Workshop on Roadmapping of Quantitative Understanding of Cleaning & Decontamination

Lead Research Organisation: University of Cambridge
Department Name: Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Abstract

Cleaning and decontamination are ubiquitous operations in the home, healthcare and industry. The removal of unwanted residues from surfaces in order to avoid cross-contamination between products (e.g. in the kitchen, food or pharmaceutical manufacture), the removal of fouling layers to return surfaces to their original condition or level of performance (e.g. from windows, walls or heat exchangers), or the elimination of organisms and biofilms from surgical instruments (e.g. in healthcare) have historically been tackled by 'tried and tested' approaches which have been developed over time. Such empirical approaches are unlikely to be suitable for the new cleaning and decontamination challenges which the UK and many other nations face, which include
(a) New soils and surfaces. The food industry is subject to continuous innovation as it seeks to supply nutritious food subject to evolving guidance on ingredients, allergens and consumer requirements. Elsewhere, the NHS and other healthcare providers are regularly challenged by different organisms comprising the hygienic status of patient facilities.
(b) Dangerous soils. The poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in 2018 was followed by many months of work to decontaminate the Skripal's house and other items and locations which had come into contact with the Novichok substance. The UK nuclear industry faces a range of new cleaning and decontamination cases associated with the decommissioning of reactors and fuel reprocessing plants. Determining how to clean these effectively without extensive testing is critical as the materials used to clean the surfaces are themselves contaminated: trials are very costly in time and resources.
(c) Limited resources. Many cleaning operations employ large volumes of clean water, often heated and often containing cleaning agents. The sustainability of many food manufacturing operations is determined by the time spent cleaning (reducing productivity) and the cost of providing, preparing and treating this water.

This workshop will establish the state of the art in quantitative modelling of cleaning and decontamination operations in the UK and beyond. It will bring together experts from different disciplines and industries to maximise the sharing of existing knowledge and capture the challenges on the horizon. A key deliverable is the creation of a roadmap to guide future research in this area.

It will take the form of a 2.5 day physical meeting in September 2020 followed by a 1 day web-conference of the organisers in early November 2020 where the summaries will be finalised.
Day 1 will focus on establishing the state of the art (or science) in related disciplines, with a series of keynote presentations by invited speakers on topics ranging from mathematical methods to experimental techniques and data methods. These will be interspersed by sessions with short oral presentations by active researchers in order to highlight ongoing work, and ferment networking. The emphasis will be on current work.
Day 2 will focus on challenges, with invited presentations from industry (including food, pharma and nuclear), government (e.g. DSTL, DEFRA) and services (e.g. water, hospitals). Each presentation will be followed by a discussion of the quantitative elements involved, focusing on gaps in existing science and issues arising in testing, modelling and resources.
Day 3 will bring learnings together to identify priorities in research and future work for the roadmap.

The findings from the Workshop will be made available on a publicly available archive.

Planned Impact

Who might benefit from this research?

The Workshop will firstly be of direct benefit to the degegates, who will include stakeholders and research experts from academia, industry and government with interest in cleaning and decontamination problems. Specific examples include

(i) the food sector, where cleaning and decontamination operations are esssential, daily tasks required to ensure food is safe to eat as well as nutritious;

(ii) the pharmaceutial sector, where cleaning is needed to ensure integrity between batches and avoid cross-contamination;

(iii) the defence/security services, where decontamination is needed to protect public health. Developing quantitative approaches will help to minimise the amount of testing of very hazardous materials required to develop cleaning and decontamination protocols;

(iv) the health/hospital sector, where cleaning is needed periodically to ensure microbiological security in areas where people have reduced resilience and ability to fight infection;

(v) the nuclear industry, where the decommissioning of reactors and processing facilities required over the next decade will benefit from the transfer of techniques from other sectors. Mathematical methods are urgently needed in this sphere to minimise empirical (and potentially hazardous) testing.

The website will make the benefits available to the wider communities with interests in each area.

The Roadmap will provide a strategic summary of existing cleaning and decontamination research as well as needs and challenges which will be of value to researchers working in the various areas, companies and government agencies considering how they should direct their research efforts, and government bodies who need to respond to these strategic needs.

How might they benefit from this research?

The sharing of existing expertise and increased awareness of past and ongoing activity will allow the delegates and visitors to the website to establish the current state of the 'art', and identify where there are gaps in the fundamental scientific understanding of cleaning and decontamination. This is a topic where awareness of activities in other areas is often poor or patchy, as the knowledge developed for specific fields is often steered by chemistry and microbiological factors specific to those fields. This means that the underlying physical principles needed for proper modelling are masked by empiricism: this is acceptable for optimising practice in specific fields, but is not suitable for developing cleaning and disinfection methods or protocols for new situations, operating at different scales, or when the availability of resources changes.

