Chemical targets to deactivate biological and chemical toxins using surfaces and fabrics

Jabbour, Christia R; Parker, Luke; Hutter, Eline M.; Weckhuysen, Bert M.

doi:10.1038/s41570-021-00275-4

Cited by 57 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 114 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…Due to the complex and turbulent international situation in contemporary society, chemical warfare agents (CWAs) remain pose huge and acute threats to ecological environment, agriculture and human health despite being explicitly banned decades ago by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. − Recent incidents in Syria and Malaysia have attracted renewed interest in novel materials for rapidly neutralizing and degrading these deadly agents that exist in liquid and aerosol forms. − To date, apart from the impermeable encapsulated protective barriers with built-in breathing apparatus for personnel protection, activated carbon and its modified compounds have been the most exclusively used sorbents in filters to prevent accidental inhalation of CWAs. , However, these carbon-based materials still suffer from poor sorption capacity, secondary pollution after saturation, and high-cost ultimate disposal, which limit their practical application in the long run. , Thus, it is imperative to develop multifunctional chemical protective materials not only with appealing adsorptive capability but with the ability to decompose lethal chemical toxins into less toxic or nontoxic ones.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanoflake-Engineered Zirconic Fibrous Aerogels with Parallel-Arrayed Conduits for Fast Nerve Agent Degradation

Liao

Yang

et al. 2021

Nano Lett.

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Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) pose huge threats to ecological environments, agriculture, and human health due to the turbulent international situation in contemporary society. Zirconium hydroxide (Zr(OH) 4 ) has captured the prime focus as an effective candidate for CWA decomposition but is often hindered by the isolated powder form. Here, we demonstrate a scalable three-dimensional space-confined synthetic strategy to fabricate nanoflake-engineered zirconic fibrous aerogels (NZFAs). Our strategy enables the stereoscopic Zr(OH) 4 nanoflakes vertically and evenly in situ grown on the interconnected fibrous framework, remarkably enlarging the surface area and providing rich active sites for CWA catalysis. The as-synthesized NZFAs exhibit intriguing properties of ultralow density (>0.37 mg cm −3 ), shape-memory behavior under 90% strain, and robust fatigue resistance over 10 6 compression cycles at 40% strain. Meanwhile, the high air permeability, prominent adsorptivity, and reusability make them state-of-the-art chemical protective materials. This work may provide an avenue for developing next-generation aerogel-based catalysts and beyond.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanoflake-Engineered Zirconic Fibrous Aerogels with Parallel-Arrayed Conduits for Fast Nerve Agent Degradation

Liao

Yang

et al. 2021

Nano Lett.

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“…On the other hand, the fluorescence intensity of 1 + DCP gradually decreased with time (Figures b and S16b). Such observations indicate hydrolysis of the phosphorylated intermediate in aqueous medium with concurrent release of the less-toxic organophosphate end product. The comparison studies indicate the formation of protonated species ( 1H + ) in the reaction medium (Figure S17a).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Imidazole-Functionalized Y-Shaped Push–Pull Dye for Nerve Agent Sensing as well as a Catalyst for Their Detoxification

et al. 2021

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A Y-shaped push–pull dye (1) with N,N-dimethylanilino donors and a benzonitrile acceptor connected via an imidazole-based π-conjugated spacer was designed. It showed a dark yellow color in solution due to facile intramolecular charge-transfer interaction, but no fluorescence was detected, presumably due to the photo-induced electron transfer effect of the imidazole moiety. However, addition of nerve agents such as diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP, sarin mimic) and diethyl cyanophosphate (DCNP, Tabun mimic) resulted in a blue-colored fluorescence with fading of the native dark yellow color. Mechanistic studies indicated nucleophilic attack of imidazole at the phosphorus of DCP or DCNP, leading to the formation of a phosphorylated intermediate, which undergoes time-dependent hydrolysis (∼24 h) in aqueous medium. This process recovers the free probe (enzyme-like behavior) and releases a less-toxic organophosphate compound as the byproduct. The phosphorylated derivative of 1, formed during such interaction, shows a different electronic behavior, which reduces the extent of charge-transfer interaction as well as nonradiative decay and supports emissive properties. Considering the high sensitivity of 1 towards DCP and DCNP with LOD 35 and 42 ppb, we prepared easy test strips for on-site vapor-phase detection of nerve agents.

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“…However, a selective oxidation must be done in order to avoid the formation of harmful by-products, such as in the case of over-oxidation, where there can be a formation of bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfoxide, which has very similar health issues to the ones linked with sulfur mustard gas [52]. Finally, according to Jabbour et al [53], hydrophobic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with the use of amphiphilic catalysts are preferred for the removal of sulfur mustard gas and its stimulants from water. 4.6.5.…”

Section: Sulfur Mustard Agents Detoxificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preparedness Plan for the Water Supply Infrastructure during Water Terrorism—A Case Study from Irbid, Jordan

Hindiyeh

Albatayneh

Tarawneh

et al. 2021

Water

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Terrorism is a crucial danger to the world, especially the Middle East. As Jordan is amidst countries with armed conflicts, its natural resources (in particularly, water resources) are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. In this paper, possible biological and chemical weapons that can be used as intimidation, along with their threats, vulnerabilities, and inactivation methods, concerning water treatment processes in the municipality of Irbid, are studied. Irbid is the second largest city in terms of population in Jordan, after the capital city of Amman, and it is the nearest governorate to Syria borders that is considered a war zone. After conducting risk assessment that takes into consideration criticality, threats, and vulnerability, it appears that only one of the eight units, which is the Makhraba pumping station, along with the Bushra water tank, were identified as medium risk. The other units have treatment processes and proper precautions that are able to inactivate or prevent any possible contamination. A response plan should be set by developing a telemetry system with specific sensors that can detect any sudden and unacceptable threats to the water quality and that has the ability to shut down the concerned units automatically.

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Chemical targets to deactivate biological and chemical toxins using surfaces and fabrics

Cited by 57 publications

References 114 publications

Nanoflake-Engineered Zirconic Fibrous Aerogels with Parallel-Arrayed Conduits for Fast Nerve Agent Degradation

Nanoflake-Engineered Zirconic Fibrous Aerogels with Parallel-Arrayed Conduits for Fast Nerve Agent Degradation

Imidazole-Functionalized Y-Shaped Push–Pull Dye for Nerve Agent Sensing as well as a Catalyst for Their Detoxification

Preparedness Plan for the Water Supply Infrastructure during Water Terrorism—A Case Study from Irbid, Jordan

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