Mesoporous MgAl2O4 and MgTiO3 nanoparticles modified polyacrylonitrile nanofibres for 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide degradation

Abstract

Degradation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES), a stimulant of sulfur mustard, was investigated on the surface of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibres embedded with magnesium aluminate and magnesium titanate nanoparticles. The magnesium aluminate and magnesium titanate nanoparticles were prepared by the hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption BET. These metal oxide nanoparticles were mixed with PAN solution individually and then electrospun to produce nanofibres. Later, they were studied against the degradation of 2-CEES at room temperature (30±2 °C) using gas-chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector. The degradation and reaction kinetics data reveal that the 2-CEES degraded faster with higher amount of embedded metal oxide nanoparticles in PAN nanofibres. Moreover, the degradation yield of 2-CEES was higher in the case of PAN nanofibres embedded with magnesium aluminate nanoparticles relative to PAN nanofibres embedded with magnesium titanate nanoparticles. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) studies showed that the PAN nanofibres embedded with magnesium aluminate and magnesium titanate nanoparticles degrade 2-CEES by the formation of covalent/alkoxide bonds between the surface reactive oxide/hydroxyl group of metal oxide nanoparticles and 2-CEES. The result explores the role of modified PAN nanofibres with magnesium aluminate on the effective degradation of 2-CEES and possesses a suitable candidate for protective application.