Pilot Plant Testing of Hot Gas Building Decontamination Process

In this project, Task 1 of the third phase of the Novel Process program, the hot gas decontamination process was used in a pilot scale study to determine its effectiveness in removing a controlled amount of chemical agent mustard HD from a small, multi-material test structure. The test structure and burner system were located in an environmentally controlled test chamber and were controlled remotely. Coupons of painted and unpainted concrete and steel were mounted on the inside of the test structure and two areas on the floor were spiked with low quantities 4mgsquare inch of HD to simulate conditions in a contaminated building. Pretest blanks and spike samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with methodology verified in the laboratory for extracting HD from pulverized concrete, from soil, and from painted and unpainted concrete and steel surfaces. The results of this study indicate that the hot gas decontamination concept is a promising technology for the decontamination of buildings and large pieces of equipment in the field. However, it is recommended that improved methods be developed to sample and analyze agent from the surface of painted and unpainted concrete. It is also recommended that air sampling techniques be used that are not affected by water emanating from the concrete during the process.