Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: An Inexpensive Biological and Chemical Decontamination Solution From a Powdered Concentrate

EPA Contract Number: EPD07036
Title: An Inexpensive Biological and Chemical Decontamination Solution From a Powdered Concentrate
Investigators: Giletto, Anthony
Small Business: Lynntech Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2007 through August 31, 2007
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2007) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Homeland Security , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Description:

The potential use of chemical and biological weapons for mass destruction is one of the most serious public health concerns facing the United States. It is now recognized that the United States has a limited capacity to defend its national infrastructure and civilian populations from this threat. As a result of the events of September 11, 2001, and subsequent cases of cutaneous and inhalation anthrax, society is fearful particularly of terrorist attacks involving the deliberate release of chemical and biological warfare (CBW) agents. Experts have predicted that the probability of preventing additional chemical and biological terrorism is very low.

This Phase I project investigates a dry powdered formulation that can be easily and rapidly dissolved in water to yield a formulation capable of decontaminating all stockpiled CBW agents. At the core of the proposed technology are novel oxidants, which can oxidize chemical warfare (CW) agents, inactivate viruses, and kill vegetative organisms and bacterial spores. The oxidants are related structurally to a well-known and proven biocide—peracetic acid—but are solids at room temperature, and considerably more stable.

The proposed technology is a dry-powdered mixture that is dissolved in water to prepare a CBW agent decontamination formulation that is capable of decontaminating all known stockpiled agents on a variety of surfaces. The formulation is dispensed onto the contaminated surface using any readily available delivery system (i.e., hand-held spray bottle, standard 2.5-gallon water fire extinguisher, fire engine, or pumper). Sophisticated sprayers or foam generating equipment are not required. The following are a list of the features and benefits of the technology investigated in the Phase I research:

• Destroys both CBW agent surrogates—The gel was tested against both surrogates during the Phase I research period.
• Easy to prepare and dispense—The formulation is simply dissolved in water and dispensed onto the contaminated surface using any readily available delivery system (i.e., hand-held spray bottle, standard 2.5-gallon water fire extinguisher, fire engine, or pumper). Sophisticated sprayers or foam generating equipment are not required.
• Safe for the user and the environment—Delivery of the formulation does not require any additional personal protective equipment other than that required for the particular CBW threat. The active component poses no environmental hazard because it breaks down to acid and water.
• Easy to prepare from almost any water supply—Any portable water supply is of sufficient quality to prepare the decontaminant from the dry-powdered formulation.
• Extended shelf life—The powdered formulation is extremely stable.
• Compatible with most materials—The formulation is not caustic and does not contain organic solvents that could damage the surface of materials to which it is applied.
• Forms a barrier—When the formulation is applied, it adheres to the surface and forms a barrier between the contaminant and the air; containment of run-off associated with liquid decontaminants is not necessary.
• Inexpensive—The synthesis of the oxidant powder is a simple one-step synthesis.

The Phase I research focused on optimizing the formulation and testing the proposed gel on both CBW agent surrogates. The gel was challenged further by contaminating realistic surfaces such as wood, stainless steel, and painted coupons, which provided real-world scenarios for successful surface decontamination.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

The Phase I research resulted in the following findings:

• The proposed gel is effective at decontaminating both CBW surrogates.
• The addition of amorphous silica as a gelling agent does not hinder the effectiveness of the proposed powdered oxidant to decontaminate chemical or biological agents.
• A chemical surrogate of mustard (CEES) was successfully decontaminated to undetectable levels within 5 minutes using the proposed gel.
• The proposed decontamination gel is effective at sterilizing a variety of surfaces when contaminated with 6 log₁₀ of bacterial endospores. The following surfaces have been tested successfully so far:
• glass
• bare wood
• stainless steel
• painted stainless steel

Successful commercialization efforts in Phase I have led to a relationship with a small company that specializes in the clean up of clandestine drug lab decontamination. A material testing agreement is now in place with this company.

Conclusions:

The proposed decontamination formulation would provide first responders and military personnel a fast-acting, effective decontamination gel for eliminating CBW agents after deployment. The gel is stored as a dry powder and can be dispersed easily using any available delivery system. As described in this summary, the Phase I research has successfully demonstrated the proposed formulation’s ability to decontaminate both chemical and biological surrogates.

Supplemental Keywords:

small business, SBIR, toxic spill cleanup, food processing equipment decontamination, pharmaceutical equipment disinfection, EPA, biological and chemical decontamination, biological agents, chemical agents, dry powdered decontamination formulation, oxidants, homeland security, sustainable industry/business, scientific discipline, RFA, technology for sustainable environment, sustainable environment, environmental monitoring, chemical warfare agents, alternative chemical synthesis, decontamination, advanced oxidation process, homeland security,, Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, alternative chemical synthesis, homeland security, decontamination, advanced oxidation process, bioterrorism, chemical warfare agents