Compact Decontamination Device Using Cold Plasma-Generated Singlet Oxygen

A compact device using commercially available technology will be demonstrated for the decontamination of high-value objects and special materials. This device will be portable, safe, efficient, easy to use, and will accomplish its task quickly and completely. Within the device, cold plasma will generate singlet oxygen in gaseous form, thereby making the discharge non-aqueous, non-flammable, and non-corrosive; avoiding insult to the object/material to be decontaminated; and not harming the operator or the environment. The Phase I research project will include a bench-top test of the effectiveness of the prototype device to generate singlet oxygen, as well as a laboratory test of the device on a biotoxin simulant (to demonstrate the speed and effectiveness of singlet oxygen to decontaminate a porous surface).The Phase II research project will optimize the operation and system design of the device, and demonstrate its capabilities against active agents. Continuum Dynamics? successful development of this project could lead directly to commercial sterilization equipment for the food and health care industries. The availability of an economical and compact cold plasma device could have a large impact on decontamination needs within the military, and there is a potential for multiple applications in the private sector, beginning with museums, historic buildings, and important government and civilian buildings. An effective decontamination device is expected to reduce the value of these locations as bioterrorist targets.