Grantee Research Project Results
Singlet Delta Oxygen Airflow Sterilization for Building Protection
EPA Contract Number: EPD06082Title: Singlet Delta Oxygen Airflow Sterilization for Building Protection
Investigators: Henshaw, Thomas L.
Small Business: Neuman Information, Inc. d.b.a. Directed Energy Solutions
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007
Project Amount: $224,667
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2006) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Homeland Security , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Directed Energy Solutions (DES) proposes to design, fabricate, and test a
basic prototype decontamination device for protecting buildings from chemical
and biological weapons attack and the general enhancement of indoor air quality. The
decontamination device generates metastable singlet delta oxygen (SDO), O2
(a1Δ), a strong oxidant of biological and chemical pathogens, from direct
optical excitation of oxygen in a building’s heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning (HVAC) system. The principal device components consist
of an oxygen source (air), a commercially available optical excitation light
source, and a multi-pass optical cell. The device is integrated into
building ductwork to treat ambient air in situ as it passes through
the HVAC system.
Advantages of the device system include: (1) use of non-hazardous SDO
as a proven oxidant; (2) quick and permanent destruction of the chemical or
biological agent; (3) potential universal utility so the specific chemical
or biological agent need not be known; (4) use of no toxic chemicals such as
ozone, ethylene dioxide, or chlorine dioxide; (5) production of no toxic residuals
such as ozone; (6) operation in both standby (routine purification) and high-power
(attack protection) modes; (7) operation under minimum pressure drop; (8) use
of durable and efficient off-the-shelf components with “set-and-forget” operation
and no personnel training; and (9) no requirement to bring in additional fresh
air with the associated expense of heating/cooling that air.
During Phase I of this research project, DES demonstrated efficient SDO production from direct optical excitation of a flowing stream of oxygen. Measurements of the SDO reaction with an HD (chemical agent) simulant demonstrated the effectiveness of SDO against this simulant. During Phase II, a working prototype decontamination device will be developed, and this device will be tested against chemical and biological simulants for performance verification. Quantitative effectiveness data for SDO against biological and chemical species will be obtained. The optimized prototype design developed during Phase II will be ready for commercialization during Phase III.
The commercial application of this device (Singlet Delta Oxygen Airflow Sterilization for Building Protection) has been assessed by DES and Foresight Science and Technology. The recommended applications include airflow sterilization of biologicals and oxidation of chemicals (including complete oxidation of volatile organic compounds to water and carbon dioxide) in homes and commercial/government office buildings and hospitals. Medical equipment sterilization also is a potential commercial application.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 2 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 1 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, airflow decontamination, chemical attack, homeland security, biological attack, singlet delta oxygen, SDO, chemical agent, biological agent, air, recirculated air, air purification, air sterilization, chemical weapons agent, safe buildings, biological and chemical pathogens, airflow sterilization, volatile organic compounds, VOCs, toxic chemicals, HVAC, heating, ventilation, air conditioning,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Engineering, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, monitoring, homeland security, chemical characteristics, environmental measurement, bioterrorism, biological warfare agents, photochemical generator, chemical composition, singlet delta oxygen, analytical chemistry, chemical attack, real-time monitoring, air quality, chemical warfare agents, air decontaminationProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
Singlet Delta Oxygen Airflow Sterilization for Building Protection | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.