Cleaning carcinogenic nitrosamines with zeolites

N-nitrosamines are characterized with an N-nitroso group N-NO. N-nitrosamines are strong carcinogens or potent carcinogens. Nitrosamines occur widely in the environment, e.g., as tobacco smoke that causes cancers of lungs, larynx, oral cavity and pharynx, pancreas, kidney and bladder. It is difficult to capture selectively N-nitrosamines in the environment. Therefore, zeolite, which is a molecular sieve, may help to sequester N-nitrosamines. Zeolites are a class of aluminosilicates, characterized by ordered microporous structures with acidic-basic sites on the surface and energetic field inside the pores. They have been widely applied in industry as adsorbents and catalysts because of their unique shape selectivity. Here, we review the latest research on adsorption and catalytic degradation of N-nitrosamines by zeolite materials. The efficiency of zeolite is increased using metal oxides. Removal of N-nitrosamines in smoke is discussed.