Nonhazardous Plasma Decontamination for Consequence Management and Recovery

We propose to develop technologies that greatly improve the applicability of plasma technology as a chemical and biological warfare agent (CBWA) decontamination method for forward-deployed Navy forces. The effluent from glow discharge plasmas offers thepotential to decontaminate sensitive equipment quickly and cleanly, thereby enabling fast recovery from terrorist or other asymmetric attacks and ensuring continuity of Naval operations. However, plasmas that use air as feed gas produce highconcentrations of ozone and nitrogen oxides (NOx) that are hazardous to humans and incompatible with carbon-based filtration cartridges in standard CBWA personal protection gear. In a separate project, Creare is currently developing a portable plasmadecontamination system that is capable of using oxygen/argon plasma feed gases. We propose to extend the applicability of the system by (1) developing novel plasma chemistries to mitigate ozone production and (2) developing a portable oxygen/argon gasgeneration system to supply nitrogen-free plasma feed gas in the field for NOx-free, logistically independent plasma decontamination. These developments would enable plasma decontamination of sensitive equipment in interior compartments in ships,aircraft, and buildings, as well as on-the-move in small personnel delivery vehicles used in Special Operations. Creare's nonhazardous plasma decontamination technology is expected to provide a portable system for decontaminating sensitive equipment innaval vessels, aircraft, vehicles, and building interiors. The technology will provide significant benefits to cleanup efforts and continuity of operations following chemical or biological warfare attacks in military and civilian settings, as well ascleanup of certain toxic industrial chemicals and infectious agents in the chemical, medical, food processing, and transportation industries.