Sunlight assisted photocatalytic detoxification of sulfur mustard on vanadium ion doped titania nanocatalysts

• Synthesis of V doped nano TiO2 by sol–gel method followed by hydrothermal treatment.
• Doped nano TiO2 exhibited superior sun light activity than bare nano TiO2.
• Doped nano TiO2 showed better reactivity against HD.
• HD was degraded to its hydrolysis, elimination and oxidation products.

Photocatalytic detoxification of sulfur mustard was studied on vanadium ion doped titania nanocatalysts under the irradiation of sunlight. Data obtained on vanadium ion doped titania nanocatalyst was compared with that of bare and commercial TiO2 nanocatalysts. Vanadium ion doped titania nanocatalyst was found to be more active than bare and commercial titania nanocatalysts towards the photocatalytic detoxification of sulfur mustard in ecological sunlight irradiation. 100% of sulfur mustard was found to be detoxified within 180 min on vanadium ion doped TiO2 nanocatalyst. Whereas, it took 240 min for bare TiO2 and 420 min for commercial TiO2 nanocatalysts to completely degrade sulfur mustard. Sulfur mustard was found to have degraded to products like acetaldehyde, carbon dioxide, disulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone of sulfur mustard, chloro ethyl vinyl sulfide, chloro ethyl vinyl sulfoxide, etc.

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