Decontamination wipes

Sata, U.R. and Ramkumar, S.S., 2007. New developments with nonwoven decontamination wipes. Paper presented at the International Nonwovens Technical Conference, September 24-27, Atlanta, GA. 

Key words decontamination wipes, detection, protection and decontamination of threat agents, multifunctional materials, reactive surface technology, plasma... 

Results from a study using live mustard agent showed that the dry wipe was able to adsorb the off-gassing mustard vapors better than the particulate activated carbon and M291 reactive adsorbent substrate. In addition, this wipe performed better in its material compatibility characteristics with strong acids and bases. Another study has proven that the dry decontamination wipe is capable of adsorbing vapors from organophosphorus compoimds like methyl parathion. " ... 

Recent evaluation by the United States Georgia National Guard has shown that Fibertect dry decontamination wipe removed 80-90% of contaminants which are likely to be encountered in the battlefield. Figure 12.1 shows Fibertect mitt being used to wipe away the bulk toxic liquid. 

Another decontamination wipe technology cirrrently in use is from Calgon Carbon Corporation. The technology, acqitired from Entropic Systems, Inc., uses two types of Zorflex activated carbon cloth for the removal of chemical warfare... 

M258A1 Skin Decontamination Kit A kit issued to each soldier containing wipes with solutions that will neutralize most nerve and blister agents. 

An additional part of the sample collection kit are solvents (dichloromethane, methanol, water) and decontamination solutions. Solvents are necessary -in accordance with approved procedures - to collect wipe samples. These solvents need to be transported as dangerous goods, which require special transport arrangements. 

Matrices most used were soil, water, and organic liquids. Other matrices used were, for example, a polymer strip in the first proficiency test, a metal strip covered with a thin layer of paint in the third proficiency test, and a wipe sample in the fourth proficiency test. In the ninth and tenth proficiency tests, an emulsion sample and decontamination solutions were introduced. Not all sample matrices employed in the past are considered realistic. During the Preparatory Commission of the OPCW, the Task Force on Analytical Issues (see Fourth Report of the Expert Group on Inspection Procedures, PC-VIII/B/WP.12, dated September 20, 1994) discussed that sample matrices such as wipe, rubber, paint, and concrete will be extracted on site and sent as extracts off site for analysis, after splitting. 

While textured laminates offer superior resistance to scratching they are less easy to wipe clean than plane surfaces. This can be an important consideration in applications such as bench tops for microbiological and nuclear laboratories, where ease of decontamination is a primary requirement. 

Instruct patients to wipe feet before entering decontamination area—use mat or remove shoes directly into plastic bag. 

The mixture was tested in the guinea pig model, where fur was shaved on the side of the animal one day before exposing the skin of the anesthetized animals to neat GD or VX (Lukey et al, 2004). The animals were decontaminated 1 min later with sterile gauze soaked in the combined solution in a defined manner the contaminated side was wiped across the exposure site in the direction of the shaved... 

The decontaminated supemate may be evaporated to a solid salt in a wiped film evaporator. For the design basis assumed in this study, the total volume of solidified salt would be about 100 million 1. (/ 25 million gal). Since the heat-producing isotopes will be removed, this material can be stored in large containers in bulk storage. It is expected that the decontamination of this material will be sufficient that the principal hazard in the salt cake will be the nitrate itself. The activity left in the salt may well be less than that left in waste tanks after final decontamination. On this basis, further processing of this material into a less leachable form would probably not be necessary. However, it is presently assumed that this material cannot be dispersed to the environment. 

Before leaving the immediate area, the decontamination team should remove shoe covers and wipe shoes on pads soaked with disinfectant solution. Other personal protective equipment should be removed for appropriate decontamination or autoclaving. Personnel should then shower using germicidal soap. 

Unlike the M291 decontamination kit that consists of reactive particulate resins in an applicator pad, ACF-based absorbent-adsorbent wipes are nonparticulate in nature and can be used as a dry wipe (Ramkumar 2004 Ramkumar 2005 Sata and Ramkumar 2007). This wipe has absorbent layers on top and bottom with the ACF in... 

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