Stable Chlorine Dioxide Disinfectant via Colloidal Stabilizers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disinfectants for hospital environments are ineffective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and have short shelf lives, posing safety concerns and handling issues due to the instability of chlorine dioxide solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a stable chlorine dioxide disinfectant solution by combining hydrochloric acid with sodium chlorite and adding stabilizers such as hypochlorites, surfactants, or phosphates, which forms colloidal structures to enhance stability and shelf life, allowing for a broad-spectrum disinfectant that cleans, disinfects, and sterilizes safely without harmful byproducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorine dioxide solutions are used for disinfection, then disinfection efficacy is improved, but stability and shelf life deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares chlorine dioxide solutions immediately before use through controlled generation from sodium chlorite and acid, rather than storing pre-made solutions. This preliminary action ensures maximum efficacy while avoiding stability issues of stored solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses stabilizing agents as intermediaries to maintain chlorine dioxide in solution. These agents prevent decomposition and allow the solution to be stored with improved stability while maintaining disinfection efficacy.
2Reliability
If strong acids are used to generate chlorine dioxide, then disinfection efficacy is improved, but safety and handling worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the acid concentration parameter, using weaker acids or lower concentrations of acid to generate chlorine dioxide. This reduces safety hazards while maintaining sufficient disinfection efficacy through optimized generation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces stabilizing agents as intermediaries that allow the use of milder acid conditions. These agents facilitate chlorine dioxide generation and stabilization without requiring strong acids, thereby improving safety while maintaining efficacy.
3Reliability
If chlorine dioxide concentration is increased, then disinfection efficacy is improved, but harmful byproducts and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of all reagents including sodium chlorite, acid, and stabilizing agents. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves high disinfection efficacy while minimizing the formation of harmful byproducts through controlled reaction conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Stabilizing agents serve as intermediaries that enable high chlorine dioxide concentrations to be maintained without excessive formation of harmful byproducts. These agents control the decomposition pathways and reduce unwanted side reactions.
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
The solution maintains a stable chlorine dioxide concentration for extended periods, ensuring effective disinfection and sterilization while minimizing safety risks and handling concerns, effectively addressing the challenges of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and improving disinfection efficacy in hospital settings.
Implementation Method 1
adding a first amount of hydrochloric acid solution to a second amount of sodium chlorite; agitating the hydrochloric acid solution and sodium chlorite to mix the chemicals into a hydrochloric acid/sodium chlorite solution containing chlorine dioxide molecules
Implementation Method 2
adding a third amount of one or more stabilizers to the hydrochloric acid/sodium chlorite solution; mixing the stabilizers and hydrochloric acid/sodium chlorite solution
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for producing broad spectrum disinfectants using a colloidal suspension of chlorine dioxide in deionized water, and more particularly, producing chlorine dioxide compositions that clean, disinfect and/or sterilize in one step with no harmful byproducts.