SBIR-STTR Award

METSS will demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing two separate technologies, chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and Hot Air Decontamination (HAD; high temperature/low humidity) as on-site decontamination processes for treating_x000D_ Category A virus contaminated items including porous materials (e.g., upholstery, bedding, fabric, carpet, unpainted wood); sensitive equipment; and potentially reusable materials (e.g., computers, cell phones and tablets, appliances). Either on-site treatment process would significantly reduce the need for transporting contaminated waste and materials to an off-site treatment facility; a process that has inherent safety risks and costs. Room-scale decontamination demonstration tests will be performed with a unique, highly robust, inexpensive ClO2 gas generating system and with a novel HAD system to determine efficacy against Phi6 bacteriophage (a surrogate to the Ebola virus). Bench-scale and full-scale testing will be performed to_x000D_ demonstrate the ability of these decontamination processes to inactivate viruses in both non-porous and porous_x000D_ materials. Field-scale tests will also demonstrate the processes are robust and safe. While the initial targets are Category A viruses, which are rarely seen in the US, the technologies have application in numerous other market industries such as health-care, food safety, sports/fitness, and military sustainment.

In the Phase II project, METSS will continue the development of a safe, robust, rapid, and effective chlorine dioxide (ClO2) gas dispersion system to be used for on-site room decontamination in hospital and non-hospital settings. The heart of the decontamination system is a proprietary ClO2 generating micro-reactor technology that is used to quickly and safely generate ClO2 on-site. This technology will meet the demands of health care market to decontaminate porous materials and sensitive equipment in rooms or vehicles used for patient care or transport. This need was evident during the care and treatment of Ebola patients in the United States several years ago. At that time, it was apparent that many facilities did not have the means to properly disinfect large items, like furniture, on-site; therefore, the items required transport off-site for proper treatment and disposable; a process that has inherent safety risks and associated cost. The ability to decontaminate a room containing porous materials and sensitive equipment on-site and in a non-destructive manner would be invaluable to the health care industry and meet a critical need for low-cost, simple solutions to decontaminate non-medical spaces as well. In the Phase I program, METSS demonstrated the feasibility of a novel ClO2 gas dispersion system to achieve >4 log inactivation levels of an Ebola surrogate in a full-scale room using a proof-of-concept prototype. In thePhase II program, the technology will be further developed and tested to optimize the disinfection treatmentconditions and operating parameters to achieve >6 inactivation levels of virus and bacterial spores at full-scale.Based on feedback from potential end users and results of development testing conducted during the first yearof the project, a functional prototype will be carefully designed, constructed, and tested during the second year.In the Option Phase, the prototype will then be tested in accordance with an EPA-approved protocol entitled“Efficacy of a Disinfectant Applied to a Room Via a Fogger or Misting Device” against a panel of organisms. Theresults will be submitted to the EPA to register the technology as a room disinfection device and claim “hospitaland broad spectrum” and “virucide” efficacy. Beyond the technology development, METSS has assembled a teamof experts in the fields of marketing, design, manufacturing, product development, and sales to take thetechnology through development and into commercialization.