Compositions: coating or plastic – Coating or plastic compositions – Contains fireproofing or biocidal agent
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-08
2004-12-07
Green, Anthony J. (Department: 1755)
Compositions: coating or plastic
Coating or plastic compositions
Contains fireproofing or biocidal agent
C106S018300, C106S018320, C106S018330, C106S018340, C106S018350, C106S018360, C422S028000, C424S405000, C424S489000, C424S600000, C424S617000, C424S641000, C424S650000, C424S688000, C424S689000, C424S690000, C424S691000, C424S692000, C424S693000, C424S722000, C588S253000, C588S253000, C588S253000, C588S253000, C588S253000, C588S253000, C588S249000, C588S249000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827766
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is broadly concerned with decontamination products useful for the neutralization of chemical and biological compounds or agents, such as chemical weapon (CW) and biological weapon (BW) agents and environmental contaminants such as toxic industrial chemicals (TIC's) and toxic industrial materials (TIM's) and biologicals such as spores, bacteria, fungi, molds and viruses. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such products which may be in liquid form as sprayable or foamable products for example, together with corresponding application methods and devices permitting area decontamination. The decontamination products advantageously include a quantity of nanoscale metal particles (e.g., nanoparticulate metal oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof), a biocide and a liquid carrier for the nanoparticles and biocide.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Governments around the world have become increasingly concerned about the effects of chemical and/or biological warfare agents, industrial chemicals and other types of hazardous substances, particularly in light of the recent rise in terrorism. The potentially catastrophic results which could ensue in high density population centers subjected to such agents are well known to disaster experts. In addition concerns over environmental contaminants, chemical and biological, including industrial chemicals, raise concerns over public safety. A number of proposals have been adopted for dealing with CW, BW, industrial chemicals, environmental contaminants and similar substances.
There are currently two general types of decontamination methods for biological agents, namely chemical disinfection and physical decontamination. Chemical disinfectants such as hypochlorite solutions are useful but are corrosive to most metals and fabrics, and to human skin. Liquid-like foam disinfectants have also been used, and generally require water and pressurized gases for efficient application. Physical decontamination usually involves dry heat up to 160° C. for 2 hours or steam or super-heated steam for about 20 minutes. Sometimes UV light can be used effectively, but it is generally difficult to implement in actual practice. Techniques used for decontamination of areas subjected to chemical warfare agents, TICs and TIMs are more varied, and depend principally upon the nature of the agent in question.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,436 describes methods for the destruction of unwanted compounds such as chlorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons and PCBs, making use of metal oxide composites as adsorbents. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,488 describes the use of metal oxide nanoparticles for the destructive adsorption of biological and chemical contaminants, including biological and chemical warfare agents and environmental contaminants. However, these references do not describe techniques for the rapid use of metal oxides in emergency-type situations.
Sandia National Laboratories has recently developed a foam decontamination product referred to as “Sandia Decon Formulation” and includes solubilizing compounds such as cationic surfactants and hydrotropes together with reactive compound(s) such as nucleophilic and oxidizing compounds. The Sandia foam products are available from EnviroFoam Technologies of Huntsville, Ala., and Modec, Inc. of Denver, Colo., and are described in PCT Publication WO 02/02192 published Jan. 10, 2002 and incorporated by reference herein. However, the Sandia Decon Formulation does not make use of reactive metal oxide or hydroxide nanoparticles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides improved decontamination products adapted for rapid, large-scale area decontamination by neutralization of a variety of undesirable toxants, i.e., any chemical or biological compound, constituent, species or agent that through its chemical or biological action can cause death, temporary or permanent incapacitation or harm to humans or animals. Neutralization refers to the mitigation, detoxification, decontamination or other destruction of toxants to the extent that they no longer cause significant adverse effects.
Broadly speaking, the decontamination products of the invention include a quantity of nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal hydroxides and mixtures thereof, one or more biocides and a liquid carrier for the nanoparticles and biocide. The preferred products are formulated for application as liquids, sprays, fogs, aerosols, pastes, gels and foams, depending upon the desired mode of application and end use.
The nanoparticles are preferably selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, actinide and lanthanide oxides and hydroxides, and mixtures thereof, more preferably, the nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of Al, Ca, Ce, Mg, Sn, Sr. Ti and Zn and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred nanoparticles, from the standpoints of cost and ease of preparation as well as effectiveness, are selected from the group consisting of Al, Ca, Mg, Ti and Zn. The nanoparticles most useful in the invention comprise single crystallites or polycrystallite aggregations having an average crystallite size of up to about 20 nm, and more preferably from about 2-10 nm. Such crystallites or polycrystallate aggregates also advantageously have a BET surface area of at least about 15 m
2
/g., and more preferably from about 20-1200 m
2
/g, most preferably from about 90-600 m
2
/g.
A virtually unlimited number of biocides in addition to the nanoparticles can be used in the context of the invention, for example biocides selected from the group individually or mixtures thereof consisting of biocidally active peroxides including hydrogen peroxide, mono- and polyfunctional alcohols, aldehydes, acids, ozone, naphtha compounds and compounds containing an alkali metal, a transition metal, a Group III or Group IV metal, a sulfur, a nitrogen, or a halogen atom. Particular biocides are those selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, peracetic acid, the alkali metal hypochlorites, quaternary ammonium compounds, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, cetylpyridinium chloride, 2,4,4-trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether, 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) urea, zinc oxide, zinc ricinoleate, pentachlorophenol, copper naphthenate, tributyltin oxide, dichlorophen, p-nitrophenol, p-chloro-m-xylenol, beta-naphthol, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-(methyl sulfonyl)-pyridine, salicylanilide, bromoacetic acid, alkyl quaternary ammonium acetate, sodium ethyl mercuric thiosalicylate, sodium orthophenyl phenate, n-alkyl (C
12
to C
18
) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, the organoborates, 2,2-(1-methyltrimethylenedioxy)-bis-(4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane), 2,2-oxybis(4,4,6-trimethyl)-1,3,2-dioxaborinane, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, parahydroxy benzoates, organic boron compounds, 8-hydroxyquinoline, sodium pentachlorophenate, dimethylethylalkylbenzyl ammonium chloride, alkylammonium salts of 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide, 1,3,5-triethylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine, strontium chromate, the halogenated phenols, 2-bromo-4-phenylphenol, the silver salts such as silver nitrate, silver chloride, silver oxide and elemental silver, the organic peroxides, silver sulfadiazine, sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione, dyhydrate-4-chloro-2-cyclo-hexylphenol, 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol, the substituted paraffins, 3-chloro-3-nitro-2-butanol, 2-chloro-2-nitro-1-butanol stearate, 2-chloro-2-nitrobutyl acetate, 4-chloro-4-nitro-3-hexanol, 1-chloro-1-nitro-1-propanol, 2-chloro-2-nitro-1-propanol, triethyltin chloride, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,2-thiobis(3,4,6-trichlorophenol), 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, tris(hydoxy-methyl)nitromethane, the nitroparaffins. 2-nitro-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol dipropionate, 2-nitro-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-nitro-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-s-triazine, 1,3,5-tris(tetrahydro-2-fu
Carnes Corrie L.
Klabunde Kenneth J.
Knappenberger Kyle
Koper Olga
Malchesky Paul S.
Green Anthony J.
United States Air Force
LandOfFree
Decontaminating systems containing reactive nanoparticles... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Decontaminating systems containing reactive nanoparticles..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Decontaminating systems containing reactive nanoparticles... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3319804