Magnesium Aluminate Nanoparticles for Chemical Detoxification of Sarin and Soman.

The solutions of Mg(NO3)(2), Al(NO3)(3), and (NH4)(2)CO3 were mixed at pH 8 and then heated at 95 degrees C for 4 h, aged at room temperature for 16 h, and calcined at 650 degrees C for 4 h to obtain magnesium aluminate nanoparticles. The obtained materials exhibited spinel structure with the particle size being 6 to 26 nm. The nanoparticles demonstrated type IV nitrogen adsorption isotherm, typical of mesoporosity with a surface area of 325 m(2)/g. They were utilized for studies on chemical detoxification of deadly chemical warfare agents such as sarin and soman. Our results showed that the magnesium aluminate nanoparticles effectively decontaminated more than 99% of sarin and soman within 8-10 min when used at a ratio of 1:50-60% w/w.