112 results about "Microbial contaminants" patented technology

A process for removing soluble and insoluble inorganic, organic, and microbiological contaminants from a fluid stream employing a pretreatment module, a post-treatment module, a recycle stream module or any combination thereof, and a membrane module, is provided. The process provided reduces the problems associated with membrane fouling and increases contaminant removal capacity.

Disclosed are concentrated, liquid, human milk fortifier compositions comprising from about 15% to about 45% by weight of protein, on a dry weight basis, and having a caloric density of from about 1.25 kcauml to about 6.0 kcau/ml, wherein the liquid human milk fortifier composition is added to human milk in a volume-volume ratio of from about 1:3 to about 1:9. These composition include embodiments comprising carbohydrate and fat, that are formulated with improved stability by selecting any one of the following variations: 1) certain whey-casein protein blends, 2) water insoluble calcium-containing materials, 3) protein hydrolysates, and 4) aseptically packaged concentrates. The liquid concentrates are especially useful for providing nutrition to preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units or similar other institutional setting, and to minimize the risk of introducing microbial contaminants such as Enterobacter sakazakii to infant feedings during preparation in such institutional settings.

A method for obtaining a fermentation product from a sugar hydrolysate obtained from a feedstock containing hemicellulose, by (i) removing suspended fiber solids from said sugar hydrolysate to obtain a clarified sugar solution; (ii) fermenting xylose in the clarified sugar solution in a fermentation reaction with yeast to produce a fermentation broth comprising the fermentation product; (iii) separating the yeast from the fermentation broth to produce a yeast slurry; (vi) treating the yeast slurry thus obtained with an oxidant to kill microbial contaminants, thereby an oxidant-treated yeast slurry; (v) re-introducing at least a portion of the oxidant-treated yeast back to step (ii) to increase the concentration of yeast in said fermentation reaction; and (vi) recovering the fermentation product.

The invention provides a method for automatically washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing health care equipment and/or cooking and catering utensils. The method includes the steps of placing the equipment to be washed in an enclosure; introducing a first electrochemically activated aqueous solution into the enclosure; and either sequentially or simultaneously introducing a second electrochemically activated aqueous solution into the enclosure. The first solution is characterised therein that it has dispersing or surfactant characteristics for at least partially dispersing a biofilm, pathogenic microorganisms, contamination or the like. The second solution is characterised therein that it has biocidal characteristics for killing microorganisms and disinfecting and/or sterilizing the equipment. The invention also extends to an apparatus for use in the above method.

The invention relates to a purification material (1) comprising filtration particulate matter aggregated with a first binder and further processed with a second binder to generate a porous fluid filtration material or a non-pourous coating, a filtering device comprising a housing (11) and the purification material (1), and a method of filtering and/or purifying a fluid including water or other solutions containing chemical and microbiological contaminants, such as fluids containing heavy metals, pesticides, by products of oxidation chemicals and including cysts, bacteria and/or viruses, where the fluid is passed through ot made to contact a surface of the purification material (1).

A method of improve the removal of particulate matter, heavy metals, neutralizing acid, and kill microorganism pollutants, known to be in contaminated air volumes of occupied confined spaces, when exposed in close contact under pressure to a mixture of alkaline sorbent materials, having a known synergism between said pollutants using a self propelled fluidized bed reactor and packed bed filter apparatus system to optimize the contact collection efficiency of submicron particles and organic compounds.

A microbe contamination detection system is described. The microbe contamination detection system alerts a user or other individual in the event of microbial contamination of the system. The signal graphic is revealed when an obscuring graphic reacts with the microbial contamination to change color and/or become at least substantially transparent. The microbe contamination detection system may be used as a stand-alone device or may be incorporated as part of various articles or products, for instance, health care or food service preparation protective garments. Methods for using the microbe contamination detection system are also described.

A method and device for the filtration and/or purification of fluids water or other solutions containing microbiological contaminants, such as fluids containing including bacteria and/or viruses, where the fluid water is passed through a purification material composed of apatite and absorption media in a fixed binder matrix.

A reverse osmosis water purifier that monitors Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) at the onset of entering the water filtration system and downstream upon exiting the system. A comparison of the TDS levels is made to each other or predetermined levels, and action is taken regarding whether to bypass the RO filter, or continue filtering through the RO membrane, or combine the two fluid streams. A microbiological barrier filter is introduced in-line with the egress port of a reverse osmosis filter, and downstream of the bypass water circuit. The microbiological filter is utilized to remove microbiological contaminants from the output water, either directly from the RO filter output, or the bypass filter circuit, or both.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a fermentation product from a sugar hydrolysate. The method comprises fermenting the sugar hydrolysate in a fermentation system with yeast to produce a fermentation broth comprising a fermentation product; introducing acid and an oxidant, such as chlorine dioxide, to the fermentation system so as to expose microbial contaminants in the fermentation system at one or more stages to chlorine dioxide and a pH of less than 3.0; and recovering the fermentation product. In one example of the invention, a yeast slurry obtained from a yeast recycle step is treated with acid and the oxidant.

