Grantee Research Project Results
Development of a Portable Field Decontamination Unit
EPA Contract Number: 68D03058Title: Development of a Portable Field Decontamination Unit
Investigators: Kovach, Kurt
Current Investigators: Orrico, Mike
Small Business: PlasmaSol Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004
Project Amount: $225,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2003) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Air Quality and Air Toxics
Description:
The goal of this Phase I research project is to develop a nonthermal plasma surface contaminant destruction system that would sterilize surfaces in an affected building following a bioterror attack. The PlasmaSol technology will be scaled and fitted to a portable cleaning system that can be moved throughout a contaminated building and clean flat and odd-shaped surfaces. The PlasmaSol system will destroy surface contaminants ranging from 0.3 microns (chemical agents and viruses) to thousands of microns (spores of genre Bacillus). The plasma process may use an additive carrier gas to accelerate destruction. The carrier gas also will assist in maintaining residual ozone levels to within legal standards.
Experience also shows that destruction of spores, viruses, and chemical compounds can be accomplished without damaging the surface of the object being cleaned. When compared to other means and techniques, PlasmaSol's destruction mechanism produces no collateral damage. This cannot be said for devices such as autoclaves or processes using chemical oxidants, such as chlorine dioxide. Results from the Phase I research project exceeded expectations. Phase I provided ample preparation to achieve technical success both in performance and in a workable engineering design. The success of this Phase II project will not only meet a critical short-term need in the United States, but also will fill a critical void in the technology servicing the medical and food processing industries.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, bioterrorism, Bacillus, chemical agents, chlorine dioxide, spores, viruses, decontamination, chlorine dioxide, Air, Scientific Discipline, Ecological Risk Assessment, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, air toxics, Environmental Monitoring, bacterial spores, microbial contaminants, air sampling, homeland security, chemical agents, nonthermal plasma surface, air quality field measurements, biodefense decontamination, building decontamination, decontamination, biological warfare agents, contaminant destruction system, air decontamination, analytical chemistry, bioterrorismProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Development of a Portable Field Decontamination UnitThe 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.