Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Chemical treatment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-08
2001-08-14
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Chemical treatment
C210S753000, C210S759000, C210S906000, C210S908000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06274051
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 a method for neutralizing organophosphorus agricultural chemicals. More particularly, the organophosphorus agricultural chemicals are passed through a processing pathway, such as a pesticide dispenser or chicken waste collector, after which an agricultural chemical neutralizer is processed through the processing pathway. Most particularly, the agricultural chemical neutralizer is metered through the processing pathway in a manner to replicate the flow of the organophosphorus agricultural chemicals therethrough. The agricultural chemical neutralizer preferably includes a quaternary ammonium complex (QAC), an oxidizer and solvent for effectively neutralizing the contaminant residual or concentrated organophosphorus agricultural chemicals.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Organophosphorus agricultural chemicals include pesticides having a phosphorus atom double bonded to either an oxygen or sulfur atom, such as diazinon, malathion, paraoxon, dichlorovos and methamidophos. Organophosphorus agricultural chemicals also include animal waste, such as poultry feces, which contaminate waterways, killing fish close to agricultural centers. Heretofore, methods of eliminating safety hazards from high concentrations of these organophosphorus agricultural chemicals have included flushing or rinsing the contaminated areas with large amounts of water to dilute the chemicals which has been increasingly shown to deleteriously affect large ecosystems over extended periods of time.
Neutralization of chemical and biological warfare agents has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,089 entitled Chemical Warfare Agent Decontaminant Solution Using Quaternary Ammonium Complexes, issued on Jun. 2, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,064 entitled Chemical Warfare Agent Decontamination Solution, issued on Jan. 12, 1999, both patents to Donald T. Cronce and assigned to the United States Navy, and in pending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/533,954, entitled Chemical Warfare Agent Decontamination Foaming Composition and Method, filed on Mar. 22, 2000, to Donald T. Cronce and assigned to the United States Navy, the disclosures of the patents and application are incorporated herein by reference. Within the issued patents the chemical warfare agent decontaminating solution is described as applicable to neutralizing organophosphorus agricultural chemicals in a manner equivalent to neutralization of chemical warfare agents, generally over large or unconfined areas of contamination.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a method for neutralizing concentrated and residue organophosphorus agricultural chemicals that contaminate limited areas in an effective and safe manner. The present invention addresses this and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a method for neutralizing organophosphorus agricultural chemicals, comprising the steps of passing an agricultural chemical through a processing pathway and then metering an agricultural chemical neutralizer in the processing pathway effective to neutralize organophosphorus agricultural chemical therein. The agricultural chemical neutralizer preferably comprises a quaternary ammonium complex component, an oxidizer component and a solvent, wherein the pH ranges from about 8 or greater. The processing pathway preferably comprises a dispensing or collection mechanism, such as a pesticide dispenser or chicken waste collector. As the agricultural chemical neutralizer follows the path of the organophosphorus agricultural chemical through its normal use cycle, residues and/or concentrations of the organophosphorus agricultural chemicals are effectively neutralized in a safe manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention comprises a method for neutralizing organophosphorus agricultural chemicals. Organophosphorus agricultural chemicals remain contained within pesticide dispensing machinery after use as residue or concentrated within animal holding areas from animal waste. While organophosphorus agricultural chemicals are contained within these restricted or limited areas, or processing pathways, an agricultural chemical neutralizer is metered in the contaminated processing pathway to effectively neutralize the residual agricultural chemicals. The agricultural chemical neutralizer comprises a quaternary ammonium complex component, an oxidizer component and a solvent, having a pH range of from about 8 or greater. Optional incorporation of additional components may be included in the agricultural chemical neutralizer, as desired, particularly corrosion inhibitors and/or pH adjusters. The reaction of the agricultural chemical neutralizer of the present invention with organophosphorus agricultural chemicals, including pesticides and chicken feces, occurs rapidly and safely.
The method for neutralizing organophosphorus agricultural chemicals advantageously uses the processing pathway of the organophosphorus agricultural chemical. Unlike the problems encountered in countering chemical warfare agent use, organophosphorus agricultural chemicals are generally maintained within confined areas of high concentration in the form of residues, particularly within the dispensing systems for pesticides or the collection areas for animal waste. Processing pathways constitute the flow path or process, including the transiting and/or collection pathways, for the organophosphorus agricultural chemicals. For example, contamination of surface areas within a pesticide spreading machine remains confined within the spreading machine and associated component parts of the dispensing machinery along the path of the pesticide as it flows through the machinery. Also, within a pen area for farm animals, particularly chickens, the waste from the chickens remains within confined areas below the chickens or is mechanically or gravitationally moved into local holding areas before being washed or hauled away from site. The areas of contact of the contaminant, i.e., the flow path of the organophosphorus agricultural chemical, remain contaminated with residue or concentrated amounts of the organophosphorus agricultural chemical. The agricultural chemical neutralizer may be inserted into or interposed onto the contaminated surfaces, i.e., metered in, at any point of the processing pathway. This permits contact of given areas of expected or known contamination. Preferably the agricultural chemical neutralizer is metered through the processing pathway to contact more than one given contaminated area along the processing pathway of the organophosphorus agricultural chemical. More preferably, when possible, the agricultural chemical neutralizer is metered through the processing pathway in a manner that follows or mimics the flow of the organophosphorus agricultural chemical when it contacts and contaminates surface areas along the processing pathway. Within a pesticide dispensing system, the pesticide transits through a pathway as it is dispensed. Once dispensed, residual pesticide remains within the machinery. Application of the agricultural chemical neutralizer in, through and/or following the processing pathway of the machinery neutralizes the residue, allowing safe handling thereafter. Farm animals such as chickens or other types of birds may be confined within given areas for breeding and processing generate waste within these holding areas. The surface areas of contact contain residual contamination while the holding area of the waste contains concentrated amounts of the organophosphorus agricultural chemicals. Application of the agricultural chemical neutralizer in, through and/or following the processing pathway of the transit and holding sites of the waste allows safe handling thereafter.
Wi
Bechtel, Esq. James B.
Hoey Betsey Morrison
Pratt, Esq. Wyatt B.
Simmons David A.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
LandOfFree
Method for neutralizing organophosphorus agricultural chemicals does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for neutralizing organophosphorus agricultural chemicals, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for neutralizing organophosphorus agricultural chemicals will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2547487