A Novel Method for the Synthesis of CaO Nanoparticle for the Decomposition of Sulfurous Pollutant

Abstract

In this research, CaO (calcium oxide) nanoparticles were synthesized by Co-Precipitation method in the absence and presence of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) via using calcium (II) nitrate. The Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was used as a capping agent to control the agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The synthesized samples were characterized via SEM, XRD and FTIR techniques. The average sizes of nanoparticles were determined by XRD data and Scherer equation. The decomposition reactions of 2-chloroethyl phenyl sulfide (2-CEPS) as a sulfurous pollutant has been investigated on the CaO nanoparticles (NPs)/ Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) surface at ambient temperature and monitored via using gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and FTIR spectrum. The GC analysis results revealed that 75% and 100% of 2-CEPS was found to be decomposed (adsorbed/destructed) in isopropanol and heptane solvents with weight ratio of 1:40(2-CEPS: CaO) after 12 h, respectively. On the other hand, these values for the weight ratios of 1:10, 1:20 and 1:30 were lower. The hydrolysis and elimination products; i.e. hydroxyl ethyl phenyl sulfide (HEPS) and phenyl vinyl sulfide (PVS) were identified by GC-MS respectively.