Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Disclosed herein are fire-fighting compositions, and methods thereof, comprising a surfactant and a fraction of a fermentation mixture comprised of yeast exoproteins, where the proteins enhance ability of water to extinguish Class A, Class B and Class K fires, as defined by the National Fire Protection Association. In one embodiment the surfactant is optimized to wet and penetrate into the substrate, for example wood, as in a Class A fire. In a second embodiment, the surfactant is optimized for foaming to provide fire fighting protection in a Class B fire. Further embodiments include methods for using the same protein-surfactant fire fighting composition for both polar (e.g., alcohol) and non-polar combustible liquids. In yet another embodiment, methods are described where the proteins comprise stress shock proteins and where the residual protein-surfactant combination that is not degraded from the fire acts to stimulate resident bacterial populations to accelerate the biodegradation of residual hydrocarbons and surfactants from the composition. In another embodiment, the compositions are free of solvents, fluorine-free as in fluoro surfactants and fluoro-polymers.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim