Reactive formulations for a neutralization of toxic industrial chemicals

1. An aqueous decontamination formulation for neutralizing toxic industrial chemicals, said formulation comprising a mixture of a first part and a second part; wherein:

Part 1 comprises a mixture of:

one or more solubilizing compounds selected from the group consisting of a cationic surfactant, a cationic hydrotrope, and a fatty alcohol comprising 8–20 carbon atoms;

a buffering compound; and

water; and

Part 2 comprises a reducing compound or an acid;

wherein the reducing compound is selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite (NaHSO 3 ), ferrous sulfide, sodium sulfide, sodium thioglycollate, sodium borohydride, and combinations thereof; and

wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfate (NaHSO 4 ), acetic acid, nitrous acid, hydrocyanic acid, hydrogen sulfide, phenols, and combinations thereof;

wherein the final pH of the aqueous decontamination formulation is between approximately 9.6 and approximately 9.8.

2. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein said solubilizing compound in Part 1 comprises a cationic surfactant comprising one or more quaternary ammonium salts selected from the group consisting of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salt, tetrabutyl ammonium bromide, polymeric quaternary compounds, and benzyl (C12–C16) alkyldimethylammonium chlorides.

3. The formulation of claim 2 , wherein the concentration of said cationic surfactant is between approximately 0.1 wt % and approximately 10 wt % of the made-up aqueous decontamination formulation.

4. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein said solubilizing compound in Part 1 comprises a cationic hydrotrope comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of tetrapentyl ammonium bromide, triacetyl methyl ammonium bromide, tetrabutyl ammonium bromide, and pentamethyltallow alkyltrimethylenediammonium dichloride.

5. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein said solubilizing compound in Part 1 comprises one or more fatty alcohols selected from the group consisting of 1-dodecanol, 1-tridecanol, hexadecanol, and 1-tetradecanol.

6. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein said buffering compound in Part 1 comprises one or more carbonate or bicarbonate salts selected from the group consisting of potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium percarbonate ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium hydrogen bicarbonate, lithium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, and calcium carbonate, or combinations thereof.

7. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein Part 1 further comprises one or more optional ingredients selected from the group consisting of foaming agents, foam stabilizers, solvents, water-soluble polymers, corrosion-inhibitors, freeze point depressants, and sorbent additives.

8. The formulation of claim 7 , wherein Part 1 further comprises one or more water-soluble polymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, guar gum, polydiallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, polyacrylamide, glycerol, glycereth-12, poly(ethylene oxide), poly(ethylene glycol), polyethylene glycol 8000, guar gum 2-hydroxypropyl ether, poly-ethoxylated glycerine.

9. The formulation of claim 7 , wherein Part 1 further comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of di(propylene glycol) methyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tripropyleneglycol methyl ether, hexylene glycol, N,N-dimethlyethylamine, isobutanol, and isopropanol.

10. The formulation of claim 7 , wherein Part 1 further comprises one or more corrosion inhibitors selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyl ethanolamine, triethanolamine, ethanolamine salts of C9, C10, and C12 diacid mixtures, dicyclohexyl amine nitrite, and N,N-dibenzylamine.

11. The formulation of claim 7 , wherein Part 1 further comprises a freeze-point depressant comprising proplyene glycol.

12. The formulation of claim 7 , wherein Part 1 further comprises a sorbent additive comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, potassium silicate, precipitated silicates, percarbonates, amorphous silica, fumed silica, sodium citrate, dendritic salt (sea salt), citric acid, polyethylene glycol, PEG 8000, urea, and polyols.

13. The formulation of claim 12 , wherein the sorbent additive comprises one or more polyol compounds selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH), maltitol, zylitol, lactitol monohydrate, anhydrous isomalt, erythritol, and polydextrose.

14. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein:

Part 1 comprises:

0.1–10% Cationic Surfactant;

0–10% Cationic Hydrotrope;

1–10% Buffer;

0–1% Foam Stabilizer;

0–30% Solvent;

0–40% Antifreeze;

0–8% Water-Soluble Polymer;

0–1% Corrosion Inhibitor; and

Water (balance); and

Part 2 comprises:

0.1–5% Reducing compound or 0.1–2% Acid.

15. The formulation of claim 14 , wherein:

said cationic surfactant comprises benzalkonium chloride;

said cationic hydrotrope comprises pentamethyltallow alkyltrimethylenediammonium dichloride;

said buffer comprises potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate;

said foam stabilizer comprises 1-dodecanol;

said solvent comprises isobutanol and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether;

said reducing compound comprises sodium bisulfite;

said acid comprises sodium bisulfate;

said water-soluble polymer comprises polyethylene glycol; and

said freeze-point depressant comprises propylene glycol.