Metal ferrite nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, and studies on decontamination of sulfur mustard

Abstract

Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn-Zn, and Co-Zn metal ferrite and mixed metal ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method and were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption techniques. Transmission electron microscopy data indicated the formation of metal ferrite and mixed metal ferrite nanoparticles with particle sizes varying from 2 to 88 nm. X-ray diffraction data indicated the formation of metal ferrite and mixed metal ferrite nanoparticles with spinel phase. The metal ferrite nanoparticles were found to be mesoporous and exhibited surface area values in the range of 62–257 m2/g. The ferrite nanoparticles were used in decontaminating sulfur mustard and the reactions exhibited first order behavior. Out of them, Ni, Zn, and Co-Zn ferrite nanoparticles showed greater decontamination efficiency in comparison to other ferrite nanoparticles. While Ni, Zn, and Co-Zn ferrite nanoparticles decontaminated 99.99% of sulfur mustard within 10 h other ferrite nanoparticles took about 16 h to degrade the same. The metal ferrite and mixed metal ferrite nanoparticles degraded toxic sulfur mustard into relatively non toxic products like chloro ethyl vinyl sulfide, hydroxy ethyl vinyl sulfide, hemisulfur mustard, and 1,4-oxathiane. The promising decontamination properties of metal ferrite nanoparticles against sulfur mustard were attributed to the basic sites, Lewis acid sites, and the presence of these sites was confirmed by CO2 and NH3 temperature programmed desorption.