This collaborative project is an integrated fundamental study to (i) elaborate and tune approaches for fast detection of the CWA and their transformation products and (ii) propose decontamination formulation(s) for fast and irreversibly decontamination with as lowest impact to the personnel and the environment as possible. The versatile portable and user-friendly all-weather and all-terrain kits for certified First Responders and spontaneous volunteers are to design. The methods and formulations to be developed are based on the recent research developments and designed in accordance with the requirements of green and sustainable chemistry, including green chemistry metrics approach.
There is a high risk that the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 variants) continues to spread in its specific forms, including through direct contact with surfaces, and this will require effective materials and sterilization methods. Ethanol-based products have advantage in the direct contact, but we have developed surfactants with different and wider uses for disinfection. The new disinfectants contain biodegradable ingredients that remain on the surface much longer to inactivate bacteria, viruses, fungi and material viruses, incl. coronavirus. The range of new products includes: (1) POM / PLA composites made by the melt extrusion process and well suited as a coating material for the hospital environment; (2) nanoemulsions of essential oils that characterized by controlled loading; (3) treated highly hydrophobic surfaces, (4) lignin-based materials (as gels and films), which also have antiviral and antibacterial properties. They are classes of products worth developing and that our Estonian entrepreneurs could use.