KODEK 2011-13 : contamination and decontamination of C, B and RN agents
Publish date: 2013-12-31
Report number: FOI-R--3774--SE
Pages: 30
Written in: Swedish
Keywords:
- Decontamination
- contamination
- disinfectants
- radioactive
- iodide
- skin penetration
- military paint system
- chemical warfare agents
- LIBS
- ATR-FTIR
Abstract
In this report, the activities of the project KODEK are reported and summarised for the years 2011-13. The project is divided into three subprojects: 1) decontamination of biological agents (B), 2) contamination of radio nuclear agents (RN), 3) contamination and decontamination of chemical agents (C) and simulants. The first part was accomplished during 2011. A literature survey was performed to show which decontamination methods and disinfectants that currently are in use, and to describe the pros and cons of these. The second part, run during 2011-2012, was mainly focused on method developing, with the purpose to study transfer of radioactive species in human skin. Penetration rates of radioactive iodide through the skin were determined. This study gave fundamental knowledge regarding the risk of radioactive contaminants absorbed by and penetrating through the skin barrier, which results in decontamination difficulties. The third part of the project related to C was performed during 2012-2013, with the ambition to set up a new experimental platform consisting of varying technologies with the purpose to achieve better capability to deduce if a decontaminated material is clean enough. This has been the main activity during 2013 with a focus on live agents which, as liquids, have been deposited on three different military paint systems that exhibit varying surface properties. The methodology consists of: imaging (wetting process is documented), ATR-FTIR analyses (rapid non-destructive spectroscopic method aimed for surfaces), LIBS analyses (rapid quasi-destructive spectroscopic technique able to make depth analyses), eluation subsequently followed by GC-MS analyses, and finally analyses of evaporation of remaining residues with FLEC. One result is that live chemical agents still remain inside the paint layer, despite decontamination with ethanol and eluation with other organic solvents. Another result is that both spectroscopy based techniques are able to give rapid complementary information about material purity. The project is also taking active part as PFP country in NATO subgroups (Hazard Management Panel" and HMF-233 2013), where for instance decontamination of sensitive equipment has been discussed. Furthermore, in January 2013, a technical agreement was signed between Sweden (FOI) and Norway (FFI), Nordic Clean, which will continue over 28 months, starting in January 2013. The main objective is to build huvudsakligen up a common methodology for analysing C contaminated protection materials. This report will focus on the work performed during 2013.