Degradation of sulfur mustard and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide on Cu–BTC metal organic framework

Cu–BTC metal organic framework, HKUST-1 was synthesized by solvothermal method and characterized using surface area analyser, scanning electron microscope, powder X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer and thermo gravimetric analyser. HKUST-1 thus produced and characterized, was studied for the degradation of sulfur mustard (HD) and its surrogate 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) using gas chromatograph coupled with flame ionization detector. From the reaction kinetics it was observed that the CEES degraded faster relative to HD. The rate constant and half life were found to be 0.02 min−1, 34.65 min and 0.043 min−1, 16.11 min for HD and CEES respectively. Degradation products were analyzed by gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometer. At the same time reusability of the HKUST-1 has also been explored.

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► Synthesis of Cu–BTC metal organic framework.
► Degradation of sulfur mustard and its simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide.
► Reaction pathway for degradation of sulfur mustard and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide.