Characterizing the Role of Fluorocarbon and Hydrocarbon Surfactants in Firefighting-Foam Formulations for Fire-Suppression

Hinnant, Katherine M.; Giles, Spencer L.; Smith, EE; Snow, Arthur W.; Ananth, Ramagopal

doi:10.1007/s10694-019-00932-7

Cited by 40 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This implies another difficult aspect of suppressing peat fires with foam since the required smothering holding time for smouldering can be days, weeks or months. This is in contrast to flaming wildfires, which may need hours (Rein 2016) and flaming liquid fires, which may only need minutes (Hinnant et al 2020).…”

Section: Suppressant Agents To Fight Wildfiresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In using firefighting agents, environmental safety is an important criterion. The development of environmentally friendly firefighting foams and agents and their effectiveness on both building and wildland fires have been investigated by several authors (Kennedy et al 2015;Hinnant et al 2017;Rakowska et al 2017;Hinnant et al 2020;Rivai et al 2020;Subekti et al 2020). Foam suppression acts by smothering the smouldering, covering the surface of the fuel with a foam layer that prevents oxygen from accessing the fuel.…”

Section: Suppressant Agents To Fight Wildfiresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If peat becomes hydrophobic after suppression with fluorine-based foam, restoration efforts by rewetting may become ineffective, leaving the peatland vulnerable to fires again in the next drought. Owing to the environmental issue of fluorine, alternative fluorine-free surfactants have been developed, including hydrocarbon-based foam (Hinnant et al 2020), FAP (Subekti et al 2020) and fluorine-free wetting agent (Rakowska et al 2017).…”

Section: Suppressant Agents To Fight Wildfiresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Laboratory study on the suppression of smouldering peat wildfires: effects of flow rate and wetting agent

Santoso

Cui

Amin

et al. 2021

Int. J. Wildland Fire

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The application of water, or water mixed with suppressants, to combat wildfires is one of the most common firefighting methods but is rarely studied for smouldering peat wildfire, which is the largest type of fire worldwide in term of fuel consumption. We performed experiments by spraying suppressant to the top of a burning peat sample inside a reactor. A plant-based wetting agent suppressant was mixed with water at three concentrations: 0% (pure water), 1% (low concentration), and 5% (high concentration), and delivered with varying flowrates. The results showed that suppression time decreased non-linearly with flow rate. The average suppression time for the low-concentration solution was 39% lower than with just water, while the high-concentration solution reduced suppression time by 26%. The volume of fluid that contributes to the suppression of peat in our experiments is fairly constant at 5.7 AE 2.1 L kg À1 peat despite changes in flow rate and suppressant concentration. This constant volume suggests that suppression time is the duration needed to flood the peat layer and that the suppressant acts thermally and not chemically. The results provide a better understanding of the suppression mechanism of peat fires and can improve firefighting and mitigation strategies.

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Section: Suppressant Agents To Fight Wildfiresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Suppressant Agents To Fight Wildfiresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Suppressant Agents To Fight Wildfiresmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Laboratory study on the suppression of smouldering peat wildfires: effects of flow rate and wetting agent

Santoso

Cui

Amin

et al. 2021

Int. J. Wildland Fire

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“…3 To date, a significant emphasis has been placed on transport through a foam layer, were measured in the absence of a fire and were used to qualitatively explain the causes for differences in fire suppression among foams generated from different surfactant formulations. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Hinnant et al 13 examined the differences in a 19-cm diameter pool fire extinction experiment among foams generated from a fluorosufactant (Capstone 1157) and their mixtures with hydrocarbon surfactants (Glucopon 215UP and TritonX 100) for heptane fuel. They showed that measured differences in foam spread, foam degradation, and fuel transport rates on a hot heptane pool explained the differences in heptane fire extinction between Capstone and its mixtures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hinnant et al 13 reported that the Capstone solution had a near-zero spreading coefficient (−0.1 mN/m) while its mixture with Glu-copon215UP had a positive spreading coefficient (1.8 mN/m) on a heptane pool at ambient conditions. Despite its near-zero spreading coefficient, Capstone foam suppressed the fire quicker than the mixture at slow foam application rates (<500 mL/min), but the mixture extinguished the fire quicker at high foam application rates (>500 mL/min).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fuel effects on aqueous film formation and foam degradation and their impact on fire suppression by foams containing fluorosurfactants

et al. 2020

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Spreading coefficient, foam degradation, fuel transport through a foam layer, foam spread, and fire extinction time were collected by varying fuels for a given fluorosurfactant formulation. Varying fuel structure systematically enabled variation of foam-fuel interactions, and spreading coefficients, which affected aqueous film formation. A wide range of spreading coefficients were studied using two foam formulations. Surfactant formulations with near-zero or negative spreading coefficients (−1.2, −0.12 mN/m) suppressed the fires within the same time or faster than those with positive spreading coefficients (1.77, 3.28 mN/m). Both foams extinguished an iso-octane and methylcyclohexane pool fire despite negative spreading coefficients on iso-octane and positive spreading coefficients on methylcyclohexane. The fire extinction times collected relate more closely to foam degradation than to film formation. Foam degradation results showed a roughly 20% variation in lifetime between the two foams and the three fuels, consistent with fire extinction times. To understand the relationship between foam degradation and solution properties, a single lamella experiment was designed that monitors lamella thickness and lifetime. This experiment, relating solution to foam properties, will aid in the development of environmentally friendly surfactant replacements in firefighting foams.

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Mitigation of PFAS in U.S. Public Water Systems: Future steps for ensuring safer drinking water

Voulgaropoulos

2022

Env Prog and Sustain Energy

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The circulation and usage of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and PFASderived products, such as Teflon and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), have led to PFAS being found in organisms worldwide. PFAS are emerging chemical contaminants that are toxic and take a long time to break down in the environment. PFAS can cause adverse health effects, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and ulcerative colitis. Studies have shown a widespread presence of PFAS in public water systems and people across the United States. The main pollution sources that contribute to PFAS in water are the chemical manufacturing industry, AFFF runoff, and landfills. With the health issues associated, and the occurrence in water systems, action should be taken to reduce PFAS in drinking water. Despite the adverse health

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Characterizing the Role of Fluorocarbon and Hydrocarbon Surfactants in Firefighting-Foam Formulations for Fire-Suppression

Cited by 40 publications

References 20 publications

Laboratory study on the suppression of smouldering peat wildfires: effects of flow rate and wetting agent

Laboratory study on the suppression of smouldering peat wildfires: effects of flow rate and wetting agent

Fuel effects on aqueous film formation and foam degradation and their impact on fire suppression by foams containing fluorosurfactants

Mitigation of PFAS in U.S. Public Water Systems: Future steps for ensuring safer drinking water

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