Synthesis of mesoporous metal aluminate nanoparticles and studies on the decontamination of sulfur mustard

Abstract

Magnesium, calcium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc aluminate nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method. They were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive analysis of X rays, nitrogen adsorption techniques. Transmission electron microscopy data indicated the formation of mesoporous metal aluminate nanoparticles with particle size ranging from 5 to 100 nm. X ray diffraction data indicated the formation of metal aluminate nanoparticles with spinel structure. Nitrogen adsorption data of metal aluminate nanoparticles illustrated mesoporosity with the values of surface area ranging from 63 to 325 m2/g. These mesoporous metal aluminate nanoparticles were used for decontamination of sulfur mustard and the decontamination reactions exhibited first order behavior. Magnesium aluminate nanoparticles showed greater decontamination efficiency relative to other ones and decontaminated 100% of sulfur mustard within 4 h where others took more time to completely degrade it. The promising decontamination properties of metal aluminates 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.