Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Process disinfecting – preserving – deodorizing – or sterilizing – Using direct contact with electrical or electromagnetic...
Patent
1997-09-19
1999-10-05
McKane, Elizabeth
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Process disinfecting, preserving, deodorizing, or sterilizing
Using direct contact with electrical or electromagnetic...
422 4, 422 23, 422 29, 422 30, 422121, 250435, 210760, A61L 920, C02F 178
Patent
active
059619201
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for treatment of fluids. Fluids will in this context be understood as gases and liquid media as well as suspensions and emulsions.
STATE OF THE ART
In recent years, ever greater demands have been placed on the environment wherever man has been present. There are many reasons for this. One is that modern man's mobility between different geographical areas means that pathogens find fertile breeding ground for development of extremely virulent strains. These can give rise to serious diseases for which there are as yet no cures.
In hospitals, pathogens can be transmitted from one patient to other persons--both patients and nursing staff--and these pathogens are transmitted further by direct contact or indirectly via instruments, clothes, food or the like. Hospital textiles are contaminated to a greater or lesser extent with pathogens. One problem is that the washing methods are not completely satisfactory as regards removal of pathogens from hospital textiles. In addition, there is a need for better and simpler methods for sterilization, on the one hand of sensitive equipment such as, for example, endoscopy instruments and catheters which do not tolerate conventional sterilization methods, and, on the other hand, in operations where instruments need to be sterilized directly and quickly as they may have become contaminated during surgery (the surgeon may, for example, drop special instruments, implants and the like).
Other environments where pathogens and other types of pollution are spread and which often have problems with poor air are schools, day nurseries, food shops, kitchens, ship cabins, industrial premises and the like, especially in poorly ventilated premises. A further problem area is "sick houses" with, for example, radon, mould, hexamine and the like, as well as premises which are being painted, papered, floored, etc.
Water is another area where ever greater demands are being placed both on purity and on minimizing the environmental pollution when treating drinking water and waste water.
These media, and media contaminated in other ways, have created considerable unrest and the need for effective decontamination processes.
A number of proposals for dealing with the abovementioned problems have been put forward during the years, such as better ventilation, various types of filters and chemicals for purification of air and water. Since chlorine itself is a burden on the environment, methods have been developed in several countries for purifying water with ozone (O.sub.3) in drinking water installations and bathing facilities, and also ozone dissolved in water for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of articles. The reaction capacity of ozone (2.07 V electrochemical oxidation potential) is ascribed to the fact that it is a powerful oxidant. The high chemical reactivity is coupled with the unstable electron configuration which seeks electrons from other molecules, which thus means that free radicals are formed. In this process, the ozone molecule is broken down. By means of its oxidizing effect, the ozone acts rapidly on certain inorganic and organic substances. Its oxidizing effect on certain hydrocarbons, saccharides, pesticides, etc., can mean that ozone is a good choice of chemical in certain processes. A combination of ozone, oxygen, hydroperoxide and UV radiation means that the reaction proceeds much more quickly and more efficiently by virtue of the generation of more free radicals.
The inactivation of microorganisms with the aid of ozone and radicals is considered as an oxidation reaction. The membrane of the microorganism is the first to be attacked. Within the membrane/cell wall, the ozone and the radicals destroy nuclear material insider the cell/virus/spore. The inactivation reaction in the case of most microorganisms occurs within minutes, depending on the ozone dose and the amount of free radicals which are formed.
In most cases, ozone is used in the form of ozone water for pathogens in water-purification
REFERENCES:
patent: 4990260 (1991-02-01), Pisani
patent: 4990311 (1991-02-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 5288461 (1994-02-01), Gray
Benrad Aktiebolag
McKane Elizabeth
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