Adsorption, desorption and thermal oxidation of 2-CEES on nanocrystalline zeolites

In this study, FTIR spectroscopy and flow reactor measurements are used to investigate the adsorption, desorption and thermal oxidation of the mustard gas simulant, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES), on nanocrystalline zeolites. Adsorption, desorption and thermal oxidation of 2-CEES on nanocrystalline NaZSM-5 are compared to that on nanocrystalline silicalite-1, the purely siliceous form of ZSM-5. It is shown here that NaZSM-5 is more reactive toward 2-CEES compared to silicalite. Furthermore, it is shown that the total 2-CEES adsorption capacity increases as the nanocrystalline particle size decreases suggesting that adsorption occurs on the external surface as well as in the internal pores of zeolite. Both zeolites effectively adsorb 2-CEES, suggesting that 2-CEES adsorption and subsequent thermal oxidation may be a viable method for the decontamination of mustard gas.