Apparatus for treating water or other fluid with radiant energy from an ultraviolet lamp includes a helical shaped input fluid flow guide or helical ramp disposed at or near one end an elongated annular chamber around the lamp. The guide or ramp serves to impart input spiral flow momentum to the fluid upon entry to the chamber. A corresponding output fluid flow guide or helical ramp may be disposed at or near the opposed end of the chamber to impart output spiral flow momentum to the fluid as it approaches discharge from the chamber. Spiral flow serves to extend the time that the fluid is exposed to ultraviolet light and thereby increases the probability that any microbiological contaminants present in the fluid will be killed. The use of helical shaped guides or ramps better serves to establish such a flow in circumstances where the available fluid pressure is relatively low.

Methods and compositions for detection of microbial contaminants in peritoneal dialysis solutions are provided. The methods and compositions employ modified bioburden testing and the detection of peptidoglycan. A novel cause of aseptic peritonitis is provided—aseptic peritonitis associated with gram positive microbial contamination of a dialysis solution. Peptidoglycan is a major component of a gram positive bacterial cell wall and thus can serve as a marker for gram positive bacteria. In this regard, testing for peptidoglycans can be utilized to effectively prevent peritonitis in patients that use the peritoneal dialysis solutions, such as peritoneal dialysis solutions that contain a glucose polymer including an icodextrin and the like.

The invention provides methods and compositions for the detection and/or quantification of a microbial contaminant, for example, a bacterial endotoxin or a glucan, in a sample. In particular, the invention provides a test cartridge useful in the practice of hemocyte lysate-based assays for the detection and/or quantification of a microbial contaminant in a sample. In addition, the invention provides methods of making and using such cartridges. In addition, the invention provides a rapid, sensitive, multi-step kinetic hemocyte lysate-based assay for the detection and/or quantification of a microbial contaminant in a sample. In addition, the invention provides a glucan-specific lysate that can be used in a variety of assay formats, including, for example, a test cartridge, optionally configured to perform a kinetic assay.

The present invention relates generally to methods of microbial source tracking in environmental water samples. More specifically the present invention relates to methods of microbial source tracking using detection of Bifidobacterium species as markers of source contamination in environmental water samples. The present invention utilizes differences in DNA sequence between genes common to all Bifidobacterium as a means for detecting which species are present in an environmental water sample. This species specific information can then be used to determine the source of fecal contamination.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water purification and desalination. The systems have a preheater, a degasser, multiple evaporation chambers with demisters, heat pipes, and a control system, wherein the control system permits continuous operation of the purification and desalination system without requiring user intervention or cleaning. The system is capable of recovering heat from each distillation stage, while removing, from a contaminated water sample, a plurality of contaminant types including: microbiological contaminants, radiological contaminants, metals, salts, volatile organics, and non-volatile organics.

When microbial contamination is introduced into a room (20*) of an enclosure, such as a building, an HVAC system including supply ductwork (16) and a return ductwork (34) is decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide vapor. A decontamination controller (46) operates controllable baffles (22) at outlet registers (20), temporary controllable baffles (44) at inlet registers (30), and a blower system (10) to circulate hydrogen peroxide vapor from hydrogen peroxide vapor generators (42) through the ductwork in both forward and reverse directions. Further, at least portions of the baffles are closed to create dwell times in which the hydrogen peroxide vapor resides in the ductwork with minimal or turbulent flow.

The present invention provides novel viscous and adherent food-safe antimicrobial compositions, and methods for using same in the immediate and residual decontamination of microbial-contaminated substrate surfaces, in reducing or precluding cutting implement-mediated transfer of surface contamination during cutting operations in the food industry, and for reducing or preventing transfer of contamination from contaminated surfaces in the food and pharmaceutical. Adherent antimicrobial protective layers are formed on substrate surfaces (e.g., processing equipment and utensils), providing a barrier (e.g., chemical and/or physical) to the passage or transport of microbial contamination between and among surfaces. The adherent formulations confer residual de-contaminating activity, providing for prolonged killing of associated microbial contamination. The inventive solutions, are preferably formulated and applied as a gel, syrup or foam, and are preferably prepared using materials which are ‘generally-regarded-as-safe’ (GRAS) in food products, obviating post-treatment removal prior to consumption. Preferably, the inventive formulations are heated to a temperature equal to or greater than about 80° C. prior to application.

A method of improve the removal of particulate matter, heavy metals, neutralizing acid, and kill microorganism pollutants, known to be in contaminated air volumes of occupied confined spaces, when exposed in close contact under pressure to a mixture of alkaline sorbent materials, having a known synergism between said pollutants using a self propelled fluidized bed reactor and packed bed filter apparatus system to optimize the contact collection efficiency of submicron particles and organic compounds.