Similar to all other decontamination methods, CD gas
decontamination is a multi-step process. The 5 steps of the CD gas process
are pre-condition, condition, injection, exposure, and aeration.
Accumulated PPM-HRS
The Exposure step is controlled through an
"area under the curve" accrual of gas concentration until a target dosage has been met.
Pre-condition
Raising of relative humidity (RH) levels to between 60-75%.
Condition
Hold time once relative humidity set point has been reached.
Charge
Generation and delivery of chlorine dioxide gas.
Exposure
Hold time once gas concentration set point has been reached.
Aeration
Removal of chlorine dioxide gas from chamber.
Process Advantages:
Safer on materials than VPHP, bleach, ozone, and liquid chlorine dioxide solutions
- Non-carcinogenic
- Non-flammable at use concentrations.
- Non-explosive at use concentrations, no need for Damage Limiting Construction (DLC). Chlorine dioxide can become explosive
at concentrations of 10% in air, however normal use concentrations are 0.04%, approximately 250 times less.
- Residue free process
Chlorine dioxide is a true gas at ambient temperature
- Complete distribution as chlorine dioxide is governed by gas laws
- No condensation, quick aeration
Accurate concentration monitoring
- Due to its yellow-green color, chlorine dioxide can be accurately measured with a spectrophotometer
- Other agents, such as VPHP, cannot be accurately monitored as concentration is not uniform throughout area due to condensation and distribution gradients
Size scalable
- The chlorine dioxide gas decontamination process can be easily scaled up to volumes of millions of cubic feet.
Flexible process
- Effective at low concentrations
- Effective over wide temperature range
- Effective under ambient or vacuum pressures
- Effective against a wide range of organisms