Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-22
2002-04-23
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S123000, C510S131000, C510S382000, C510S384000, C510S391000, C510S504000, C510S302000, C510S309000, C510S310000, C510S367000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06376436
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to foaming chemical warfare agent decontamination compositions. More particularly, the foaming decontamination compositions include a foaming component with a quaternary ammonium complex (QAC) and oxidizer for effecting large area cleanup of chemical and biological warfare agents. The foaming decontamination compositions allows a uniform application of the decontamination composition against warfare agents. The foaming compositions are useful in neutralizing chemical and biological warfare agents over large surfaces or areas.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Neutralization of chemical and biological warfare agents on a large scale, i.e., across large areas or on major pieces of equipment is particularly difficult to achieve. Application of large amounts of decontamination composition does not solve a large scale contamination problem. With the large scale dispersion of the decontamination composition, effective contact between the decontamination composition and warfare agents decreases. Spreading a large amount of decontamination composition in an area allows the decontamination composition to absorb into ground, or seep away on equipment, without neutralization of the warfare agent. Saturation of the area with decontamination composition does not ensure reaction with the warfare agent, that may require mechanical agitation to effectuate the decontamination composition with the warfare agent. Scrubbing by personnel, to provide mechanical agitation, once the decontamination composition has been applied may expose the personnel to both the decontamination composition and the warfare agent, presenting a serious safety hazard. Additionally, the decontamination composition may prove hazardous to personnel and equipment, regardless of the amount of original warfare agent contamination. In an effort to neutralize small amounts of contamination over a large area, the saturation of the large area with decontamination composition may increase environmental damage to the area, increase equipment damage, or inhibit mission completion beyond that of the effects of the warfare agent itself.
Decontamination Solution 2(DS2) is a decontamination composition currently used by the United States military against a variety of warfare agents. DS2 contains 70% diethylenetriamine, 28% ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and 2% sodium hydroxide. However, DS2 is extremely corrosive, particularly in large amounts.
Other decontamination compositions have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,089 and 5,859,064, both to Cronce. The Cronce patents disclose quaternary ammonium compound based decontamination compositions that are based on solutions of benzyltrimethylammonium chloride or benzyltriethylammonium chloride, and use a ratio of approximately 100:1 decontamination composition to chemical warfare agent. As such, the decontamination compositions are limited to in their ability to decontaminate relatively large areas of contamination.
Foam use to knock-down chemical vapors and biological particulates has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,767 to Drumgoole et al. The Drumgoole patent discloses an inflatable, portable apparatus having an aqueous foam for substantially mitigating the effects of an explosively depolyable chemical, biological and/or radiological agent within the substantially defined area. Drumgoole discloses that decontamination compounds can be added to the foam to allow chemical, biological and/or radiological neutralization in situ. These decontamination compounds are limited to the relatively small areas of contamination contained within the apparatus.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a chemical and biological warfare agent decontamination composition useful for effective large area decontamination of the warfare agents while remaining noncorrosive, nontoxic, environmentally safe, and easy to apply. The present invention addresses this and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a foaming decontaminating composition for chemical and biological warfare applications, comprising a quaternary ammonium complex component, an oxidizer component and a foam component, wherein the pH ranges from about 8 or greater.
The present invention also includes a decontaminating composition produced by the process comprising the steps of providing a foaming decontaminating composition comprising a quaternary ammonium complex component, an oxidizer component and a foam component, wherein the pH ranges from about 8 or greater, agitating the foam component, wherein the quaternary ammonium complex component and oxidizer component are substantially dispersed within a foam and applying the foamed decontaminating composition onto a surface, wherein the foamed decontaminating composition contacts areas of possible contamination. With foaming of the decontaminating composition, warfare agent is contacted and becomes effectively neutralized.
The present invention further comprises a method for decontaminating a surface comprising the steps of providing a foaming decontaminating composition comprising a quaternary ammonium complex component, an oxidizer component and a foam component, wherein the pH ranges from about 8 or greater, agitating the foam component, wherein the quaternary ammonium complex component and oxidizer component are substantially dispersed within a foam and applying the foamed decontaminating composition onto a surface, wherein the foamed decontaminating composition contacts areas of possible contamination. As the decontaminating composition foams, contacted warfare agent becomes effectively neutralized.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention comprises a chemical and biological warfare agent decontamination foaming composition. The foaming composition contains at least one quaternary ammonium complex (QAC), an oxidizer and a foam component. Optional incorporation of additional components are included in the foaming decontamination composition, as desired, particularly corrosion inhibitor and/or pH adjusters that maintain the pH of the foaming decontaminating composition in a range of from about 8 or greater. The foaming composition is applied by mops, brushes, fire-fighting equipment, foam generating equipment and sprayers. This foaming composition is noncorrosive, nontoxic, and nonflammable decontaminating agent, useful in rapidly neutralizing chemical and biological warfare agents, such as VX, GD and HD. The quaternary ammonium complex component and oxidizer component are solvated in solution, which is added to a foam component.
The present invention utilizes significant advantages in the application of a foam composition in the neutralization of chemical and biological contaminants. The use of foam as an applicator medium allows the neutralization chemical and biological contaminants over large areas in a safe and effective manner. The foam provides a mechanical agitation of the decontamination composition when applied in the area of the warfare agent. This increases the interaction of the decontamination composition with the warfare agent to increase effectiveness. Warfare agent is “lifted” into the foam to further increase interaction. The foam also provides a medium for the decontamination composition to reside before and during interaction with the warfare agent. This allows the use of smaller amounts of warfare agent for a given area, or volume, of contamination, increasing the safety of the using the decontamination composition. Areas of foams may be demarcated, for easy wash, rinsing, or avoidance by cleaning personnel. As well as containing the decontamination composition, the foam restrains the further spread of the warfare agent, further protecting the cleanup
Bechtel, Esq. James B.
Boyer Charles
Lydon, Esq. James C.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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