Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Nitrogen containing other than solely as a nitrogen in an...
Reissue Patent
2000-05-19
2001-06-05
Lambkin, Deborah C. (Department: 1626)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Nitrogen containing other than solely as a nitrogen in an...
C210S690000, C210S755000, C210S759000
Reissue Patent
active
RE037207
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of compositions useful in decontamination of material, equipment and personnel exposed to chemical warfare agents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Methods for decontamination of chemical warfare agents, which include a variety of organophosphorus and organosulfur compounds, are known in the art. However, these known methods use compositions which have certain undesirable properties, including corrosiveness, flammability and toxicity. For example, hypochlorite formulations are very corrosive and toxic. Additionally, many decontaminants degrade upon exposure to water and carbon dioxide, requiring that these solutions be prepared and used the same day they are needed. Further, application of the hypochlorite decontaminant often requires substantial scrubbing for removal and destruction of the chemical warfare agent, a procedure which limits its use.
One decontaminant, Decontamination Solution 2 (DS2), is useful against a variety of agents and contains 70% diethylenetriamine, 28% ethylene glycol monomethyl other and 2% sodium hydroxide. However, DS2 will spontaneously ignite upon contact with hypochlorites and hypochlorite-based decontaminants. Further, DS2 may cause corrosion to aluminum cadmium, tin, and zinc after prolonged contact, and softens and removes paint.
A need exists for a chemical warfare agent decontamination solution which is, noncorrosive, nontoxic, nonflammable, and environmentally safe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a chemical warfare agent decontamination composition comprising about 15 to about 25%, by weight of a quaternary ammonium complex and about 15 to about 25%, by weight of an oxidizer, in a non-toxic, non-flammable solvent. The composition is desirably adjusted to a pH between about 8 and about 12. Depending on the solvent selected, the decontaminant of the invention may optionally contain corrosion inhibitors, stabilizers, buffers, catalysts and the like. Advantageously, this composition is nontoxic, noncorrosive and non-flammable.
In a preferred embodiment, the quaternary ammonium complex consists of a mixture of benzyltrimethylammonium chloride and benzyltriethylammonium chloride, the oxidizer is hydrogen peroxide, the solvent is water, and pH is between about 8 and 10. In an alternative embodiment, the solvent is a diol.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for decontaminating chemical warfare agents comprising applying a chemical warfare agent decontaminant as described herein to a contaminated surface.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention are described further in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a chemical warfare agent decontamination formulation containing a quaternary ammonium complex (QAC) and an oxidizer solvated in a non-corrosive, non-toxic and non-flammable solution; the decontaminant is preferably adjusted to a pH between about 8 and about 12. The decontaminant of the invention is non-flammable. Advantageously, the reaction of the decontaminant of the invention with chemical warfare agents, including VX, GD and HD, occurs very rapidly.
The decontaminant of the invention contains between about 15% to about 25%, by weight, of a QAC. As defined herein, a QAC has the general structure provided below.
where R, R′, R″, and R′″ are any alkyl or aryl organic species capable of chemically bonding to the nitrogen atom, N, through a carbon atom. Preferred QAC for use in preparing the decontaminant of the invention are the chloride salts of benzyltriethylammonium (R is benzyl and R′, R″, and R′″ are —CH
2
CH
3
) and benzyltrimethylammonium (R is benzyl and R′, R″ and R′″ are —CH
3
). In a preferred embodiment, the decontaminant of the invention contains a mixture of benzyltrimethylammonium chloride and benzyltriethylammonium chloride in a ratio of about 5 parts to about 1 part, by weight, respectively. Desirably, the benzyltrimethylammonium chloride makes up between about 10% to about 20%, by weight of the decontaminant solution and the benzyltriethylammonium chloride makes up about 3% to about 10%, by weight of the decontaminant solution. Alternatively, one of skill in the art may readily substitute other appropriate salts for the chloride salt of the QAC. Particularly preferred salts include the hydroxide salts.
The selected QAC is mixed with a suitable non-inflammable, non-corrosive, nontoxic solvent. Preferably, this solvent is water, which is present in an amount between about 25% to about 35%, by weight, of the decontaminant and, more preferably, about 30% by weight of the decontaminant. In another embodiment, the solvent is a diol. One particularly desirable diol is 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol). However, other diols capable of solvating both polar and low-polarity compounds may be readily substituted. For example, suitable diols may include other 1,2-alkanediols, particularly where the alkane is butane, pentane or hexane. Where the solvent used is propylene glycol, it is preferably present in an amount of about 15 to 25%, by weight, of the composition, i.e., roughly equivalent to the weight percentage of the QAC present in the composition.
Advantageously, the inventor has found that the use of an oxidizer in combination with the QAC of the invention provides a decontaminant which works quickly and effectively to solvate and neutralize chemical warfare agents, and works particularly well for neutralization of organosulfur agents such as mustard gas (HD), and organophosphorus agents such as the nerve agents termed VX and GD. Thus, the decontaminant of the invention contains an oxidizer. In a currently preferred embodiment, the oxidizer is hydrogen peroxide. Other suitable oxidizers include other peroxy or hydroperoxy compounds, including, e.g., the acids and salts of peracetate, perborate monohydrate, perborate tetrahydrate, monoperoxyphthalate, peroxoymonosulfate, peroxydisulfate, and percarbonate. Still other suitable oxidizers may be readily selected from among those which are compatible with the remainder of the components present in the decontaminant. Generally, the oxidizer is present in an amount between about 15 to about 25% (by weight), and more preferably, about 20%, by weight, of the total weight of the decontaminant.
Suitably, the decontaminant containing the QAC and oxidizer is provided with a pH of between about 8 and about 12, and more preferably, between about 8 and 10. Suitable acids for lowering the pH (increasing acidity) and bases for raising pH (increasing alkalinity) may be readily selected by one of skill in the art.
The decontaminant may also contain stabilizers which alone, or in combination with the pH adjuster, prevent reaction of the oxidizer with the other components of the formulation without inhibiting the ability of the decontaminant to solvate and neutralize chemical warfare agents. Where the stabilizer is used in conjunction with a separate pH adjuster, the stabilizer is preferably selected from among those which do not significantly alter the pH of the decontaminant. Suitable stabilizers may be readily selected by one of skill in the art, taking into consideration the selected oxidizer and the other components in the decontaminant formulation. For example, where the oxidizer is hydrogen peroxide, the stabilizer is preferably acetanilide. Generally, these stabilizers are present in an amount of less than about 1% of the decontaminant.
The decontaminant of the invention may contain a corrosion inhibitor. Suitable corrosion inhibitors include amino alcohols, such as 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol. One of skill in the art may substitute other non-toxic corrosion inhibitors, which may be selected from among primary amines and polyamines. For example, when the decontaminant of the invention is water-based, as described herein, a corrosion inhibitor is required and may also be used as a solvent. In such a formulation, the
Bechtel, Esq. James B.
Lambkin Deborah C.
Pratt, Esq. Wyatt B.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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