Metal-organic framework-5 and graphene oxide (MOF-5@GO) composite for effective detoxification of highly hazardous sulfur mustard

Abstract

Sulfur mustard (SM) poses serious threats of intentional use against civilians, so it requires utmost and immediate attention for detoxification. Therefore, Metal-Organic Framework-5 (MOF-5), Graphene Oxide (GO), and MOF-5@GO composite materials are explored for effective detoxification of SM. The crystalline MOF-5@GO, having cubic morphology with a porous structure and abundant functional sites due to surface modification, is found to be responsible for the efficient adsorption of SM. Thermally stable MOF-5@GO consisting of Zn, C, and O in their stoichiometric form exhibits a high active surface area of ∼407.38 m2/g, which provides more accessible sites for adsorption of SM and, thereafter, detoxification. The synergistic interactions between MOF-5 and GO in the MOF-5@GO composite delivered 92 % adsorption for the SM, which is ∼2.5 and ∼1.6 times higher than pristine GO and MOF-5, respectively. The adsorptive removal of SM exhibits pseudo-first-order kinetics with rate constant (k), half-life (t1/2), and maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 24.66 × 10–2/h, 2.81 h, and 18.01 mg/g, respectively. The GC–MS analysis reveals better degradation of sulfur mustard into relatively non-toxic thiodiglycol, etc., products for the MOF-5@GO composite. Therefore, MOF-5@GO is a very efficient and eco-friendly contender for outstanding performance in detoxifying highly hazardous SM. © 2025