Process for the non-incineration decontamination of materials containing hazardous agents
US6462249B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA62D2203/02
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A process for the low temperature, non-incineration decontamination of contaminated materials, such as chemical weapon components containing residual quantities of chemical warfare agents. The process includes the steps of (a) contacting the contaminated materials with steam at substantially ambient pressure in a substantially dry first heated vessel for a period of at least about 15 minutes, the steam being at a temperature of at least about 560° C., (b) removing condensible and non-condensible gases from the first heated vessel and heating them in a second vessel at substantially ambient pressures to temperatures of at least about 500° C. for a period of at least about one second in an atmosphere containing steam in a concentration greater than about 250% of stoichiometry, and (c) catalytically treating non-condensible gases from the second vessel in the presence of oxygen so as to reduce the concentration of chemical warfare agents to less than about 1.0 mg/m3 at standard temperature and pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.