Historicalarchived

Enzyme-Based Decontamination Technology for Organophosphorus Nerve Agents and Pesticides

RDEC EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

With an increasing need to respond quickly and efficiently to real-world threats such as a deliberate chemical warfare agent attack or accidental release of toxic industrial chemicals, the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) developed a patented technology to neutralize organophosphorus chemical agents and pesticides. This enzyme-based technology simplifies and improves the process of decontaminating a class of highly toxic chemicals, including nerve agents. Other decontamination methods use corrosive chemicals that are more costly, less efficient, and generate a substantial amount of residual waste. The ECBC technology is nontoxic, noncorrosive, and environmentally safe. It can be applied using existing water-based application systems such as firefighting foams and sprays, and aircraft deicing solutions. In an incident where highly toxic chemicals are released, the enzymes quickly neutralize the chemicals before they can contaminate a wider area.

Applications

Military and Commercial Significance:
While initially intended for decontaminating
equipment, facilities and large
areas, the enzymes could potentially
be used in shower systems for decontaminating
personnel and casualties.
Having invented this enzyme-based
decontamination technology, ECBC
needed a commercialization partner to
license and enhance the manufacturing
process to drive down the unit cost
of the material—an important requirement
for broad adoption of the technology.
Genencor International, Inc.,
the leading manufacturer of industrial
and specialty enzymes in the United
States, was contacted to explore the
possibility of licensing and manufacturing
the technology. Genencor agreed
to license the technology and use its
state-of-the-art fermentation plants for
the manufacturing process.
Genencor met its production milestone
and is now successfully producing the
licensed enzymatic decontamination
technology under the trademark DEFENZ
™. This product is being purchased
by companies that produce
and sell firefighting foams and sprays
and other matrices. These companies,
in turn, are formulating the enzymes
into products for purchase by
fire departments, HAZMAT groups,
and others in the first responder community.
The first commercial decontaminant
that incorporates the enzymes
(All-Clear™) was introduced
into the market by Kidde Fire Fighting,
Inc., in August 2005.

Provenance

Original: https://dodtechmatch.com/dod/successstories/view.aspx?id=60189
Archived copy: Wayback Machine snapshot

This record was recovered from a public web archive of dodtechmatch.com and is preserved for historical reference. It may be outdated. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Contact details from the original listing have been withheld.