Effect of Surfactant Concentration on the Long-Term Properties of a Colloidal Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Decontamination Gel

Chemically, biologically, or radiologically contaminated surfaces can be treated using colloidal “vacuumable” gels containing alumina particles as a thickening agent, decontaminating solutions to inhibit/eliminate biological and chemical contaminants, and Pluronic PE 6200 as a surfactant to adjust t...

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Main Authors: Alban Gossard, Fabien Frances, Camille Aloin, Clara Penavayre, Nicolas Fabrègue, Célia Lepeytre
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Fluids
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/6/11/410
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author Alban Gossard
Fabien Frances
Camille Aloin
Clara Penavayre
Nicolas Fabrègue
Célia Lepeytre
author_facet Alban Gossard
Fabien Frances
Camille Aloin
Clara Penavayre
Nicolas Fabrègue
Célia Lepeytre
author_sort Alban Gossard
collection DOAJ
description Chemically, biologically, or radiologically contaminated surfaces can be treated using colloidal “vacuumable” gels containing alumina particles as a thickening agent, decontaminating solutions to inhibit/eliminate biological and chemical contaminants, and Pluronic PE 6200 as a surfactant to adjust the gel’s physicochemical properties. These gels have been shown to remain efficient even after prolonged storage. In the present study, the properties of gels with different surfactant concentrations were monitored over several months using rheological analyses, contact angle measurements, and ion chromatography. Results show that the surfactant reacts with the hypochlorite ions in the decontaminating solution. This leads to sedimentation, which modifies the rheological properties of the gel. Increasing the surfactant concentration ensures the physicochemical properties of the gel are preserved for longer, but because the surfactant reacts with the hypochlorite ions, the concentration of the latter decreases drastically and thus so do the decontamination properties of the gel. There is therefore a trade-off between the efficiency of the gel against chemical and biological contamination at a given time and how long its physicochemical properties are preserved, with the optimal balance depending on its intended use.
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spelling doaj.art-71beb1e2c3c34864966f49ea0d0f1fe92023-11-22T23:17:46ZengMDPI AGFluids2311-55212021-11-0161141010.3390/fluids6110410Effect of Surfactant Concentration on the Long-Term Properties of a Colloidal Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Decontamination GelAlban Gossard0Fabien Frances1Camille Aloin2Clara Penavayre3Nicolas Fabrègue4Célia Lepeytre5CEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ Montpellier, Marcoule, FranceCEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ Montpellier, Marcoule, FranceCEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ Montpellier, Marcoule, FranceCEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ Montpellier, Marcoule, FranceCEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ Montpellier, Marcoule, FranceCEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ Montpellier, Marcoule, FranceChemically, biologically, or radiologically contaminated surfaces can be treated using colloidal “vacuumable” gels containing alumina particles as a thickening agent, decontaminating solutions to inhibit/eliminate biological and chemical contaminants, and Pluronic PE 6200 as a surfactant to adjust the gel’s physicochemical properties. These gels have been shown to remain efficient even after prolonged storage. In the present study, the properties of gels with different surfactant concentrations were monitored over several months using rheological analyses, contact angle measurements, and ion chromatography. Results show that the surfactant reacts with the hypochlorite ions in the decontaminating solution. This leads to sedimentation, which modifies the rheological properties of the gel. Increasing the surfactant concentration ensures the physicochemical properties of the gel are preserved for longer, but because the surfactant reacts with the hypochlorite ions, the concentration of the latter decreases drastically and thus so do the decontamination properties of the gel. There is therefore a trade-off between the efficiency of the gel against chemical and biological contamination at a given time and how long its physicochemical properties are preserved, with the optimal balance depending on its intended use.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/6/11/410CBRNgeldecontaminationsurfactantrheology
spellingShingle Alban Gossard
Fabien Frances
Camille Aloin
Clara Penavayre
Nicolas Fabrègue
Célia Lepeytre
Effect of Surfactant Concentration on the Long-Term Properties of a Colloidal Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Decontamination Gel
Fluids
CBRN
gel
decontamination
surfactant
rheology
title Effect of Surfactant Concentration on the Long-Term Properties of a Colloidal Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Decontamination Gel
title_full Effect of Surfactant Concentration on the Long-Term Properties of a Colloidal Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Decontamination Gel
title_fullStr Effect of Surfactant Concentration on the Long-Term Properties of a Colloidal Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Decontamination Gel
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Surfactant Concentration on the Long-Term Properties of a Colloidal Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Decontamination Gel
title_short Effect of Surfactant Concentration on the Long-Term Properties of a Colloidal Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Decontamination Gel
title_sort effect of surfactant concentration on the long term properties of a colloidal chemical biological and radiological cbr decontamination gel
topic CBRN
gel
decontamination
surfactant
rheology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5521/6/11/410
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