The Open Process Chemistry Journal

2008, 1 : 1-7
Published online 2008 August 15 . DOI: 10.2174/1875180601001010006
Publisher ID: TOCPCJ-1-1

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Zirconium Doped Titania: Destruction of Warfare Agents and Photocatalytic Degradation of Orange 2 Dye

V Štengl, *,1 , S Bakardjieva1 , N Murafa1 and F Opluštil2
1 Institute of Inorganic Chemistry AS CR v.v.i., 250 68 Řež, Czech Republic
2 Military Technical Institute of Protection Brno, Veslařská 230, 628 00 Brno, Czech Republic

* Address correspondence to this author at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry ASCR v.v.i., Husinec-Rez, 250 68, Czech Republic; Tel: +042-2-6617- 3144; Fax: +042-2-2094-1502; E-mail: stengl@iic.cas.cz

ABSTRACT

The homogeneous hydrolysis mixture of titanium oxo-sulphate and zirconium oxo-sulphate with urea at temperature 100°C has been used to prepare Zr4+ doped anatase with high specific surface area. The structure of the prepared samples was determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The morphology and microstructure characteristics were also obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM). The nitrogen adsorption-desorption was used for surface area (BET) and porosity determination. These oxides were taken for experimental evaluation of their reactivity with yperite (2,2´-dichloroethyl sulfide or HD or sulphur mustard), soman (3,3-dimethyl-2-butyl methylphosphonofluoridate or GD) and matter VX (O-ethyl S-2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methylphosphonothionate). The photoactivity of the prepared samples was assessed by the photocatalytic decomposition of Orange 2 dye in an aqueous slurry under irradiation of 254 nm and 365 nm wavelength

Key Words:

Anatase, mustard gas, soman, VX, detoxification agents, chemical warfare agents, photocatalysis.