Dynamic adsorption of dimethyl methyl Phosphonate and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide on zeolite-MOR and its nanocomposites monitored by gas chromatography flame ionized detector (GC-FID)

Present paper highlights the adsorption performances of mordenite (MOR), polyaniline-mordenite (PANI/MOR), copper oxide-mordenite (CuO/MOR) and silver oxide-mordenite (AgO/MOR) nanocomposites toward decontamination of toxic chemical warfare agent’s (CWA)simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES, blistering agent simulant) and dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP, nerve agent simulant) at normal condition of temperature (30 ± 2 °C) and pressure. Composite of MOR zeolite with polyaniline (PANI) was prepared by oxidative polymerization using ammonium per sulfate as an initiator. The composites of MOR zeolite and metal oxide (CuO/MOR) and (AgO/MOR) were prepared by taking aqueous solution of corresponding metal nitrates using ion exchange technique. Adsorption experiments were monitored by gas chromatography – flame ionize detector (GC-FID) to detect ions concentration. Nanocomposites were characterized by techniques such as XRD, FTIR, FESEM-EDX, TGA, UV-Vis and BET. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows the crystalline nature of parent zeolite and its nanocomposites. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis reveals that mordenite, PANI/MOR and AgO/MOR have polyhedron, agglomerated rough and fibrous elongated surfaces, respectively. From SEM analysis, obtained particle size was in the range of 2 to 14.5 μm. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis depicts that the surface area of MOR, PANI/MOR, AgO/MOR and CuO/MOR were 93.07, 166.49, 120.31and 93.51 m2/g, respectively. AgO/MOR and PANI/MOR nanocomposites were found good adsorbent candidate. The nanocomposite of AgO/MOR was able to decontaminate ∼ 100% in 6 h. We are also able to remove DMMP by PANI/MOR up to ∼ 100%.