Chemical Decontamination Technology Inspired by JELL-O

Addressing a DARPA challenge to create innovative solutions for cleaning contaminated surfaces, a research team at Idaho National Laboratory discovered that gelatin worked well in making a proper chemical foam. The researchers developed Rad-Release, a highly effective (up to 99% removal rate), affordable, patented chemical-foam-clay decontamination process tailored to specific radiological and metal contaminants, which is applicable to a wide variety of substrates.

Transcript

00:00:01 [Music] the gelatin used in jello is making a special contribution to cleaning buildings equipment and structures at America's contaminated sites in thinking about darpa's challenge to create innovative solutions for cleaning contaminated surfaces our team needed a stable foam to keep the chemicals in place to do their work after many tests

00:00:27 we discovered the gelatin the main ingredient used in gel worked well in making a proper F this discovery Advanced inl's research efforts in creating rad release a two-part breakthrough that removes radioactive and concentrated metals from various surfaces DARPA and the Department of Homeland Security were seeking Innovative Technologies in case

00:00:50 of a radioactive dispersal device detonation seven inl researchers responded perfecting a foam and Clay extraction process effective in removing even the most radioactive contaminants including transuranics part one involves applying a specifically Blended chemical foam to contaminate its surfaces then letting the reagent process work for 2

00:01:15 [Music] hours next a vacuum is used to remove the foam taking with it at least 50% of the contaminants if additional decontamination is necessary the second part of the technology is employed part two involves applying wet clay saturated with potassium chloride to extract the contaminants hiding in the subsurface

00:01:38 pores and capillaries this process involves a slow Mass transfer where contaminant particles seek equilibrium by spreading from higher to lower concentrations in the clay this slow process takes 2 to 6 weeks depending on the type of contaminant for large application areas clay can be sprayed on with commercial sprayers finally clay with contaminants is removed and

00:02:02 packaged for appropriate safe disposal the application of rad relase foam can remove 50% of contamination in Just 2 hours if the clay is applied in addition to the foam 80% can be removed in 1 day 88% in 1 week and 95% in 6 weeks Brad release has won several competitions including an international contest against German British and Canadian technology

00:02:30 it also removed 30 to 50% more contamination than the best Technologies offered by US National Laboratories and private companies in a 2010 EPA study Brad release removed 71% of the contamination LC C environmental Alternatives Incorporated has successfully removed up to 95% of contamination in glove boxes and hot cells at argon National Laboratory and

00:02:56 West Valley New York rad release removes 30 to 50% more contaminant than any other technology but boasts a dozen or more advantages including returns buildings equipment and structures to use is non-destructive reduces cost in processing uses inexpensive materials treats all radio nucleid including transuranics minimizes waste cost and volume and reduces worker exposure to

00:03:22 contaminated materials Brad release is a major breakthrough in cleaning up contaminated surfaces it is effective and without a doubt has earned the designation the reagent of choice [Music]