Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Development of a Portable Field Decontamination Unit
EPA Contract Number: 68D03058Title: Development of a Portable Field Decontamination Unit
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: Air Quality and Air Toxics , SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
In Phase I, PlasmaSol Corporation proposed extending its core technology to meet the needs of federal agencies, particularly the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to develop response measures to biochemical terrorist attacks. In Phase I, PlasmaSol demonstrated superior performance in sterilizing surfaces against surrogates for biological attack.
PlasmaSol succeeded in its primary Phase II goal, building a functional, man-portable prototype suitable for biological and chemical surface decontamination. Performance curves have been developed to address the unit’s ability to clean spores (Bacillus atrophaeus, B. anthracis), viruses (herpes simplex I virus [HSV]), and chemicals (triethylphosphate [TEP]) from contaminated surfaces. During Phase II, three main tasks were carried out, including: (1) Phase II prototype development/deployment, (2) microbiological testing, and (3) chemical testing.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
PlasmaSol successfully demonstrated that its man-portable surface cleaner is able to clean HSV, B. atrophaeus spores, B. anthracis (vegetative cells and spores), and TEP from various conductive and dielectric materials. Furthermore, the complete elimination of B. atrophaeus (6-log reduction) and B. anthracis (5-log reduction) was achieved with the use of such additives as ethylene and ethanol.
Conclusions:
The nondestructive nature of PlasmaSol’s technology makes it an excellent candidate for use as a decontamination technology on sensitive items for which the use of harsh solvents is unfeasible.
Supplemental Keywords:
portable field decontamination unit, biochemical terrorist attack, bioterrorism, herpes simplex virus, HSV, anthrax, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus atrophaeus, triethylphosphate, TEP, contamination, SBIR,, Scientific Discipline, Air, air toxics, Environmental Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Risk Assessment, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, building decontamination, homeland security, decontamination, biological warfare agents, bioterrorism, air sampling, bacterial spores, analytical chemistry, biodefense decontamination, contaminant destruction system, portable field decontamination unit, microbial contaminants, air quality field measurements, air decontamination, chemical agentsSBIR 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.