Process for the non-incineration decontamination of materials containing hazardous agents
US6660900B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2022 |
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) preparing a feed mixture containing the chemical weapon components and organic materials; (b) contacting the feed mixture 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.