Journal of Inorganic Materials ›› 2016, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (4): 427-433.DOI: 10.15541/jim20150450

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Degradation of Chemical Warfare Agents by Germanium-doped Nanosized TiO2 under Simulated Sunlight Irradiation

SHEN Zhong1, 2, ZHONG Jin-Yi1, 3, ZHAO Yuan-Zhong1, CUI Yan1, 3, CHEN Li-Kun1, ZHENG He1, 3   

  1. (1. Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Beijing 102205, China; 2. North-western Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi’an  710024, China; 3. State key Lab of NBC Protection for Civilian, Bejing 102205, China)
  • Received:2015-09-18 Revised:2015-11-17 Published:2016-04-20 Online:2016-03-25
  • About author:SHEN Zhong. E-mail: shenzhong_626@163.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (21207160)

Abstract:

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles doped with varying amounts of germanium were prepared by homogeneous precipitation method. To investigate the relationship between doping content and photocatalytic activity, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulphide (2-CEES) and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) on the prepared samples were examined, and the data were fitted by a kinetic equation. After that, physical properties of the samples were determined by XRD, UV-Vis, BET, BJH, SEM, and TEM. For consideration of toxicity, volatility, flammability, and solubility, hydrofluoroether (HFE) was first used as dispersion solvent. Ge-TiO2 was dispersed in HFE-458 (HCF2CF2CH2OCF2CF2H), and the disinfection efficiency of sulphur mustard (HD), soman (GD) and S-2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl O-ethyl methylphosphonothiolate (VX) were studied under the simulated sunlight irradiation. These results show that Ge (6.24wt%)-TiO2 exhibits the best photocatalytic performance. Appropriate amount of Ge dopant doesn’t change the crystal structure of TiO2, but reduces the grain size, increases the surface area, improves the light utilization, and improves the photocatalytic disinfection activity of TiO2. After reacting with Ge(6.24wt%)-TiO2 and HFE-458 suspension for 60 min, the degradation efficiency of HD, GD and VX is 98.73%, 100% and 100%, respectively.

Key words: chemical warfare agents, decontamination, germanium-doped, titanium dioxide, hydrofluoroether, simulated sunlight irradiation

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