The knowledge gained will both save duplication of effort (e.g. by encouraging transfer of existing findings from one case to another) and help to focus resources on key problems which have widespread application. It will encourage collaborations between exisiting groups working in related fields, and between these groups and stakeholders from other sectors who did not realise that solutions and approaches existed elsewhere. It will also encourage new activity, as parties recognise the opportunities available through working together on existing and new problems.

All the parties share an underpinning need to improve the sustainability of their cleaning and decontamination practices. Traditional approaches often require large amounts of clean solvent or fresh water, as well as significant amounts of chemical and thermal energy. Understanding how cleaning and decontamination processes work is key to improving the environmental impact, and quantitative methods are essential for transferring this learning, analysing data from tests, planning new tests and optimising designs or operations.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description The key activities, expertise and needs in the area of cleaning and decontamination were identified. Short term and long term strategies to maintain activities and current expertise, and to address current and future needs have been discussed. All these points are summarized in a roadmap document to be published on the modcad website. A ten-year plan for investment from UK Research councils in partnership with industry was developed. This plan focusses on four areas to address the research needs on cleaning and decontamination:
1. Communication: developing the ModCaD website to promote the research work on this topic and communicate about the importance of a quantitative approach to cleaning and decontamination.
2. Community: building a strong UK-led international network of researchers and practitioners on this topic; organising regular meeting to discuss recent research advances and identify specific socio-economic needs.
3. Training: preparing the next generation of researchers and experts on cleaning and decontamination, through a Doctoral Training Centre; encouraging research fellowships on the topic.
4. Science base: lobbying government and industry for research funding, responding to relevant UK or European calls.
Cleaning and decontamination are embedded in our daily lives, with clear environmental impact, or risk to human health. Therefore, improvements in the complex science behind cleaning can only be effective with the help of everyone.
Exploitation Route The Knowledge Base and resources created under this award is freely available online for any practitioners in cleaning and decontamination.

Sadly, EPSRC did not confirm receipt of the Roadmap document. They did not engage with the Roadmapping Team about a CDT until the investigators contacted EPSRC when details of the 2022/23 CDT applications were published.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Chemicals

Communities and Social Services/Policy

Environment

Healthcare

Government

Democracy and Justice

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

Security and Diplomacy

URL https://www.modcad.org/
 
Description The Roadmap has been used by industry and government sectors in reviewing their research strategy and capacity in delivering cleaning and decontamination operations. The ModCaD website has been accessed by members of the public, industry and government interested in finding out what has been done on cleaning and decontamination. The website is used to publicise meetings and conferences on these topics.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Education,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Transport
Impact Types Societal

Economic

Policy & public services

 
Title Cleaning and Decontamination Knowledge Base 
Description As part of the Workshop, a literature database on existing work on modelling of cleaning and decontamination was constructed. This is an open resource which researchers in the field are invited to recommend papers to. It continues as a legacy of the project. Funds for its upkeep are provided by researchers from reserves. EPSRC provides no funding. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact New researchers to the field are using this knowledge base to find key literature on the subject. 
URL https://www.modcad.org/knowledgebase/
 
Description ModCaD CDT partnership 
Organisation University of Sheffield
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The EPSRC announced a call for Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) in October 2022. The Roadmap generated by this grant identified a CDT in modelling of Cleaning and Decontamination as a critical next step in building and enhancing UK's leading expertise in this field. The community developed in this project - the ModCaD community of academics, industry, government and other agencies - formed the core group supporting the submission of an Expression of Interest for a ModCaD CDT, led by the University of Sheffield. Cambridge, Durham, Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan Universities are the other co-applicants. The research outputs, network of researchers and communication tools generated by the project enabled a wide range of interested partners to get involved. The Expression of Interest was selected for full submission (EP/Y035577/1) and the interview panel stage. We were informed in December 2023 that the application was not successful. No feedback has been received at the time of writing (5 Feb 2024).
Collaborator Contribution Roadmap outlining strategy Network of interested parties, including over 30 academic researchers, > 10 government agencies and > 30 commercial bodies (companies etc.) Website providing research resources LinkedIn group connecting researchers, industry and government Data for CDT application Compiling full CDT application, with contributions from multiple government agencies, companies and universities across the UK and abroad.
Impact Expression of Interest for EPSRC CDT call - ModCaD (submitted to EPSRC 7 March 2023). Full submission for EPSRC CDT call (EP/Y035577/1) Multidisciniplinary: applied mathematics, statistics, healthcare, medicine, chemistry, microbiology, physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering,
Start Year 2022
 
