ECBC invents sorbent for chemical decontamination

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ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. Aca,!aEURc Scientists here have invented a way to better absorb liquids and gases that threaten the American warfighter.

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's Edgewood Chemical Biological Center has announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded a patent for the invention of a sorbent technology designed to improve efforts to decontaminate highly toxic materials.

This is the sixth patent issued to ECBC this fiscal year.

The new sorbent - a material used to absorb liquids or gases - accelerates the decontamination of substances such as chemical warfare agents, industrial chemicals, insecticides and VX, one of the most toxic and well-known nerve agents.

"The increased efficiency reduces the amount of sorbent required to decontaminate affected surfaces and, therefore, the costs involved," said Rick Decker, former ECBC Technical Director, now retired. "But more importantly, every step we take toward enhancing decontamination technology of chemical warfare agents takes us one step closer to protecting the warfighter and civilian population."

Delivered as fine aerosol mists, chemical agents deposit on surfaces of equipment and hardware including buildings, uniforms, weapons, vehicles and shelters, presenting a serious inhalation threat to U.S. troops and first-responders of terrorist attacks.

Capable of absorbing and converting extremely toxic materials into less toxic products, the modified reactive sorbents of the invention neutralize VX-contaminated surfaces 1,000 times faster than existing sorbent materials, according to George Wagner, Ph.D., the research chemist credited with the invention.

"While researching and developing a new sorbent technology, we aimed at making the decontamination process more efficient," said Wagner, who works in the Chemical Biological Detection, Protection and Decontamination Division of ECBC's Research and Technology Directorate.

"Each second counts when it comes to reducing hazardous conditions our warfighters and homeland are exposed to."

ECBC is currently seeking commercial partners to complete the development of the sorbent technology through a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement that provides a means for private industry to collaborate with Army research and development activities. With numerous existing agreements with a variety of companies, ECBC welcomes companies interested in a partnership to contact the Technical Industrial Liaison Officer via e-mail: technical.outreach@apgea.army.mil or by phone: 410-436-2031.

For more information about ECBC, visit http://www.ecbc.army.mil/.

ECBC invents sorbent for chemical decontamination

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