Electrodecontamination of contaminated surfaces

Abstract

A decontaminating system 200 is provided that includes: (a) a decontaminating apparatus 100 including (i) an electrically conductive scrubbing shoe 104 having an inlet 204 for a gel-like material and (ii) an insulating standoff 116 positioned between the scrubbing shoe 104 and a surface 120 to be decontaminated to maintain a desired distance between the scrubbing shoe 104 and the surface 120 ; (b) a reservoir 216 for the gel-like material 124 , the reservoir 216 being in communication with the inlet 204 ; and (c) a voltage source 224 in communication with the electrically conductive scrubbing shoe 104 , whereby a current is passed through the gel-like material 124 applied to the surface 120 , thereby removing contaminants from the surface 120.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A decontaminating system, comprising:
 a decontaminating apparatus comprising:
 an electrically conductive scrubbing shoe having an inlet for a gel-like material; and 
 an insulating standoff positioned between the scrubbing shoe and a surface to be decontaminated to maintain a desired distance between the scrubbing shoe and the surface; 
   a reservoir for the gel-like material, the reservoir being in communication with the inlet; and   a voltage source in communication with the electrically conductive scrubbing shoe, whereby a current is passed through the gel-like material applied to the surface, thereby removing contaminants from the surface, wherein the decontaminating apparatus further comprises an abrasive pad positioned between the scrubbing shoe and the surface, wherein the abrasive pad is porous and permeable to permit the gel-like material to pass from the inlet through the pad and onto the surface, and wherein the scrubbing shoe comprises a trowel edge to manipulate the gel-like material on the surface.   
   
   
       26 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . The decontaminating system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a processor and power control module operable to cause the voltage source to apply a cyclic voltage waveform to the shoe, wherein at least one of the voltage and voltage waveform change with respect with time.   
   
   
       29 . The decontaminating system of  claim 28 , further comprising
 a device for measuring at least one of the voltage applied to the shoe and the current and wherein the processor is operable, based on the measured at least one of the voltage and current, to account for drift in the applied voltage waveform.   
   
   
       30 . The decontaminating system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a memory operable to contain a plurality of differing voltage waveforms for a plurality of differing types of surfaces to be contaminated; and   a processor operable to select a voltage waveform corresponding to a selected type of surface to be contaminated and cause application of the selected voltage waveform to the surface.   
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . An arrangement for decontaminating a surface, comprising:
 a contaminated surface;   a layer of a gel-like material applied to the contaminated surface; and   an electrically conductive surface in contact with a free surface of the gel-like material, the electrically conductive surface being in electrical communication with a power source to pass an electric current through the gel-like material and contaminated surface, wherein the layer is positioned between the contaminated surface and the electrically conductive surface, wherein the gel-like material comprises an electrolytic agent, a latex formulation, and a chelating agent, wherein the electrolytic agent is at least one of a halogen and a transition metal, wherein the electrolytic agent is a mixture of iodine, iodide, and tri-iodide, wherein the latex formulation comprises a surfactant, initiator, and at least one monomer, wherein the initiator is decomposed and cuauses polymerization of at least one monomer, wherein at least one monomer is vinyl monomer and an acrylic monomer, where the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid, ethyleneglycol-bis-(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid, ethylenediamine, porphine, dimercaprol, and mixtures thereof, and where the gel-like material has a viscosity ranging from about 1,000 to about 100,000 cPs, and sufficient conductivity to provide current densities at the contaminated surface of form about 0.5 to about 5 amps/inch 2 .   
   
   
       33 - 42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . An arrangement for treating an object, comprising:
 an object;   an electrolyte in contact the object;   an electrical conductive surface in contact with the electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is positioned between the object and electrical conductive surface;   a power source in electrical communication with the electrical conductive surface, wherein the electrical conductive surface passes an electrical current through the electrolyte to the object, wherein the electrical conductive surface applies a voltage to the object, and wherein at least one of the voltage and voltage waveform change with respect to time.   
   
   
       44 . The arrangement of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage waveform has a shape, wherein the shape of the voltage waveform varies with respect to time, wherein the electrical current is selected from the group consisting essentially of direct current, alternating current, and a combination thereof; wherein the voltage waveform is one of a symmetric and an asymmetric cyclic waveform, and wherein the electrical current has a current density ranging from about 0.5 to about 5 amps/in 2 . 
   