Description International Gordon Research Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Ian Wilson presented a keynote lecture on 'Surface cleaning and decontamination', at the Gordon Research Conference on Fluids in Disease Transmission and Contamination held in Mount Hollyoke College, MA, 17th August 2022. This Gordon Conference brought together medical practitioners, medical researchers, fluid mechanicists and other scientists.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.grc.org/fluids-in-disease-transmission-and-contamination-conference/2022/
 
Description International Webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Ian Wilson delivered a webinar to an international audience of researchers and research students, organised by the International Society of Food Engineering, in their Webinar Series, on Cleaning on 25th June 2021.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Keynote lecture on Challenges in cleaning: Some very complex fluids and very complex fluid mechanics, Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering, October 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Ian Wilson presented a Keynote lecture entitled 'Challenges in cleaning: Some very complex fluids and very complex fluid mechanics', in the Rheology, non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics and Soft Matter theme, at the 72nd Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 24 October 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.cheminst.ca/conference/canadian-chemical-engineering-conference-2022/
 
Description Part I Workshop on Roadmapping of Quantitative Understanding of Cleaning and Decontamination 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact More than 80 delegates from academia (69%), industry (17%) and government (14%), across 9 countries (and 17 time zones!) joined the workshop via the Zoom and Sococo online platforms. With 12 keynote speakers, 12 short talks and 6 posters, the topic of cleaning and decontamination was discussed to capture the state-of-the-art, current industrial and societal challenges, as well as future needs.

The breakout discussion groups reflected on the importance of cleaning and decontamination across a broad range of applications, realising that translation of knowledge, know-how and expertise is key to making progress in this highly interdisciplinary field.

Cleaning and decontamination applications rely on common underlying physical and chemical principles, which span many disciplines: from chemistry to fluid mechanics, chemical and mechanical engineering, microbiology, toxicology. The mathematics involved range from modelling the phenomena to quantifying the risk associated with sampling and inadequate performance.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of better communication between workers from different disciplines, or between researchers and practitioners, as technical jargon can quickly become a hurdle. Beyond experts and practitioners, the workshop also identified the need for effective communication for the general public as well as decision makers. Cleaning and decontamination are embedded in many aspects of our daily lives, with significant impacts on the environment, commercial and government operations, and human health. Therefore, improvements in the complex science behind cleaning can only be effective with the help of everyone.

This workshop was successful in helping to bridge the communication gap, and identify the needs and challenges across sectors practising regular cleaning and decontamination. The organisers and delegates are now tasked with summarizing the key learnings from the material and discussions, identifying strategic needs and preparing the roadmap for future work on the quantitative understanding and modelling of cleaning and decontamination.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.modcad.org/2021-modcad-workshop/
 
Description Part II Workshop on Roadmapping of Quantitative Understanding of Cleaning and Decontamination 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact On 20 September 2021, more than 40 delegates from the April workshop joined the follow-up meeting held at Jesus College, Cambridge, with about half of the participants joining remotely online. Delegates represented academia, industry and government during this one-day roadmapping meeting.

The objective of the follow-up meeting was to identify, summarize and finalize the key points presented at the April workshop. In line with the main aims of the workshop, the key activities, expertise and needs in the area of cleaning and decontamination were identified. Short term and long term strategies to maintain activities and current expertise, and to address current and future needs were discussed. All these points will be summarized in a roadmap document to be published on the modcad website.

A ten-year plan for investment from UK Research councils in partnership with industry was developed. This plan focusses on four areas to address the research needs on cleaning and decontamination:

Communication: developing the ModCaD website to promote the research work on this topic and communicate about the importance of a quantitative approach to cleaning and decontamination.

Community: building a strong UK-led international network of researchers and practitioners on this topic; organising regular meeting to discuss recent research advances and identify specific socio-economic needs.

Training: preparing the next generation of researchers and experts on cleaning and decontamination, through a Doctoral Training Centre; encouraging research fellowships on the topic.

Science base: lobbying government and industry for research funding, responding to relevant UK or European calls. Cleaning and decontamination are embedded in our daily lives, with clear environmental impact, or risk to human health. Therefore, improvements in the complex science behind cleaning can only be effective with the help of everyone.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.modcad.org/