CO2 Generator for Vector Surveillance

Civilian and military organizations throughout the world perform vector surveillance to identify and control diseases transmitted by arthropods. The arthropod traps used for vector surveillance perform better when baited with carbon dioxide gas (CO2) in addition to using light as an attractant. However, since many vector surveillance locations of importance to the military are remote, it is hard to find a reliable, field-deployable supply of CO2. Current trapping methods use compressed gas cylinders, which are heavy and considered HAZMATs, or dry-ice sources, which require refrigeration and sublime rapidly. TDA Research, Inc. proposes to fabricate and demonstrate the performance of an automated chemical gas generator that will supply CO2 to vector surveillance light traps. The gas generator produces CO2 from a chemical reaction between two non-hazardous materials and is lightweight and small enough to be field-deployable, thus eliminating the concerns of conventional CO2 sources. The CO2 generator is capable of producing CO2 at a flow rate of 200 mL/minute over a 12 hour time period using less than 2 kg of starting materials.