Metal-ion zeolites obtained by chemical and mechanochemical methods as Fenton-like catalysts for health applications

Abstract

One of the critical steps for the development and health applications of inorganic nanoparticles is to exhibit high efficiency without inducing toxicity. In this work, metal-ion zeolites were developed to be used as Fenton-like catalysts for health applications. ZSM-5 and BEA zeolites were modified through chemical and mechanochemical methods to obtain nanomaterials with tuned particle size and texture. Characterization data showed that the modified materials kept the crystal structure although some textural modifications occurred. Upon Mn2+loading, the catalytic behavior was evaluated by Fenton-like reaction using physiological and mild acidic conditions (37 ºC, pH=7.4 and 6.4 and 50 M H2O2), since these conditions are relevant to various pathological environments. MnBEA series showed the best results by Fenton-like reactions, revealing the great potential of metal-zeolite nanomaterials for health applications.