Compositions and methods for remediating chemical warfare agent exposure and surface decontamination

Abstract

The present invention relates to decontaminating compositions and methods for producing and using the same. The compositions may comprise a peracid, a hydroperoxide, and a peroxyacid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A decontaminating composition comprising:
 one or more peroxyacids in an amount ranging from about 0.0001% to about 20% by weight;   one or more hydroperoxides in an amount ranging from about 0.01% to about 25% by weight; and   one or more carboxylic acids in an amount ranging from about 0.01% to about 30% by weight,   wherein at least one of the carboxylic acids is the corresponding carboxylic acid of the peroxyacid.   
     
     
         2 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the hydroperoxides is hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         3 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the hydroperoxide ranges from about 5% to about 25% by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more carboxylic acids are selected from C 2-10  carboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, tricarboxylic acids, β-keto carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the carboxylic acid ranges from about 5% to about 22% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more carboxylic acids further comprises one or more additional acids selected from the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, malonic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, oxalic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid, formic acid, cis-epoxysuccinic acid, methyltartaric acid, cis-epoxymethylsuccinic acid, citramalic acid, acetoacetic acid, citraconic acid, maleic acid, and any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the peroxyacid is peracetic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the peroxyacid is peracetic acid and the corresponding carboxylic acid is acetic acid. 
     
     
         9 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the peroxyacid ranges from about 1% to about 6% by weight. 
     
     
         10 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of etidronic acid, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, citramalic acid, dipicolinic acid, dipicolinic acid N-oxide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnesium salt. 
     
     
         12 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 11 , wherein the magnesium salt is the magnesium salt of peracetic acid. 
     
     
         13 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 11 , wherein the magnesium salt is magnesium acetate tetrahydrate. 
     
     
         14 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises:
 peracetic acid in an amount ranging from less than 1% to about 10% by weight;   hydrogen peroxide in an amount ranging from about 5% to about 20% by weight; and   acetic acid in an amount ranging from about 5% to about 20% by weight.   
     
     
         15 . The decontaminating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises:
 peracetic acid in an amount ranging from about 0.0001% to about 3.5% by weight;   hydrogen peroxide in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 12% by weight; and   acetic acid in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 12% by weight.   
     
     
         16 . A method of decontaminating skin, wounds, or surfaces, comprising contacting human skin, a human wound or a non-human surface that has been exposed to a chemical warfare agent, with an amount of the decontaminating composition of  claim 1  that is sufficient to decontaminate the skin, wound or surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the chemical warfare agent is selected from the group consisting of a V-series nerve agent, G-series nerve agent, A-series nerve agent, mustard agent, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition is formulated in a form selected from the group consisting of a gel, sol, liquid, lotion, irrigation gel, spray or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the decontamination composition is contacted with the human skin, human wound or non-human surface by at least one of:
 soaking the human skin, human wound or nonhuman surface in a solution of the composition,   dispensing a pressurized solution of the composition onto the human skin or the surface, or   applying a coating or layer of the composition on the human skin, human wound or nonhuman surface.