   
       45 . The arrangement of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage waveform has a frequency ranging from about 5 to about 30 Hz and voltage ranging from about −12 to about 12 Volts, wherein the voltage waveform has voltage ramp-up and voltage decay periods, wherein the voltage ramp-up period passes a first current and the voltage decay period passes a second current, and wherein the first current is greater than the second current. 
   
   
       46 . The arrangement of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage waveform is a square waveform. 
   
   
       47 . The arrangement of  claim 43 , wherein the electrolyte is a gel-like material, wherein the gel-like material has a viscosity ranging from about 1,000 to about 100,000 cPs and a conductivity, wherein the conductivity supports current densities ranging from about 0.5 to about 5 amps/in 2 , wherein the electrolyte comprises an electrolytic agent, a latex formulation, and a chelating agent, wherein electrolytic agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of: i) at least one of a halogen and a transition metal; ii) a mixture of iodine, iodide, and tri-iodide; and iii) combinations thereof, wherein the latex formulation comprises one of a vinyl latex and an acrylic latex and wherein the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethyleneglycol-bis-(β-aminoethyl ether-N,N-tetraacetic acid, ethylenediamine, porphine, dimercaprol, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       48 . The arrangement of  claim 43 , wherein the conductive surface is part of an apparatus that comprises a conductive shoe, a porous and permeable pad through which the electrolyte is applied to the object, and an insulating standoff to maintain a selected distance between the conductive shoe and the object and wherein the conductive surface is a surface of the conductive shoe. 
   
   
       49 . A system for treating a object, comprising:
 an apparatus comprising first and second conductors, wherein the first and second conductors are in communication with the object;   a reservoir for an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte is in communication with the object; and   a voltage source in communication with the first and second conductors, whereby the first and second conductors pass a current through the electrolyte to the object, thereby treating the object, wherein the current is applied as a voltage, wherein the voltage is applied as waveform and wherein a parameter defining the waveform varies with time.   
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the time varying voltage waveform has a shape, wherein the current is selected from the group consisting essentially of direct current, alternating current, and a combination thereof, and wherein the current has a current density of from about 0.5 to about 5 amps/in 2 . 
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the time varying voltage waveform is at least one of:
 i) a symmetric cyclic waveform;   ii) an asymmetric cyclic waveform;   iii) a frequency from about 5 to about 30 Hz;   iv) a voltage of about −12 to about 12 Volts; and   v) a square waveform.   
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the time varying voltage waveform has a voltage ramp-up and voltage decay periods, wherein the voltage ramp-up period has a first current period and the voltage decay period has a second current period and wherein the first current period applies more current to the object than the second current period. 
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 a processor and a power control module operable to cause the voltage source to apply a cyclic voltage waveform to at least one of the first and second conductors.   
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 a device for measuring at least one of the voltage applied to at least one of the first and second conductors and the current and wherein the processor operable, based on the measured at least one of the voltage and current, to account for drift in the applied voltage waveform.   
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 a memory operable to contain a plurality of differing voltage waveforms for a plurality of differing types of objects to be treated; and   a processor operable to select a voltage waveform corresponding to a selected type of object to be treated and cause application of the selected voltage waveform to the object.   
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the electrolyte comprise one or more of:
 a) a gel-like material;   b) a viscosity of from about 1,000 to about 100,000 cPs;   c) a conductivity to support current densities from about 0.5 to about 5 amps/in 2 ;   d) an electrolytic agent;   e) a latex formulation; and   f) chelating agent.   
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the electrolyte comprises an electrolytic agent, a latex formulation, and a chelating agent, wherein electrolytic agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of: i) at least one of a halogen and a transition metal; ii) a mixture of iodine, iodide, and tri-iodide; and iii) combinations thereof, wherein the latex formulation comprises one of a vinyl latex and an acrylic latex, and wherein the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethyleneglycol-bis-(β-aminoethyl ether-N,N-tetraacetic acid, ethylenediamine, porphine, dimercaprol, and mixtures thereof.