title: Sensitizers on inorganic carriers for decomposition of the chemical warfare agent yperite.
abstract: Sulfur-containing compounds, such as mercaptans, alkali sulfides, alkali sulfites, and alkali thiosulfates, are byproducts of industrial processes and pollutants of waste and natural waters. Other sulfur-containing compounds such as yperite are dangerous chemical weapons. Efficient photocatalytic decomposition of these molecules is a process that can find applications in emergency situations or for the controlled destruction of chemical warfare stockpiles. A series of heterogeneous photocatalysts consisting of a metal phthalocyanine or 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium as photoactive components encapsulated inside the cavities of zeolite Y or the mesoporous channels of MCM-41 or supported on silica or titania-silica was tested for the photocatalytic decomposition of yperite. Two types of photoreactors, either an open reactor naturally aerated or a closed quartz tube with a constant airflow using UV or visible ambient light were used. These tests demonstrated that iron and manganese phthalocyanine and 2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium embedded in NaY or titania-silica can be suitable solid photocatalysts for the degradation of yperite using UV and visible irradiation.
authors.affiliation: University of Bucharest, Department of Chemical Technology and Catalysis, B-dul Regina Elisabeta 4-12, Bucharest 030016, Romania.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cojocaru
authors.forename: Vasile I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Parvulescu
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Preda
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iepure
authors.forename: Vasile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Somoghi
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.forename: Hermenegildo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C498029:2,4,6-triphenylpyrylium; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; C509968:MCM-41; D017641:Zeolites; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D009151:Mustard Gas