Decontamination Sandia foam

Sandia Foam. In the late 1990s, Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, New Mexico) sought to develop a decontaminating solution that used off the shelf technology and products. The basic concept was to use common household products already approved and marketed in the United States for easier FDA approval as a medical product. 

Clarkson, E.D., Schulz, SM., Railer, R.F., et al., 2012. Median lethal dose determination for percutaneous exposure to soman and VX in guinea pigs and the effectiveness of decontamination with M291 SDK or SANDIA foam. Toxicol. Lett 212, 282-287. 

Figure 16.4 Emergency responder in protective suit applying a decontaminating foam to a surface suspected of carrying a chemical or biological terror/warfare agent. From Sandia [973], Copyright 1999, Sandia National Laboratories.

Sandia National Laboratories decontaminating foam (licensed to Modec Inc., Denver, Colorado) is a solution (MDF-100) composed of two parts part a a solution of 6.6% V,VAUV"dV -penta-methyl,-V -tallow alkyl 1,3-prop-anamine diammonium 2.6% tallow pentamethyl propane quaternary ammonium compounds benzyl-C12-18 alkyl dimethyl 1% isopropyl alcohol, and part b a solution of 8% hydrogen peroxide. Mixing the two parts results in a foamlike product which lasts for up to 30 min (Figure 71.2). 

Sandia National Laboratory has developed two decontamination foams (1) MDF-100 and (2) DF-200 (Lukey et al. 2004). MDF-100 consists of two components that, when mixed, generate a foam that is used for decontamination. It has been reported that MDF-100 has the ability to neutralize anthrax spores. DF-200 is a faster acting foam than MDF-100 (Lukey et al. 2004). 

Though an ideal decontaminant may be difficult to attain, many alternatives exist that are readily available and meet many basic requirements, van Hooidonk et al. (1983) evaluated a variety of household products as decontaminants for VX, soman, and sulfur mustard. His paper provides an excellent comparison of these readily available decontaminants to include flour, soapy water, talcum powder, and tissue paper. We have selected several other candidate decontaminants that are under investigation, in advanced development, or currently fielded. These include the currently fielded U.S. Department of Defense skin decontaminants (M291 Skin Decontamination Kit [SDK], 0.5% hypochlorite, and 1% soapy water). Reactive Skin Decontaminant Lotion (RSDL), Diphoterine, Sandia Laboratory s Decontamination Foam, and the Decontamination Sponge. 

FIGURE 76.2 Sandia decontamination foam for mitigation and decontamination of CWA. 

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