Editing Decontamination foam

{{Short description|Cleaning solution}}
[[File:US Navy 110323-N-UO379-006 Sailors and Marines take cover from thousands of gallons of aqueous film forming foam solution during a countermeasure w.jpg|thumb|Sailors and marines take cover from thousands of gallons of aqueous film forming foam solution during a countermeasure washdown.]]
'''Decontamination foam''' (known commonly as '''decon foam''') is a spray-on [[Washing|cleaning]] [[Solution (chemistry)|solution]] used on surfaces that have been [[Contamination|contaminated]] with biological or chemical agents (e.g., [[chemical warfare|chemical warfare agents]], [[anthrax|anthrax spores]] or [[Toxic waste|toxic industrial materials]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Wadood Khan|first1=Abdul|last2=Kotta|first2=Sabna|last3=Hussain Ansari|first3=Shahid|last4=Kumar Sharma|first4=Rakesh|last5=Kumar|first5=Vinod|last6=Rana|first6=Sudha|last7=Ali|first7=Javed|date=2012|title=Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats-Decontamination technologies and recent patents: A review|url=https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.3688029|journal=Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy|volume=4|issue=1|pages=012704|doi=10.1063/1.3688029|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Decon foam has been found to make numerous chemical and biological agents harmless. It is also intended for use in areas where large numbers of people have possibly been contaminated (e.g. at [[Convention (meeting)|convention]]s, [[airport]]s, [[concert]]s).<ref name=":0" /> <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Goolsby|first=Tommy D.|editor-first1=John B. |editor-first2=Debra D. |editor-first3=Steve |editor-first4=Basil J. |editor-last1=Alexander |editor-last2=Spencer |editor-last3=Schmit |editor-last4=Steele |date=1997|title=Aqueous foam as a less-than-lethal technology for prison applications|url=https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/2934/0000/Aqueous-foam-as-a-less-than-lethal-technology-for-prison/10.1117/12.265401.full|journal=Security Systems and Nonlethal Technologies for Law Enforcement|publisher=SPIE|volume=2934|pages=86–95|doi=10.1117/12.265401|bibcode=1997SPIE.2934...86G |s2cid=110396848 }}</ref>

== Composition ==
The composition of decontamination foams is essentially water and a surfactant, creating an [[Firefighting foam#Synthetic foams|aqueous film forming foam]] that various reactive chemicals are then added, diminishing the amount of contaminants adhering to a surface and forming less hazardous products. Common reactants are [[hydrogen peroxide]] and quaternary ammonium complexes. Decon foam often comes in multiple bottles, that, when mixed, combine to form the decontamination solution. The bottles should be kept separate until needed as the foam may begin to lose effectiveness after mixing. After these bottles are mixed together, the foam can be applied by spraying it on a contaminated area or by manual application.

