CBWA Decontamination Unit Based on Carbon Nanotube Cathodes

It is proposed to use a carbon cold cathode as a source for an electron spray Chemical andBiological Warfare Agent (CBWA) decontamination unit. The goal is to design a device usingthe cold cathode source and model all of the necessary parameters of its operation. Electronbeam technology has been shown to be an excellent tool in medical treatment and environmentaldecontamination systems. Phase I of this program will be a study of the parameters needed foran electron spray device to destroy CBWAs, limits so that materials and people are not injuredthrough its use, modeling of the device to obtain specifications for operation and the applicabilityof a cold cathode to such a device. Construction and testing of a prototype device will be theobjective of Phase II. In Phase III, the device will be advanced to commercialization.The applications of such a device will not be limited to military use in CBWA decontamination.Controlled destruction of CBWAs would also be possible. It could be used in industry to assistin cases of chemical spill clean up or factory emission control.