Fabrication of nanocomposite membranes from nanofibers and nanoparticles for protection against chemical warfare stimulants

Nanoparticles of MgO were synthesized by Aero gel method. These MgO nanoparticles were then mixed with various polymer solutions (poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF copolymer), polysulfone (PSU)) and then subjected to electrospinning to produce nanocomposite membranes. The hydrolysis of paraoxon, a never agent stimulant, in presence of these membranes was studied using UV. The order of the reactivity of the membranes are found to be PVC-MgO < PVDF < PSU < PVDF-MgO < PSU-MgO. After selecting PSU as the supportive candidate, relative rates of hydrolysis were compared for nanoparticles or charcoal with nanocomposite membranes. The order is as follows; Charcoal (1) < PSU-Al₂O₃ (1.5) < PSU-MgO (2.1) < Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (2.8) < MgO nanoparticles (5.4). The amount of hydrolysis of PSU-MgO composite membrane was 60% less when compared to MgO nanoparticles as such usage. The loading percentage of MgO into nanofiber is 35 %. The fabricated composite membrane (containing 5% MgO) was tested for chemical warfare agent stimulant, paraoxon, and found to be about 2 times more reactive than currently used charcoal.