Portable Atmospheric Plasma Decontamination

In order to limit the spread of contamination and restore combat operations, CBBD is requesting the development of a man-portable system that rapidly decontaminates items, such as sensitive equipment, etc. The decontamination system will be effective against a broad spectrum of biological agents (spores, bacteria, and virus) within minutes. The decontamination efficacy should be 99.9 percent reduction of biological agents with an objective of 99.9999 percent deactivation of detectable pathogens. To achieve this goal, CBD has identified a man-portable, cold plasma (atmospheric pressure plasma) as a viable decontamination system. The plasma source should be < 40 lbs, able to decontaminate the model system (such as a handheld radio) within 10 minutes, be able to run for 1 hr on battery power and be able to run on external power. During Phase I, Triton Systems demonstrated the proof-of-principle by constructing a “breadboard” prototype that achieved the necessary conditions to decontaminate a model system within 10 minutes with 99.9+ percent efficacy. Triton demonstrated the effectiveness of the system on two representative test coupons: a metal surface and a polycarbonate surface and agar. The coupons were contaminated with a broad spectrum of biological weapon surrogates (from bacteria, viruses, and spores) to demonstrate the deactivation/kill efficacy of the breadboard system. The same microbes were tested using agar as the substrate. In Phase II, Triton will refine the design and construct a “brass-board” prototype that provides the form, fit and function of the targeted end-product. The prototype will include management of any effluents (if needed) to ensure agents or harmful chemicals are contained during the decontamination process.