organic frameworks that include catalytic components incorporated throughout the framework. These covalent organic frameworks have unique structural and physical properties, which lend these frameworks to be versatile and useful in a number of different applications and uses and chemical reactions. In one, the covalent organic frameworks include a plurality of fused aromatic groups or polyaromatic groups and ligands, where catalytic components such as transition metal catalysts are coordinated by the ligand to the frameworks.

Materials for decontamination of compounds having a phosphorous-sulfur bond or a phosphorous-oxygen bond. A porous polymer, such as poly(dicyclopentadiene), contains particles of zirconium hydroxide. The polymer optionally has hydroperoxide groups.

Enzyme-immobilizing MOFs and methods for their use in enzymatically catalyzed reactions are provided. The MOFs are channel-type MOFs that present a hierarchical pore structure comprising a first set of large channels sized for enzyme immobilization and a second set of smaller channels running alongside of the large channels that remain enzyme-free and allow for reactant delivery to the enzymes and product expulsion from the larger channels.

A composite material is provided comprising a porous polymeric matrix having metal-organic framework (MOF) domains dispersed within the porous polymeric matrix, each of said MOF domains in fluid communication with the external environment through the pores in the porous polymeric matrix. A process of using the composite material to chemically modify or detoxify a chemical warfare agent or a toxic industrial chemical is also provided. The chemical warfare agent or the toxic industrial chemical is brought into contact with a MOF domain within the porous polymeric matrix so that the MOFs adsorb and chemically modify the chemical warfare agent or the toxic industrial chemical. A process for producing such a composite material is also disclosed.

An adsorbent and photocatalytic decontamination gel consisting of a colloidal solution comprising, preferably consisting of: 8% to 30% by weight, preferably 10% to 30% by weight, more preferably 15% to 20% by weight, better still 15% to 20% by weight, the value 15% being excluded, even better still 16% to 20% by weight, for example 20% by weight of TiO.sub.2, optionally doped, relative to the weight of the gel; optionally 0.01% to 10% by weight, preferably 0.1% to 5% by weight, relative to the weight of the gel, of at least one dye and/or of at least one pigment; optionally 0.1% to 2% by weight, relative to the weight of the gel, of at least one surfactant; optionally 0.05% to 5% by weight, preferably 0.05% to 2% by weight, relative to the weight of the gel, of at least one superabsorbent polymer; and the balance of solvent.

Disclosed is a method of decontamination by exposing a zirconium oxy(hydroxide) aerogel to a liquid, vapor, or gaseous sample suspected of containing a phosphonate compound. The aerogel may be doped with Fe.sup.3+ ions, Ce.sup.3+ ions, or SO.sub.4.sup.2− ions. The aerogel may be made by: providing a solution of ZrCl.sub.4; FeCl.sub.3, CeCl.sub.3, or Zr(SO.sub.4).sub.2; and a solvent; adding a cyclic ether to the solution to form a gel; infiltrating the gel with liquid carbon dioxide; applying a temperature and pressure to form supercritical fluid carbon dioxide; and removing the carbon dioxide for form an aerogel.

A device for destroying a chemical agent is described. The device includes a self-contained, portable pressure vessel which is dimensioned to accommodate an artillery shell, and a heat-generating component within the pressure vessel. The heat-generating component is capable of providing a pyrolytic, exothermic reaction capable of destroying the chemical agent and artillery shell. A process for destroying a chemical agent which includes placing a chemical artillery shell within the pressure vessel, securing the pressure vessel closed, and igniting the heat-generating component inside the pressure vessel to generate a pyrolytic, exothermic reaction capable of destroying the chemical agent and artillery shell is also described.

Textile fibers at least partially coated with a coating that includes particles of metal-organic frameworks dispersed in a polymeric base are provided. Also provided are fabrics formed from the textile fibers, protective gear and articles of clothing made from the fabrics, and methods of using the fibers and fabrics to catalyze the hydrolysis of organic molecules, such as organophosphate-based nerve agents, having hydrolysable bonds.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing size-modulated UiO-66, which is achieved by modulating the concentrations of reactants, and a catalyst with improved activity of hydrolyzing chemical warfare agents prepared by the method.

The titanium (IV) and iron (III) MOF solid MUV-17 (TiFe.sub.2), has general formula (1): [Ti.sup.IVFe.sup.III.sub.2(O)(L).sub.2(X).sub.3]S, where X is each equal or different selected from: O.sup.2−, OH.sup.−, H.sub.2O, F.sup.−, Cl.sup.−, Br.sup.−, I.sup.−, NO.sub.3.sup.−, ClO.sub.4.sup.−, BF.sub.4.sup.−, SCN.sup.−, OH.sup.−, CH.sub.3COO.sup.−, C.sub.5H.sub.7O.sub.2.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2− and CO.sub.3.sup.2−, L is a tricarboxylic ligand and S is at least one molecule of a polar solvent selected from the group consisting of N,N′-dimethylformamide,N,N′-diethylformamide,N,N′-dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, water and mixtures thereof. The titanium (IV) and iron (III) MOF solid has long-term catalytic activity for the degradation of toxic compounds. The method for obtaining them comprises dissolving the components under anaerobic conditions. The invention also relates to the use of the titanium (IV) and iron (III) MOF solid as an additive with detoxifying properties of toxic compounds.