Reactive decontamination formulation

Abstract

The present invention provides a universal decontamination formulation and method for detoxifying chemical warfare agents (CWA's) and biological warfare agents (BWA's) without producing any toxic by-products, as well as, decontaminating surfaces that have come into contact with these agents. The formulation includes a sorbent material or gel, a peroxide source, a peroxide activator, and a compound containing a mixture of KHSO 5 , KHSO 4 and K 2 SO 4 . The formulation is self-decontaminating and once dried can easily be wiped from the surface being decontaminated. A method for decontaminating a surface exposed to chemical or biological agents is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for decontaminating toxic agents comprising: 
 an HSO 5   −  ion;    an oxidant capable of forming free hydroxyl radicals;    an activating species dispersed within the oxidant; and    a sorbent material, wherein the HSO 5   −  ions, the oxidant and the activating species are dispersed within the sorbent material.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispenser having a first compartment for holding the HSO 5   −  ions and the oxidant dispersed in the sorbent material and a second compartment for holding the metal catalyst dispersed in the sorbent material.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the dispenser comprises a nozzle having a mixer for mixing the HSO 5   −  ions and the oxidant with the activating species.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compound containing HSO 5   −  ions is selected from potassium monopersulfate, sodium monopersulfate, ammonium monopersulfate, HSO 5   −  salts of alkali metals, and HSO 5   −  salts of alkaline earth metals and contaminants thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant is selected from perborates, persulfates, organic peroxides, alkali metal peroxides, alkali metal superoxides, alkaline earth metal peroxides and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activating species is selected from finely divided metals, iron salts, iron hydroxides iron oxyhydroxides, iron oxides, salts of copper, titanium, chromium, vanadium, zinc, cobalt, nickel and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activating species is a ferrous salt.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activating species is ferrous sulfate.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent material is selected from silicon oxide, silica gel, silicon oxyhydroxides, aluminum oxide, alumina gel, aluminum oxyhydroxides, aluminates and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compound has an HSO 5   −  ion concentration of from about 0.1M to about 0.3M.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant concentration is from about 0.5M to about 1.5M  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activating species concentration is from about 0.1M to about 0.3M.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent material concentration is from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt %.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of oxidant to HSO 5   −  ion is 90:10.  
     
     
         15 . A method for decontaminating a toxic agent disposed on a surface, comprising. 
 reacting the toxic agent with a sufficient amount of a formulation containing an HSO 5   −  ion, an oxidant, and an activating species for activating the oxidant for a sufficient time and under conditions sufficient to produce a reaction product having less toxicity than the toxic agent.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reaction product produced is non-toxic.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the formulation further comprises a sorbent gel with the HSO 5   −  ion, the oxidant, and the activating species dispersed therein.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising 
 absorbing the toxic agent into the sorbent gel;    blocking any contact between the toxic agent and the surrounding atmosphere; and    removing the formulation and reaction product from the surface without damaging the surface.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the formulation further comprises a sorbent gel.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the toxic agent is selected from mustard gas, G-agents, V-agents, spores and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the compound containing HSO 5   −  ions is selected from potassium monopersulfate, sodium monopersulfate, ammonium monopersulfate, HSO 5   −  salts of alkali metals, and HSO 5   −  salts of alkaline earth metals.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the compound containing HSO 5   −  ions comprises 2KHSO 5 , KHSO 4 , K2SO 4 .  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the oxidant is selected from perborates, persulfates, organic peroxides, alkali metal oxides, alkali metal peroxides, alkali metal superoxides, and alkaline earth metal peroxides.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the activating species is a ferrous salt.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the activating species is ferrous sulfate.  
     
     
         26 . A method for preparing a decontamination product comprising, 
 mixing a compound containing an HSO 5   −  ion and an oxidant capable of forming free hydroxyl radicals to form an oxidation component; and    providing an activating species for the oxidation component in a separate container.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising mixing the oxidation component and the HSO 5   −  containing compound with a sorbent material.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising mixing the activating species with a sorbent material.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising, providing a dispensing element that mixes the oxidation component with the activating species on demand.