Grantee Research Project Results
Decontamination of Category A Viruses on Porous Surfaces and Sensitive Equipment
EPA Contract Number: 68HE0D18C0010Title: Decontamination of Category A Viruses on Porous Surfaces and Sensitive Equipment
Investigators: Theys, Dr. Angela
Small Business: METSS Corporation
EPA Contact: Packard, Benjamin H
Phase: I
Project Period: October 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019
Project Amount: $99,212
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2018) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Homeland Security
Description:
METSS will demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing two separate technologies, chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and Hot Air Decontamination (HAD; high temperature/low humidity) as on-site decontamination processes for treating Category A virus contaminated items including porous materials (e.g., upholstery, bedding, fabric, carpet, unpainted wood); sensitive equipment; and potentially reusable materials (e.g., computers, cell phones and tablets, appliances). Either on-site treatment process would significantly reduce the need for transporting contaminated waste and materials to an off-site treatment facility; a process that has inherent safety risks and costs. Room-scale decontamination demonstration tests will be performed with a unique, highly robust, inexpensive ClO2 gas generating system and with a novel HAD system to determine efficacy against Phi6 bacteriophage (a surrogate to the Ebola virus). Bench-scale and full-scale testing will be performed to demonstrate the ability of these decontamination processes to inactivate viruses in both non-porous and porous materials. Field-scale tests will also demonstrate the processes are robust and safe. While the initial targets are Category A viruses, which are rarely seen in the US, the technologies have application in numerous other market industries such as health-care, food safety, sports/fitness, and military sustainment.
Supplemental Keywords:
decontamination, technologyProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
Decontamination of Category A Viruses on Porous Surfaces and Sensitive Equipment | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.