(441f) Destruction of Tnt and Related Compounds by a Solid-State Monolayer Photocatalyst

Using a proprietary porphyrin-based catalyst covalently bound as a monolayer on a solid fiber support (such as fiberglass), aqueous TNT is mineralized to yield CO2 and NH3 as end products using the visible portion of sunlight as the sole energy source. Water is the sole reactant other than TNT. Three (3) ammonia molecules are produced from each TNT destroyed. The pathway of chemical intermediates involved has been characterized by GC-MS, HPLC, and ion chromatographic analytical techniques. In contrast, use of non-immobilized porphyrins and metalloporphyrins (in solution) results in demethylation of TNT only with the final end product being trinitrobenzene. Photocatalysis occurs in a flow process reactor of common glass; the process can be ?scaled up? to large volumes of material by using multiple ?monomeric? modules in parallel. ?Pink water? containing numerous nitro-benzenes and ?toluenes is also destroyed in a single cost-effective procedure.