Abstract
Chemical and radiological emergences can be caused by terrorist attacks, such as the use of CWA, as well as from industrial accidents. Whatever the trigger, these events often involve the rapid dispersal of toxic chemical agents that, depending on the scenario and level of exposure, can compromise security and human health. These risks and the associated alarm in the population justify the interest in the development of systems and processes for the efficient capture of toxics airborne released in these incidents. The countermeasure proposed in this work is based on the use of fog (i.e. water dissolution with several additives such as isopropanol, Ag+ compounds even so metallic sorbents solid in suspension). The different combinations of these countermeasures were tested and evaluated in order to achieve maximum cleaning efficiency and speed of action. These tests were performed at different scales comprising laboratory scale, pilot plant, and inside a large building. The effect of the combined countermeasure studied is much greater than that of each of the measures separately, since, as has been shown, the joint interaction favours the reduction of the concentration of the dispersed radiochemical agent in the atmosphere. The capability at real scale of the propounded system for minimising the effect of chemical and/or radionuclide dispersion in the atmosphere has been confirmed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C. Streeper, M. Lombardi, L. Cantrel, in Database of Radiological Incidents and Related Events, (Los Alamos National Security and California Poison Control System, San Diego Division, 2006)
United States Nuclear Regulatory Comision Homepage, https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/around-us/uses-radiation.html. Accessed 10 January 2021
Word Nuclear Association. The Many Uses of Nuclear Technology Homepage, http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/overview/the-many-uses-of-nuclear-technology.aspx. Accessed 10 January 2021
D.A. Schauer, O.W. Linton, Radiology, pp. 293–295 (2009)
R. Yuri, Trauma Shock. 4(2), 260–272 (2011)
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Homepage, http://www.iaea.org. Accessed 10 January 2021
United Nations Security Council. Resolution 1540 S/RES/1540 (2004)
Database of Radiological Incidents and Related Events Homepage, http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/nuclear/radevents/. Accessed 10 January 2021
J.T. Hanson, In Radiological Dispersal Device Primer: From a Terrorist’s Perspective (Air War College, Air University, 2008)
L. Pascual, M. Fernández, L.J. Amigo, J.L. Pérez, J. Quiñones, EUR. Phys. J. Plus. 133, 291 (2018)
L. Pascual y J. Quiñones, in Sistemas generadores de niebla para usos en seguridad y descontaminación. Aplicación al escenario radiológico nuclear. (UCM. Doctoral thesis, Madrid, 2017)
T. Martín, F.J. Llerena, J. Pérez, J.L. Copa, J. Soliveri de Carranza, J.M. Orellana, J.L. Pérez, Enhancing CBRNE Safety & Security: Proceedings of the SICC 2017 Conference. Springer, Cham. (2018)
S.L. Bartelt-Hunt, D.R.U. Knappe, M.A. Barlaz, Crit. Rev. Env. Sci. Tec. 38(2), 112–136 (2008)
S.L. Barlelt-Hunt et al., Environ. Scl. Technol. 40, 4219–4225 (2006)
S.C. Singer et al., En-viron. Scl. Technol. 39(9), 3203–3214 (2005)
H.C. Menezes, L.C.A. Amorim, Z.L. Cardeal, Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol. 43, 1–39 (2013)
J. Huve, H. Ryzhikov, H. Nouali, V. Lalia, G. Augé, T.J. Daou, RSC Adv. 8, 29248 (2018)
M. Gourani, A. Sadighzadeh, F. Mizani, Radiat. Prot. Environ. 37, 179–183 (2014)
E.W.J. Hooijschuur, C.E. Kientz, U.A.T. Brinkman, J. Chromatogr. A 982, 177–200 (2002)
R.L. Bagalawis, J. Carlson, J. Walsh, in Quantitative Method for the Detection of Triethyl Phosphate in Aqueous Solutions, (U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, Massachusetts, 2003)
Z.W. Dai, L.S. Wan, X.J. Huang, J. Ling, A.K. Xu, J. Phys. Chem. A 115, 22415–22421 (2011)
N. Sharma, R. Kakkar, Adv. Mat. Lett. 4, 508–521 (2013)
G.W. Wagner, Q. Chen, Y. Wu, J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 11901–11906 (2008)
R.H. Petrucci, F.G. Herring, J.D. Madura, C. Bisonnette, General Chemestry, 10th edn. (Pearson Educación, Madrid, 2011), pp. 785–797
K. Mazanec, Influence of Water on the Active Nanodispersive Material Detoxification Capability (Czech Republic, Brno, 2017)
Acknowledgements
This research has been funded by the Project COUNTERFOG, No. 312804 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Quiñones, J., Domínguez, J.A., Pascual, L. et al. COUNTERFOG system applied inside the warehouse: verification of the counter response against radiochemical attack scenario. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 136, 1053 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-02005-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-02005-7