Claims
- 1. A method for removing contaminants from an article comprising the steps of:
a). immersing said article in a decontamination liquid; b). ultrasonically agitating said decontamination liquid with said article immersed therein; c). removing said article from said decontamination fluid, and d). removing said contaminants from said decontamination fluid.
- 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said decontamination fluid comprises a hydrofluorocarbon.
- 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said decontamination fluid comprises a hydrofluoroether selected from the group consisting of HFE 7100, HFE 7200, and HFE 7500.
- 4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of circulating said decontamination fluid through a filter means for removing contaminants from said decontamination fluid while said article is being ultrasonically agitated in said decontamination liquid.
- 5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of analyzing said decontamination fluid to determine when the contaminants have been removed from said decontamination liquid.
- 6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising the steps of applying an indicator to said article prior to immersion in said decontamination fluid where said indication has similar characteristics to the contaminants on the article,
and analyzing said decontamination fluid to determine when the indicator has been substantially removed from said decontamination liquid.
- 7. A method for removing chemical warfare agents from an article comprising the steps of:
a). immersing said article in a decontamination fluid where said chemical warfare agents are at least partially soluble in said decontamination fluid; b). ultrasonically agitating said article immersed in said decontamination fluid; c). filtering said decontamination fluid through a purification module to remove said chemical warfare agent from said decontamination in fluid; d). analyzing said decontamination fluid to determine when said chemical warfare agent has been substantially completely removed from said decontamination fluid, and e). removing said article from said decontamination fluid.
- 8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said decontamination fluid comprises a hydrofluoroether. selected from the group consisting of HFE 7100, HFE 7200, and HFE 7500.
- 9. A method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of circulating said decontamination fluid through a filter means for removing contaminants from said decontamination fluid while said article is being ultrasonically agitated in said decontamination liquid.
- 10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of applying an indicator to said article prior to immersion in said decontamination fluid where said indication has similar characteristics to the contaminants on the article and analyzing said decontamination fluid to determine when the indicator has been substantially removed from said decontamination liquid.
- 11. A method for decontaminating an article contaminated with a biological warfare agent comprising the steps of:
a). immersing said article in a decontamination fluid; b). ultrasonically agitating said article immersed in said decontamination fluid; c). filtering said decontamination fluid through a purification module to remove said biological warfare agent from said decontamination in fluid; d). analyzing said decontamination fluid to determine when said biological warfare agent has been substantially completely removed from said decontamination fluid, and e). removing said article from said article.
- 12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said decontamination fluid comprises a hydrofluoroether.
- 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said decontamination fluid further comprises a surfactant soluble in hydrofluoroether.
- 14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said decontamination fluid comprises a hydrofluoroether selected from the group consisting of HFE 7100, HFE 7200, and HFE 7500.
- 15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said decontamination fluid comprises from about 0.1% to about 5% of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of fluorinated surfactants.
- 16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said fluorinated surfactant is selected from the group consisting of Krytox 157 FS(L), Krytox 157 FS(H), Fomblin Z Diacid Fluid, Perfluorodecanoic Acid, and Krytox Alcohol.
- 17. A method according to claim 14 wherein said decontamination fluid comprises from about 0.1% to about 5% of a surfactant having a low HLB value selected from the group consisting of Rhodasurf LAN-3, Rhodasurf LA-3, Oleic acid, and Oleyl alcohol,.
- 18. A method for removing contaminants from an article comprising the steps of:
a). applying an indicator to said article while said indicator has physical and chemical characteristics similar to the contaminants; b). immersing said article in a sump containing a decontamination fluid; c). ultrasonically agitating said decontamination fluid to dislodge and dissolve said contaminants and said indicator from said article; d). while ultrasonically agitating the article circulating the decontamination fluid through a purification mean for removing said contaminants and said indicator from said decontamination fluid, and back to said sump; e). analyzing said circulatory decontamination fluid downstream from said purification module to determine when said contaminants and said indicator have been removed from said decontamination fluid; and f). removing said article from said sump when said indicator is substantially removed from said decontamination fluid, wherein said decontamination fluid is a hydrofluoroether and wherein said purification means include at least one activated carbon adsorption bed and at least one filter having pore size of about 0.22μ.
- 19. A method for removing chemical warfare agent (CWA) contaminants from an article comprising the steps of:
a). applying an indicator to said article while said indicator has physical and chemical characteristics similar to the CWA; b). immersing said article in a sump containing a decontamination fluid; c). ultrasonically agitating said decontamination fluid to dislodge and dissolve said contaminants and said indicator from said article; d). while ultrasonically agitating the article circulating the decontamination fluid through a purification mean for removing said CWA contaminants and said indicator from said decontamination fluid, and back to said sump; e). analyzing said circulatory decontamination fluid downstream from said purification module to determine when said CWA contaminants and said indicator have been removed from said decontamination fluid; and f). removing said article from said sump when said indicator is substantially removed from said decontamination fluid, wherein said decontamination fluid is a hydrofluoroether and wherein said purification means include at least one activated carbon adsorption bed and at least one filter having pore size of about 0.22μ.
- 20. A method for removing biological warfare agent (BWA) contaminants from an article comprising the steps of:
a). applying an indicator to said article while said indicator has physical and chemical characteristics similar to the BWA contaminants; b). immersing said article in a sump containing a decontamination fluid; c). ultrasonically agitating said decontamination fluid to dislodge and dissolve said contaminants and said indicator from said article; d). while ultrasonically agitating the article circulating the decontamination fluid through a purification mean for removing said contaminants and said indicator from said decontamination fluid, and back to said sump; e). analyzing said circulatory decontamination fluid downstream from said purification module to determine when said contaminants and said indicator have been removed from said decontamination fluid; and f). removing said article from said sump when said indicator is substantially removed from said decontamination fluid, wherein said decontamination fluid comprises a hydrofluoroether and from about 0.1 to about 5% of a surfactant soluble in said hydrofluoroether and wherein said purification means include at least one filter having pore size of about 0.22μ or smaller.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/292,967, which was filed on May 23, 2001, by Robert Kaiser for a Method and Apparatus for Decontamination of Sensitive Equipment which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Government Interests
[0002] This invention was made with government support under contract F41624-98-M-5061, awarded by the Department of the Air Force. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60292967 |
May 2001 |
US |