Analysis of interactions of mustard gas surrogate vapors with porous carbon textiles

Abstract

Four porous activated carbon textiles have been evaluated as protective media against 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) vapors, a surrogate of the chemical warfare agent Mustard gas. In contrast to other results reported in the literature which have been collected in solutions, our experiments were conducted from a vapor phase in ambient air and these conditions resemble those of CWA potential applications. Besides the determination of the maximum adsorption capability, the adsorption/interaction strength was also evaluated based on desorption tests. The tested textiles were able to adsorb marked amounts of CEES (up to 324 mg/g). The desorption extent, more than that of adsorption, was controlled by the microporosity and chemical composition of the surface; however, the involved factors were found as very complex. The analysis of the headspace of the adsorption system and of the surface of the samples after exposure to CEES revealed that the studied textiles were also able to degrade the CEES molecules to less toxic compounds. The obtained results showed that porous carbon textiles can act not only as high-capacity adsorbents of toxic vapors but also as catalysts for their degradation.