Use of an ozone containing fluid to neutralize chemical and/or biological warfare agents

• US 7,087,805 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Steris Corporation
• Inventors: Centanni, Michael A., McVey, Iain F., Subach, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US10/277,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20040077917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 588/300, 588/313, 588/317, 588/318, 588/400, 588/401, 588/405, 588/410, 422/28, 422/29, 422/33
• US Class Current: 588/320
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0088 Liquid substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/18 Aseptic storing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/145 air-liquid contact processes, e.g. scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2101/02 Chemical warfare substances, e.g. cholinesterase inhibitors
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2101/26 containing nitrogen or phosphorus
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2101/28 containing oxygen, sulfur, selenium or tellurium, i.e. chalcogen
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 2203/10 Apparatus specially adapted for treating harmful chemical agents; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 3/38 by oxidation; by combustion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 588/90 Apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for neutralizing biological and/or chemical warfare agents using an ozone-containing solution. The ozone-containing solution is produced by combining ozone-containing gas with an ozone vehicle, such as an organic solution. The ozone-vehicle prolongs the shelf life of the ozone to allow for extended periods of storage. A storage container is used to store the ozone-containing solution and facilitate its transportation to an environment contaminated by the biological and/or chemical warfare agents, or near a potential site for biological or chemical attack. The ozone-containing solution is drawn out of the storage container to apply it to a contaminated environment.

Claims

1. A method of neutralizing a biological or chemical warfare agent, comprising:

generating an ozone-containing gas;

mixing the ozone-containing gas with an ozone vehicle to produce an ozone-containing solution, wherein said ozone vehicle facilitates stability of the ozone-containing gas, said ozone vehicle selected from the group consisting of;

a glycol-containing chemical compound, an alcohol, and a mixture thereof;

storing said ozone-containing solution in a self-charging storage container near a potential site for chemical or biological attack;

recharging said ozone-containing solution within said self-charging storage container in accordance with a predetermined criteria to increase ozone content of the ozone-containing solution stored in said self-charging storage container, wherein said predetermined criteria includes at least one of the following;

elapsed time and ozone content of the ozone-containing solution within said self-charging storage container, wherein said step of recharging said ozone-containing solution within said self-charging storage container includes the steps of;

generating ozone inside said self-charging storage container using an ozone generator, wherein generation of the ozone is initiated by the self-charging storage container; and

mixing the generated ozone with said ozone-containing solution inside said self-charging storage container to recharge said ozone-containing solution, wherein mixing of the generated ozone with said ozone-containing solution is initiated by the self-charging storage container;

releasing the ozone-containing solution from the self-charging storage container; and

contacting the ozone-containing solution with the biological or chemical warfare agent released from the self-charging storage container.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ozone-containing gas is mixed with said ozone vehicle under pressure.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ozone-containing gas is bubbled through the ozone vehicle while said ozone vehicle is agitated by a mixing device.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ozone-containing gas is generated by exposing oxygen to an e-beam.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ozone-containing solution further includes water.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said glycol-containing chemical compound is selected from the group consisting of:

polyethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, glycol ethers, polypropylene glycol, propylene glycol, and combinations thereof.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said alcohol is a tertiary alcohol.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said glycol-containing chemical compound is propylene glycol.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ozone-containing solution is atomized as it is released from the self-charging storage container.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ozone-containing solution further includes additives selected from the group consisting of:

hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, t-butanol and combinations thereof.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said self-charging storage container is selected from the group consisting of:

a handheld portable container, a drum container, a tanker truck, and a tanker railcar.

12. A method of neutralizing a biological or chemical warfare agent, comprising:

mixing the ozone-containing gas with an ozone vehicle to produce an ozone-containing solution, wherein said ozone vehicle facilitates stability of the ozone-containing gas, said ozone vehicle selected from the group consisting of;

a glycol-containing chemical compound, an alcohol, and a mixture thereof;

combining the ozone-containing solution with a foam component to produce an ozone-containing foaming composition;

storing the ozone-containing foaming composition in a self-charging storage container;

recharging said ozone-containing foaming composition within said self-charging storage container in accordance with a predetermined criteria to increase ozone content of the ozone-containing foaming composition stored in said self-charging storage container, wherein said predetermined criteria includes at least one of the following;

elapsed time and ozone content of the ozone-containing foaming composition within said self-charging storage container, wherein said step of recharging said ozone-containing foaming composition within said self-charging storage container includes the steps of;

generating ozone inside said self-charging storage container using an ozone generator, wherein generation of the ozone is initiated by the self-charging storage container; and

mixing the generated ozone with said ozone-containing foaming composition inside said self-charging storage container to recharge said ozone-containing foaming composition, wherein mixing of the generated ozone with said ozone-containing solution is initiated by the self-charging storage container;

releasing the ozone-containing foaming composition from the self-charging storage container; and

contacting the ozone-containing foaming composition with the biological or chemical warfare agent released from the self-charging storage container.