Carbon Textiles Modified with Copper-Based Reactive Adsorbents as Efficient Media for Detoxification of Chemical Warfare Agents

Carbon textile swatch was oxidized and impregnated with copper hydroxynitrate. A subsample was then further heated at 280 degrees C to form copper oxide. The swatches preserved their integrity through the treatments. As final products, they exhibited remarkable detoxification properties for the nerve agent surrogate dimethyl chlorophos-phate (DMCP). Based on the amount of reactive copper phases deposited on the fibers, their adsorption capacities were higher than those of the bulk powders. After 1 day exposure to DMCP (1:1 weight ratio adsorbent/DMCP), 99% of the initial amount of DMCP was eliminated. A synergistic effect of the composite components was clearly seen. GC-MS results showed that the main surface reaction product was chloromethane. Its formation indicated hydrolysis as a detoxification path. Surface analyses showed phosphate bonding to the fibers and formation of copper chloride. The appearance of the latter species results in a clear textile color Change, which suggests the application of these fabrics not only as catalytic protection agents but also as sensors of nerve agents.