Recipient Organization
ROCK HOUSE ADVISORS, LLC
1703 BALD HILL RD
JEFFERSON CITY,MO 651013805
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The University of Missouri-Rolla1 and the U.S. Department of Defense conducted extensive research from 2003-2012concerning the efficacy of utilizing methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel), a derivative of soybean and other vegetable oils, as a decontaminant released through a fogging machine to impact bacteria and pathogens present in business and agricultural operations, including viruses. This technology showed tremendous promise as a safe, natural, and highly effective broad-spectrum disinfectant for applications in nearly any type of enclosed structure that may have been contaminated with a virus or nearly any other pathogen. Data indicate the chemistry to be effective at concentrations safe for humans and should have no impact on sensitive electronics. This proposal is seeking funding for phase 1 of the commercialization of this technology to build on the existing data and to get the technology registered and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The total funding amount requested is $100,000.00. The proposal's technology will have tremendous impacts and benefits to rural and urban health locally, nationally, and potentially globally. In addition, market implications will positively affect the economy. The technology will allow institutions and businesses the ability to decontaminate bacterial and viral pathogens in their establishments. Such establishments will vary and may include hospitals, nursing homes, universities and retail businesses. This technology will significantly reduce the vulnerabilities of rural communities from hazards and illnesses, is innovative and has the potential to lead to commercialization. The proposed innovative technology meets both the goals of the USDA and the purpose of the SBIR legislation by transforming scientific discovery and innovation into both social and economic benefit. Once established, the technology can be rapidly deployed for private sector commercialization. The aim of the SBIR project is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the technology bringing the innovation closer to commercialization. The project involves a high degree of technical risk, as emphasized in the Request for Proposal as the technology does not yet successfully have a patent and is facing hurdles that funding can help overcome. The project will be led by Joe Jobe of Rock House Advisors LLC. Joe Jobe's professional profile can be seen under the leadership tab at www.rockhouse.us. Jobe has led or coordinated with the development of research on soy methyl esters for the last two decades. The project has a high probability of advancing to the second phase of the SBIR.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
40%
Developmental
40%
Goals / Objectives
The proposed work aims at further developing existing data on the use ofmethyl esters as a bio-based anti-viral disinfectant fummigation technologyto decontaminate spaces from coronavirus and other pathogens. The specific research objectives include:1. Data will be collected for the technology registration and approval by the EPA under the FIFRA.2. A prototype fogging apparatus will be established for testing and evaluation of the technology
Project Methods
The Methods of this project will be to leverage significant private matching resources to conduct biology, virology, and engineering research to build on existing science that has been awaiting commercialization for approximately 10 years. The science, conducted by professors and graduate students at the University of Missouri Rollademonstrated a significant potential fora bio-safe decontaminant for a broad spectrum of pathogens including viruses. The recent coronovirus pandemic has been the inspiration to invest in the commercialization of this technology. However, once the investment is made and the technology is commercialized, it has long-term, wide-ranging, beneficial applications for health and human, animal, and food safety long after the current pandemic is under control. Approximately 30% of the project funding will focus on engineeringand construction ofthe prototype for the fummigation apparatus that will be used in field testing of the decontamination technology. The rest of the project funding will be used for project management to direct the matching fund virological and biological research during the data-gathering stage of the project. The data-gathering research will identify data gaps and direct research in a way that will both achieve commercialization in the high priority applications and obtain the data necessary to receive EPA registration under FIFRA.The project management work to coordinate the technical research commercialization goals with the registration and regulatory requirements will be conducted by Joe Jobe. His bio is athttps://www.rockhouse.us/professional-profile. As the CEO of the National Biodiesel Board from 1999 to 2016, Jobe oversaw, coordinated with, or directly managed the substantial body of scientific research conducted on soy methyl esters that allowed forthe commercialization of biodiesel, now an $11 billion per year ag-based, low carbon, renewable fuel industry. Jobe was the principle investigator for the Tier II subchronic inhalation Health Effects Testing program of soy methyl esters exhaust emissions in a diesel engine as required for EPA registration under part 79 of the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act. This two-year, $2.2 million successful testing program was the largest single research project ever conducted by the NBB and funded primarily by soybean checkoff funding through the USDA.Scientists are reviewing the existing data to evaluate the major constituents in soybean oil vapors which haveidentifyingseveral volatile and semi-volatile short chain molecules, including aldehydes, carboxylic acids, alcohols and ketones. Each of the dominant contituent components are being evaluated for evidence of use as a disinfectant.The methods used to demonstrate antimicrobial activity in the previous research are not standard or approved by EPA, rather they seem adapted from the Ames test method for mutagenicity.Standard methods for testing disinfection of surfaces are available from AOAC and ASTM and could be adapted to this delivery method. The EPA has approved versions of these methods that they rely on for antimicrobial pesticide testing.Some studies will need to be repeated with appropriate standard methods, challenge organisms, and controls.