Robust Nanocellulose/Metal-Organic Framework Aerogel Composites: Superior Performance for Static and Continuous Disposal of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants

Environment-friendly and robust nanocellulose/metal-organic framework aerogel composites were prepared for effective detoxification of chemical warfare agent simulants both in static and dynamic continuous flow systems. For this, we fabricated a durable porous composite of the UiO-66 catalyst and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCN) to examine as a detoxification filter. Even with over 50 wt % UiO-66, the obtained cellulose aerogel composites exhibited high stability without leaking of UiO-66 for 4 weeks under an aqueous state. The cellulose aerogel composite with 54 wt % UiO-66 showed a quite high surface area (483 m(2) g(-1)) despite the presence of TOCN, which caused fast degradation of methyl paraoxon (MPO), a nerve agent simulant, with a 0.7 min half-life in an aqueous solution with N-ethylmorpholine buffer. This aerogel composite was then examined as the detoxification filter in the continuous flow system under a 7.2 mL h(-1) flow rate, which surprisingly decomposed 53.7 g of MPO within 1 h with 1 m(2) of the effective area.

Automated summary

A durable and environmentally friendly composite of nanocellulose/metal-organic framework aerogel was prepared for effective detoxification of chemical warfare agent simulants in both static and dynamic continuous flow systems. The composite showed high stability and efficiency in removing nerve agent simulants, making it a promising candidate for detoxification filters.