinning, resulting in selective immobilization UiO-66 on surface nanofibers. These strategical benefits CMCs gave super catalytic durability including recyclability over five times without decreasing activity methyl paraoxon (MPO), simulant agent, presence N-ethylmorpholine (N-EM), which was not achieved original particulate UiO-66. Because excellent physical stabilities CMCs, CMC with 56 wt % (CMC56) decomposed 198 g MPO within an hour continuous flow system rate 21.6 mL h–1. This study highlights important strategies designing feasible membrane-type superior robust CWAs system.