Detoxification of a Mustard-Gas Simulant by Nanosized Porphyrin-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Selectivity control of the decomposition of sulfur mustard (bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide) under photo-oxidation conditions using molecular oxygen remains a challenge. In this work, the photo-oxidation of a mustard-gas simulant, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), was studied using porphyrin-based metal–organic framework (Por-MOFs) catalysts. It is shown that Por-MOFs are selective oxidizing agents in the transformation of CEES into 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfoxide (CEESO) without the formation of the highly toxic sulfone product 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfone (CEESO2). This method to detoxify mustard gas is regarded as more realistic, convenient, and effective than the other available methods.