NBC DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM DEVELOPED
The Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) of the Ministry of Defence has developed a Nuclear, Biological
and Chemical (NBC) decontamination systems at their laboratories
in Gwalior and Ahmednagar. The system contains Personal Decontamination
Kit (PDK), Portable Decontamination Apparatus, Decontamination
Solution and Mobile Decontamination system.
The Personal Decontamination Kit (PDK) has
been designed to decontaminate the chemical warfare agents through
physical adsorption if persistent chemical warfare agents are
detected over surfaces such as exposed body parts, clothing, gloves,
overboots, personal weapons, etc. The kit consists of three parts,
PDK-I, PDK-II and Radiological Decontamination Personnel (RDP).
PDK-I is a pad containing adsorbent powder. PDK-II contains a
puffer bottle with adsorbent powder removes the liquid chemical
warfare agents by physical adsorption. The RDP is a pouch containing
tissue paper soaked in neutral solution of surfactant that removes
the solid particles including nuclear fallout. The kit contains
four PDK-I sachets, one PDK-II bottle and two RDP sachets.
The kit weighs 480 gm and has dimensions of 230
mm x 135 mm x 45 mm. The shelf life of the kit is five years in
factory packed condition.
Portable Decontamination Apparatus (PDA)
has been designed to spray decontamination solution over the contaminated
area, buildings, vehicles including tanks and ships. The apparatus
is made of stainless steel with provision for pressurizing the
vessel by a pump or from a vehicle compressor. A lance with a
scrubber, a brush, a scrapper and an adjustable nozzle has been
provided for working from a safe distance from the contaminated
surface.
Scrapper and brush are used to scratch and brush
the contaminated paint of metal panels so that the decontaminant
can reach the contaminant trapped inside the paint. The apparatus
can also be used to spray decontaminant as liquid mixture and
slurries. The apparatus has been provided with a pressure gauge,
a shoulder strap for manual handling and brackets for fixing it
on a vehicle. The apparatus weighs ten kg with a capacity of 14
litres. The solution can discharge at a time 4 kg/cm2 in
less than five minutes in a spray range of five meter radius.
Decontamination Solution (DS-2) is used for
external decontamination of small and medium size arms and equipment.
DS-2 is a mixture of organic and inorganic bases and methyl cellosolve.
It is yellow in colour, which turns brown on storage and is non-corrosive
to metal surface. DS-2 can be used by the spraying and swabbing
methods. However, it is harmful to skin and eyes. The kit has
a shelf life of five years in factory packed condition.
The Mobile Decontamination System has been designed
and developed for decontamination of terrain, vehicles, personnel
and personal equipment The system is fitted on a TATRA vehicle
with cross-country capabilities. The main sub-systems of mobile
decontamination system are : pre-wash, chemical wash and postwash.
Pre-wash consists of a 3000 litre stainless steel water tank and
a fast suction pump. A high-pressure jet with a capacity of 3400
litre per hour (lph) at 45-50 bar and a low-pressure jet with
a capacity of 900 lph at 5 to 6 bar and 1600 lph at 10 to 15 bar
has also been provided. The chemical wash system is capable of
mixing two powders and two liquids with variable feed rates. It
has a 5 litre per minute slurry emulsion flow rate. The postwash
system consists of a high-pressure hot water jet, a hot water
shower for personnel and provision of steam for decontamination
of clothing. The subsystem can be simultaneously operated.
The Decontamination systems are in regular production
and have already been introduced into the Services.
