DESCRIPTION:

The technology is based on a highly adsorbing powder with surface area many millions of times greater that the surface area of its container. This large surface area can be coated with chemicals that are capable of neutralizing chemical toxins of concern in industrial accidents, chemical terror events, and chemical warfare. The surface area of the powder is in the form of internal pores that renders these powerful agents relatively safe to handle, while strongly attracting the toxins to the neutralizing surfaces. The powder is manufactured in a finely particulate form that is ideal for dispersal as an aerosol.  Such an aerosol could be deployed with suitable equipment so as to contact airborne chemical toxins in advance of their contaminating inhabited or occupied areas, equipment, buildings, crops, etc.  It may also have superior properties for air filtration and for the cleanup of contaminated areas.

ADVANTAGES:

The technology has potential for deployment as an aerosol.  It could neutralize airborne chemical threats in advance of the contamination of inhabited or occupied areas, of equipment, buildings, crops, etc.  It combines reduction of the threat with the use of powerful absorbers and detoxification once absorbed with internal chemical reagents.  The adsorbing materials are relatively inexpensive and the chemical activation processes are relatively straightforward.  Internal chemical activation renders the materials relatively safe to handle in dry conditions.  Many known decontaminating agents are toxic, harmful to many types of surfaces and require large amounts of water for flushing.  At present the materials generate unknown chemical byproducts of the toxic chemical target that may also be toxic  The finely particulate nature of the materials and internal activators pose respiratory hazards.  Different types of activation may be required for different toxic chemical targets.

PATENT STATUS:

Patent pending (U.S. Patent Application # 11,698,431 Filing Date: 1/26/07)