Aluminum-based materials for inactivation of aerosolized spores of Bacillus anthracis surrogates

Abstract

ABSTRACTEnergetic materials generating biocidal combustion products to disable airborne pathogenic microorganisms (including bio-threat agents) were designed as compounds of halogens and metals with high heats of oxidation. Thermally stable Al-based powders containing iodine and chlorine were prepared using ball-milling at room and cryogenic temperatures. Such powders can replace pure aluminum in metallized energetic formulations. Their stability and halogen release were quantified using thermo-gravimetric analysis. Ignition temperatures were determined by coating prepared powders onto an electrically heated filament. All prepared composites had lower ignition temperatures and longer combustion times compared to pure Al. In separate experiments, combustion products generated by injecting the prepared powders into an air-acetylene flame were mixed with a well-characterized bioaerosol. Inactivation of viable bioaerosol particles exposed to the heated combustion products for a short period of time (estimated...