[[Solvent|Solvent-based]] decontaminants work well on permeable [[Polymer|polymers]] and are made to avoid corrosion, but can possibly alter polymer or plastic surfaces permanently. On the other hand, [[Aqueous solution|aqueous-based]] decontaminants are better with [[Chemical polarity|polar]] surfaces like concrete, but have the potential to [[Corrosion|corrode]] surfaces.<ref name=":2" /> For decontamination foam to be successful, it is important to stabilize the foam as this will increase its efficiency. Modifying the surface of [[Silicon dioxide|silica]] [[Nanoparticle|nanoparticles]] to a certain level has been found to increase stability of the foam.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sonn|first1=Jong Suk|last2=Lee|first2=Ju Yeon|last3=Jo|first3=Seon Hui|last4=Yoon|first4=In-Ho|last5=Jung|first5=Chong-Hun|last6=Lim|first6=Jong Choo|date=2018|title=Effect of surface modification of silica nanoparticles by silane coupling agent on decontamination foam stability|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306454916310349|journal=Annals of Nuclear Energy|language=en|volume=114|pages=11–18|doi=10.1016/j.anucene.2017.12.007|bibcode=2018AnNuE.114...11S |issn=0306-4549|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Effectiveness ==
Decontamination foams can have varying levels of effectiveness depending on the decon foam, the type of contaminating agent, and the surface that is being decontaminated. Many decontaminants show effectiveness against chemical agents on [[Porosity|nonporous]] and non-permeable surfaces, such as [[glass]] and [[stainless steel]], since the contaminant remains on the exterior of the surface and is easily accessible to the decontaminant. However, more [[Porous silicon|porous]] and permeable surfaces can absorb the contaminant, making it more difficult to decontaminate, and decontaminating agents can leave residual chemical contaminants on these surfaces.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Love|first1=Adam H.|last2=Bailey|first2=Christopher G.|last3=Hanna|first3=M. Leslie|last4=Hok|first4=Saphon|last5=Vu|first5=Alex K.|last6=Reutter|first6=Dennis J.|last7=Raber|first7=Ellen|date=2011|title=Efficacy of liquid and foam decontamination technologies for chemical warfare agents on indoor surfaces|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389411011058|journal=Journal of Hazardous Materials|language=en|volume=196|pages=115–122|doi=10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.09.005|pmid=21944706 |bibcode=2011JHzM..196..115L |issn=0304-3894|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Examples of use==
[[File:Decontamination shower, Exercise Desert Sailor, Feb. 27, 2008.jpg|thumb|U.S. Navy Officer passing through a decontamination shower.]]
* Decontamination of mailrooms during the [[2001 anthrax attacks]]. The surfaces in the mailrooms were coated with two to three inches of foam and left for an hour before being vacuumed up. The foam was able to kill much of the [[anthrax]] without destroying the office equipment or furniture<ref>{{Cite news|last=Glanz|first=James|date=2001-10-26|title=A NATION CHALLENGED: DECONTAMINATION; Foam That Kills Anthrax Is to Be Used in Mailrooms|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/26/us/nation-challenged-decontamination-foam-that-kills-anthrax-be-used-mailrooms.html|access-date=2021-11-24|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* As an [[area denial weapons]] medium for [[crowd control]], e.g. to make the ground slippery, as well as to reduce [[visibility]] (as a [[fog]])
* The [[LAX]] airport soap cannon can spray large quantities of decon foam on crowds of potentially exposed persons, e.g. to [[mass decontamination|decon]] an entire planeload of people who might be victims of a nuclear, chemical, or biological agent release
* Decontamination of [[methamphetamine]] labs<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Sandia National Laboratories|date=2012-02-16|title=Anthrax Decontamination Foam Used for Meth Lab Cleanup|url=https://scitechdaily.com/anthrax-decontamination-foam-used-for-meth-lab-cleanup/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=SciTechDaily|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Mold remediation]]<ref name=":1" />
* Disinfection of hospitals and schools<ref name=":1" /> 
* [[Pesticide]] removal<ref name=":1" />
* Military applications<ref name=":1" /> 
* Preventative measure at [[United States presidential election debates|presidential debates]]<ref name=":1" />

==Benefits over other decontaminants==
The two main benefits of decontamination foam over liquid decontaminants ([[chlorine]], decontamination solutions, etc.) are its effectiveness on non horizontal surfaces and its high air to liquid ratio. Other decontaminants are difficult to apply to walls and ceilings due to poor [[adhesion]], but decon foam is much better at adhering to surfaces, which increases the amount of time for the decontamination reaction to take place. Additionally, the high air-to-liquid ratio allows the foam to be used without over-applying the decontaminant. This high ratio also allows a small amount of liquid to cover a relatively large area in the event of a major contamination.

==Formulas==
*SNL100 ([[Sandia National Laboratories]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sandia decontamination foam|url=https://www.sandia.gov/media/NewsRel/NR2001/dcnfoam.htm|access-date=2021-11-24|website=www.sandia.gov}}</ref>
*MDF200 (Modec Decon Foam)<ref>{{Cite web|title=MDF-200/500® - Span-World LLC.|url=https://deconsolutions.com/product/mdf-200-500/|access-date=2021-11-26|website=deconsolutions.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
== References ==
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[[Category:Hygiene]]
[[Category:Safety equipment]]