Compositions and methods for destroying chemical and biological agents
such as toxins and bacteria are provided wherein the substance to be destroyed
is contacted with finely divided metal oxide nanoparticles. The metal oxide nanoparticles
are coated with a material selected from the group consisting of surfactants, waxes,
oils, silyls, synthetic and natural polymers, resins, and mixtures thereof. The
coatings are selected for their tendency to exclude water while not excluding the
target compound or adsorbates. The desired metal oxide nanoparticles can be pressed
into pellets for use when a powder is not feasible. Preferred metal oxides for
the methods include MgO, SrO, BaO, CaO, TiO2, ZrO2, FeO,
V2O3, V2O5, Mn2O3,
Fe2O3, NiO, CuO, Al2O3, SiO2,
ZnO, Ag2O, the corresponding hydroxides of the foregoing, and mixtures thereof.
