Organophosphate Hydrolysis via Hydroxylamine-Functionalized Gel Coatings on PA-6 Fabrics

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Phosphorus (P) is a critical resource that underpins the global food system and thus has significant economic and environmental impact. Approximately 80% of P is lost “on its way to the plate,” accumulating in part as unreactive organic phosphates (OP) in freshwater sources, which degrade and promote algal blooms. Therefore, developing materials that promote OP degradation at desired points in the P life cycle can provide both environmental and economic benefits. Here, we introduce OP hydrolysis-promoting fabrics by functionalizing anhydride-containing gel coatings on PA-6 nonwoven (PA-6 HA) fabrics with hydroxylamine to create an α-nucleophile, hydroxamic acid. PA-6 HA fabrics achieved up to 90% conversion of OP to inorganic phosphates in carbonate-buffered solutions containing 15.5 μM dimethyl nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP) within 48 h. Hydroxamic acid content within PA-6 HA fabrics was determined via combined pseudo-first-order (PFO) and second-order (SO) modeling, with coating concentrations of 66.7 ± 0.1 μmol hydroxamic acid/m 2 of PA-6. Analysis of orthophosphate adsorption revealed minimal orthophosphate retention by PA-6 HA (0.08 ± 0.03 mg P/g of coated fabric), demonstrating its promise as an active OP-hydrolyzing material.