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Lemieux P, Boe T, Tschursin A, Denison MK, Davis K, Swensen D. Computational simulation of incineration of chemically and biologically contaminated wastes. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2021; 71:462-476. [PMID: 33216705 PMCID: PMC10569137 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2020.1853627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the modeling approach and example results for a newly introduced computational simulation tool to evaluate waste destruction in thermal incineration systems. The Configured Fireside Simulator (CFS) is a software simulator, originally developed for the Department of Defense to evaluate operations of the chemical demilitarization incinerators processing the chemical warfare agent stockpile of the US. The software was later adapted for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide for the ability to run "what if" scenarios of waste streams contaminated with chemical/biological (CB) threat agents in four specific incinerators, including the EPA's pilot-scale Rotary Kiln Incinerator Simulator (RKIS) facility, as well as three commercial incinerators based on design criteria for actual operating facilities. These commercial incinerators include a Medical/Pathological Waste Incinerator, a Hazardous Waste Burning Rotary Kiln, and a Waste-to-Energy Stoker-type combustor. The CFS uses three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics coupled with detailed chemical kinetic data for destruction of chemical warfare agents, coupled with kinetic data for biological agent destruction derived from bench- and pilot-scale experiments to predict the way agent-containing materials will behave under full-scale combustion conditions in several different incinerator types. The objective of this paper is to describe the CFS software, how it works, and potential applications of this software to real-world situations. This software could be a valuable tool for researchers, regulators, and industry to evaluate potential operating conditions to help guide testing activities and develop operational scenarios for difficult-to-manage waste streams. Although this software has been under development for several years, this paper represents the software's first introduction to the scientific community in the peer-reviewed literature.Implications: Adapting the Configured Fireside Simulator that was originally developed for the Department of Defense to evaluate operations of the chemical demilitarization incinerators processing the chemical warfare agent stockpile of the US to provide for the ability to run "what if" scenarios on civilian waste streams contaminated with CB agents is a useful tool for national preparedness. Such a model could be used in planning and response efforts to provide a better understanding of incineration capacity, development of feed strategies, and assessment of throughput limitations for CB incidents as well as other difficult-to-test waste streams and contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Lemieux
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Timothy Boe
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Anna Tschursin
- Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Kevin Davis
- Reaction Engineering International, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Dave Swensen
- Reaction Engineering International, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Wood JP, Richter W, Sunderman M, Calfee MW, Serre S, Mickelsen L. Evaluating the Environmental Persistence and Inactivation of MS2 Bacteriophage and the Presumed Ebola Virus Surrogate Phi6 Using Low Concentration Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:3581-3590. [PMID: 32073830 PMCID: PMC7371032 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) disease outbreaks, as well as the ability of EBOV to persist in the environment under certain conditions, highlight the need to develop effective decontamination techniques against the virus. We evaluated the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) to inactivate MS2 and Phi6 bacteriophages, the latter a recommended surrogate for EBOV. The phages were inoculated onto six material types with and without the presence of whole human blood. The inoculated materials were then exposed to either a high or low concentration of HPV for various elapsed times. The phages were also recovered from positive controls at these same elapsed times, to assess environmental persistence and decontamination efficacy. Low concentration hydrogen peroxide vapor (LCHP; 25 ppm) was effective against both phages on all materials without the presence of blood at 2 h. LCHP was ineffective against the phages in the presence of blood, on all materials, even with a 3-day contact time. Higher concentrations of HPV (>400 ppm) with contact times of 24-32 h achieved approximately 2-6 log reduction of the phages in the presence of blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P. Wood
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - William Richter
- Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus OH, 43201
| | | | - M. Worth Calfee
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Shannon Serre
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Land and Emergency Management, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Consequence Management Advisory Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
| | - Leroy Mickelsen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Land and Emergency Management, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Consequence Management Advisory Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
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Wood JP, Adrion AC. Review of Decontamination Techniques for the Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis and Other Spore-Forming Bacteria Associated with Building or Outdoor Materials. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:4045-4062. [PMID: 30901213 PMCID: PMC6547374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the intentional release of Bacillus anthracis spores through the U.S. Postal Service in the fall of 2001, research and development related to decontamination for this biological agent have increased substantially. This review synthesizes the advances made relative to B. anthracis spore decontamination science and technology since approximately 2002, referencing the open scientific literature and publicly available, well-documented scientific reports. In the process of conducting this review, scientific knowledge gaps have also been identified. This review focuses primarily on techniques that are commercially available and that could potentially be used in the large-scale decontamination of buildings and other structures, as well as outdoor environments. Since 2002, the body of scientific data related to decontamination and microbial sterilization has grown substantially, especially in terms of quantifying decontamination efficacy as a function of several factors. Specifically, progress has been made in understanding how decontaminant chemistry, the materials the microorganisms are associated with, environmental factors, and microbiological methods quantitatively impact spore inactivation. While advancement has been made in the past 15 years to further the state of the science in the inactivation of bacterial spores in a decontamination scenario, further research is warranted to close the scientific gaps that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P. Wood
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Offce of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina United States
- Corresponding Author: Phone: (919) 541-5029;
| | - Alden Charles Adrion
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Offce of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina United States
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Postdoctoral Fellow, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States
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Buhr TL, Young AA, Barnette HK, Minter ZA, Kennihan NL, Johnson CA, Bohmke MD, DePaola M, Cora-Laó M, Page MA. Test methods and response surface models for hot, humid air decontamination of materials contaminated with dirty spores of Bacillus anthracis ∆Sterne and Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam. J Appl Microbiol 2015; 119:1263-77. [PMID: 26258399 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2015] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To develop test methods and evaluate survival of Bacillus anthracis ∆Sterne or Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam on materials contaminated with dirty spore preparations after exposure to hot, humid air using response surface modelling. METHODS AND RESULTS Spores (>7 log10 ) were mixed with humic acid + spent sporulation medium (organic debris) or kaolin (dirt debris). Spore samples were then dried on five different test materials (wiring insulation, aircraft performance coating, anti-skid, polypropylene, and nylon). Inoculated materials were tested with 19 test combinations of temperature (55, 65, 75°C), relative humidity (70, 80, 90%) and time (1, 2, 3 days). The slowest spore inactivation kinetics was on nylon webbing and/or after addition of organic debris. CONCLUSIONS Hot, humid air effectively decontaminates materials contaminated with dirty Bacillus spore preparations; debris and material interactions create complex decontamination kinetic patterns; and B. thuringiensis Al Hakam is a realistic surrogate for B. anthracis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Response surface models of hot, humid air decontamination were developed which may be used to select decontamination parameters for contamination scenarios including aircraft.
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Affiliation(s)
- T L Buhr
- Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA
| | - A A Young
- Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA
| | - H K Barnette
- Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA
| | - Z A Minter
- Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA
| | - N L Kennihan
- Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA
| | - C A Johnson
- Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA
| | - M D Bohmke
- Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA
| | - M DePaola
- Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA
| | - M Cora-Laó
- United States Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - M A Page
- United States Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center, Champaign, IL, USA
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Wood J, Lemieux P, Betancourt D, Kariher P, Gatchalian N. Dry thermal resistance of
Bacillus anthracis
(Sterne) spores and spores of other
Bacillus
species: implications for biological agent destruction via waste incineration. J Appl Microbiol 2010; 109:99-106. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04632.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J.P. Wood
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - P. Lemieux
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - D. Betancourt
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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