AVS 45th International Symposium
    Plasma Science and Technology Division Monday Sessions
       Session PS1-MoA

Paper PS1-MoA10
High Pressure Plasmas as an Anti-Terrorist Technology

Monday, November 2, 1998, 5:00 pm, Room 314/315

Session: Environmental Issues and Emerging Technologies
Presenter: G.S. Selwyn, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Authors: G.S. Selwyn, Los Alamos National Laboratory
H.W. Herrmann, Los Alamos National Laboratory
I. Henins, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
Plasmas have long been used for production of short-lived, reactive chemical species needed for etching or deposition of thin films. Plasmas are also widely used for dry ashing or stripping of organic films, such as photoresist, from wafers. We have recently developed a novel, atmospheric pressure, non-thermal plasma source with chemical and electrical characteristics closely resembling traditional low-pressure plasma discharges. However, unlike conventional low pressure plasmas, this source produces a fast-flow stream of chemically-reactive, metastable species capable of selective surface oxidation. One emerging application for this new technology is the use of plasmas for decontamination of civilian and/or military targets attacked by chemical or biological warfare agents. We have demonstrated rapid and effective decontamination of surfaces exposed to either anthrax-surrogate spores or a chemical agent used as a surrogate for mustard gas. Anthrax is an air-borne, persistent and highly toxic spore capable of causing mass casualties if spread in an urban area by terrorist. The atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) has been shown to produce a 7-log decrease in active spores after a 90 second exposure to the reactive effluent stream. Mustard gas is a chemical agent causing severe skin blistering, mass injuries and incapacitation capable of lasting several months. It can be used to reduce the effectiveness of military force and to interfere with military logistics as well as to render urban areas uninhabitable for prolonged periods. The APPJ source has been shown to detoxify a mustard gas simulant by 5 orders of magnitude in just 30 seconds of effluent exposure. Development of this new technology provides a potential means of defeating terrorist attacks using these agents, both in the US and overseas. By providing a means to effectively counter chemical and/or biological attacks, it is hoped the use of these weapons of mass destruction will also be deterred.