Honeywell is working with the U.S. Army on a program to test the
effectiveness of Catalytic Oxidation (CATOX) technologies to protect combat
vehicle crewmembers from biological and chemical hazards in the field. The
Honeywell approach uses waste heat from a combat vehicle's engines to
neutralize biological and chemical agents. This approach provides and
crewmembers with a safe and reliable source of breathable air when biological
or chemical agents are present in the outside air.
Unlike thermal oxidation processes which require extremely high temperatures to
destroy volatile organic compounds and biological agents, CATOX systems are
able to neutralize toxic substances at a much lower temperature. The CATOX
technology makes use of a robust catalyst that tolerates halogen and
phosphorous compounds.
A CATOX system promises to be much lighter, more portable and more efficient
than other methods of treating chemical and biological warfare agents. That
means it can be easily installed as standard equipment on tank or other combat
vehicle. The CATOX system runs effectively on waste heat (at approximately
300oC) recuperated from the engines of a combat vehicle.
By combining proven CATOX technologies with a post-treatment filter system that
removes acid gases, the process yields breathable air for combat-vehicle
crewmembers, protecting their safety and allowing them to complete their
mission.
