Systems and methods for producing aqueous solutions and gases having disinfecting properties and substantially eliminating impurities

Abstract

A system for disinfecting and purifying aqueous solutions and water for drinking purposes comprising an outer pouch, a disinfectant generating device, and an inorganic coagulant. The disinfectant generating device is provided with a membrane shell defining at least two compartments which house a first reactant, a second reactant, and an inorganic coagulant. The disinfectant generating device is capable of producing a disinfectant when exposed to water or moisture and the disinfectant exits the compartment through the membrane shell. The inorganic coagulant aid the formation of flocs of the suspended dispersed particles in the aqueous solution.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 610,809, filed Sep. 17, 2004, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 921,385, filed Aug. 18, 2004.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for producing disinfectants and substantially eliminating impurities, and particularly to systems that produce a disinfectant when exposed to water or ambient moisture. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is a relatively small, volatile, and versatile free radical molecule with bleaching, oxidizing, and deodorizing properties, as well as antimicrobial properties, namely, bactericidal, viricidal, sporicidal, algicidal, and fungicidal properties. It is frequently used to control microorganisms on or around food products because chlorine dioxide destroys the microorganisms without producing concentrations of byproducts tha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] The disinfectant generating device comprises a membrane shell defining at least two compartments, and each compartment includes at least one dry reactant capable of reacting and producing a disinfectant upon exposure of the device to water or ambient moisture. Each compartment is provided with an outer membrane defining walls of the device and a wick means or an inner membrane providing physical separation of the dry reactants. Each of the at least two compartments may additionally include at least one inorganic coagulant, at least one polymeric coagulant, at least one organic hydrophilic colloid, or combinations thereof. Wick means or the inner membrane is provided in connection with the membrane shell and extends into one or both compartments for absorbing water or moisture and transporting water or moisture into at least one of the compartments, facilitating the reaction and producing a disinfectant in the compartment, and the disinfectant exits the compartment through the membrane shell.

[0025] To disinfect and remove impurities from water and aqueous solutions, the elements of the inventive system are immersed in and added to water or an aqueous solution, and the water or solution is stirred and allowed to settle. The disinfectant generating device and the disinfectant tablet serve to substantially eliminate microbial contaminants in the water or solution; the inorganic coagulant promotes the aggregation of the solid impurities to form flocs; the polymeric coagulant and organic hydrophilic colloid aid in flocculation and clarification of a solution to be treated; and the surfactant helps the removal of soil from the solution to be treated or a surface and the reduction of surface tension of the solution to be treated.

[0029] In another embodiment, the disinfectant vapor generating device comprises an inner membrane and two outer membranes, which are sealed together non-continuously along the edges of the device, to form a pouch having a plurality of small openings along the edges of the device for facilitating passage of moisture into the device. The small openings or gaps may be mechanically compressed to prevent the reactants from falling out from the device. These small openings increase the moisture transfer rate into the device, the reactants' dissolution rate, the rate of generation of the disinfectant vapor generation, as well as the rate of facilitating the passage of disinfectant vapor out of the device.

Problems solved by technology

In its vapor state, chlorine dioxide is not stable during storage and can be explosive at concentrations above about 10% in dry air.

Therefore, chlorine dioxide vapor or liquid is usually not produced and shipped under pressure.

All of the processes mentioned above require expensive generation equipment, high maintenance costs, and highly trained and skilled workers to operate the equipment in a safe manner.

As a result, the use of such generators has been limited to the fields of poultry processing, pulp and paper bleaching, and water treatment facilities, where the high capital and operating cost of the generators can be justified by the large consumption of chlorine dioxide.

Sodium chlorite by itself only has bacteriostatic properties (inhibits rather than killing bacteria) and does not provide complete disinfection.

In any case, the amount of chlorine dioxide produced under these conditions is insignificant.

In addition, the use of “stabilized chlorine dioxide” requires mixing equipment and manipulation of potentially dangerous acids, thus exposing users to inadvertent skin contact and inhalation of acid vapors.

Transportation of the “stabilized chlorine dioxide” also involves large volumes of water, resulting in a costly and difficult operation for remote and / or disaster recovery uses.

These devices usually require complicated formulation processes, one of which involves drying individual reactants to lower their water content, and mixing the dried reactants in the presence of desiccant materials (e.g. calcium chloride) to prevent the premature generation of chlorine dioxide that is initiated by atmospheric moisture, Such processes must take place in specially-designed environments that minimize moisture contact with mixed reactants during the formulation / packaging process.

Due to the nature of the manufacturing process, these devices usually involve high manufacturing costs.

The microcapsules release chlorine dioxide relatively slowly and are therefore not suitable for applications that require the preparation of chlorine dioxide on a relatively fast basis.

The primary disadvantage of the disclosed device and method is that ambient moisture can penetrate the semi-permeable membrane and initiate the reaction prematurely.

In general, the above prior art devices and methods using membranes are susceptible to premature activation by water or water vapor and therefore have a reduced shelf life unless sufficient steps are taken to protect the devices from exposure to ambient moisture or water.

In addition, such devices and methods are typically slow to interact with water and produce the desired chlorine dioxide.

It is not designed to produce a vapor having antimicrobial and disinfecting properties.

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