XploSafe manufactures and markets OSU-6 sorbent, an MCM-41 mesoporous silica that has the highest surface area, pore-volume, thermal stability, and resistance to hydrolysis of this type of material. The unique properties of mesoporous silicas stem from their exceptionally high surface area and distinctive cylindrical pores. XploSafe has demonstrated theoretically and experimentally that the curved surface of the cylindrical nanopores can bind organic compounds via enhanced van der Waals forces. As these forces are non-specific, OSU-6 is an excellent sorbent for an extremely wide range of nonpolar and polar organic molecules. The present work will include XploSafe’s recent efforts in applying this versatile sorbent in the passive sampling of a wide class of toxic chemicals with both high and low vapor pressures. There is an immense need for a universal sorbent capable of capturing a wide range of types of chemicals to meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which has established limits and compliance standards to minimize exposure of employees to hazardous chemicals. This presentation will demonstrate the superior performance of OSU-6 sorbent compared to the conventionally used activated carbon sorbents that are limited in the types of organic volatiles that they capture. Furthermore, carbon-based sorbents often react with the organics either too weakly or too strongly/irreversibly, further limiting their employment in the uptake and long-term storage of highly volatile or reactive organic compounds. The sorbent performance with chemicals including aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons, carbonyls, alcohols, and organophosphates will be summarized in this work. Overall, the work presented here echoes XploSafe’s overarching mission to create safe environments through chemical detection and neutralization.

Sorbent based on nanoconfinement technology that has excellent Uptake Performance for a broad range of organic Analytes

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.