Catalytic Oxidizer Activation for Surface and Air Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface and air disinfectants face challenges in effectively killing challenging pathogens and refractory contaminants, often requiring high concentrations and long contact times, which can be hazardous and damaging to surfaces, and fail to prevent reemergence of pathogens in treated spaces.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the catalytic activation of aqueous-based oxidizer solutions, such as peroxyacid mixtures, with catalysts or UV photons near the surface, combined with ozone gas, to create a short-lived, highly oxidizing mixture for simultaneous surface and air decontamination, followed by neutralization of airborne residuals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high concentrations of oxidizing disinfectants are used to achieve sufficient pathogen kill performance, then antimicrobial effectiveness is improved, but surface material damage and user safety hazards worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical state of the oxidizer from stable to activated form at the point of application. By using a two-component system where Component A (oxidizer) is activated by Component B (activator) only when applied to the surface, the system achieves high antimicrobial effectiveness with lower overall concentrations, preventing surface damage while maintaining pathogen kill performance
Solution Approach 2:
The activator component serves as an intermediary that triggers the formation of highly reactive oxidizing species. Instead of applying high concentrations of stable oxidizer, the system uses a low concentration oxidizer that is converted to a highly reactive activated form by the activator, achieving potent antimicrobial action without the hazards of handling high-concentration oxidizers
2Reliability
If high concentrations of oxidizing disinfectants are used to achieve sufficient pathogen kill performance, then antimicrobial effectiveness is improved, but user safety and environmental hazards worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms the oxidizer from a stable, handleable form to an activated, highly reactive form only at the moment of surface contact. This parameter change allows the oxidizer to be stored and handled at low, safe concentrations while still achieving high pathogen kill performance when activated
Solution Approach 2:
The activated oxidizing species have very short half-lives, acting effectively only at the point and time of application. This eliminates the need to store or handle large quantities of potent oxidizers, reducing user safety hazards and environmental risks while maintaining effective pathogen destruction
3Reliability
If long contact times are used with oxidizing biocides to achieve required log-kill performance, then pathogen destruction is improved, but reemergence and reinfection of pathogens worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The activated oxidizing species have extremely high reactivity and short half-lives, delivering intense antimicrobial action in seconds rather than minutes or hours. This parameter change in reaction kinetics achieves required log-kill performance dramatically faster, preventing pathogen reemergence and allowing rapid room re-entry
4Reliability
If high concentrations of oxidizers are used to achieve effective destruction of refractory contaminants, then decontamination effectiveness is improved, but surface material damage worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The activator serves as an intermediary that enables low-concentration oxidizer to achieve high decontamination effectiveness. The activated oxidizing species generated in situ are sufficiently potent to destroy refractory contaminants while the low overall concentration prevents excessive surface material damage
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the oxidizer from stable to activated form at the point of application, the system achieves high decontamination effectiveness with lower concentrations. The activated species are highly reactive toward contaminants but the system allows precise control to prevent damage to underlying surface materials
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances antimicrobial performance with lower concentrations and shorter contact times, ensuring safety for users and surfaces while continuously removing airborne oxidizers, allowing for rapid re-entry and effective pathogen prevention.
Implementation Method 1
activating the aqueous-based oxidizer solution with an activator comprising at least one of a catalyst or UV photons near the surface to be decontaminated
Implementation Method 2
The activated mixtures are also used to treat contaminated air by oxidizing contaminated air that is cycled through an airspace recirculating system
Implementation Method 3
activating the aqueous-based oxidizer solution with an activator comprising at least one of a catalyst or UV photons
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate to methods and systems for the simultaneous decontamination and disinfection of surface and airborne contaminants. In particular, catalytically boosting the performance of a class of oxidizing biocides for improved antimicrobial performance and shorter contact times is disclosed.