Chlorine Dioxide Process Water Control for Corrosion and Microbial Growth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling microbial growth in industrial processes, particularly in the food sector, face challenges due to the toxicity of chemical antimicrobial compounds and their corrosive effects on metal equipment, leading to increased corrosion and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
The use of an aqueous solution containing chlorine dioxide, with a redox potential of 400 to 800 mV and a pH of 4 to 7.5, effectively controls microbial growth and biofilm formation while minimizing corrosion by maintaining a low chlorine dioxide concentration and optimizing the molar ratio of chlorine dioxide to chloride ions, thereby reducing corrosiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical antimicrobial compounds are used to control microbial growth, then microbial contamination is reduced, but corrosion of metal equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the antimicrobial solution by limiting pH to 4-7.5 and controlling the concentration ratio of antimicrobial compound to chloride ions to be 1:10 or less. This parameter optimization maintains effective microbial control while significantly reducing the corrosiveness toward metal equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite approach by combining multiple chemical compounds (antimicrobial agents, buffering agents, and other additives) in specific proportions to create a formulation that achieves both antimicrobial effectiveness and corrosion inhibition simultaneously
2Reliability
If toxic chemical compounds are used for microbial control, then microbial growth is inhibited, but product safety and personnel safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of toxic compounds by limiting the antimicrobial compound concentration to 0.1-10 ppm and controlling the pH range to 4-7.5, thereby maintaining microbial control effectiveness while reducing toxicity to acceptable levels for food industry applications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs naturally occurring, biodegradable compounds (such as organic acids and their salts) that are less persistent and less toxic than traditional synthetic antimicrobials, allowing for safer use in food processing environments where product contamination must be minimized
3Reliability
If high concentration of chlorine dioxide is used, then microbial control effectiveness increases, but corrosion rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the concentration parameter of chlorine dioxide to 0.01-5 mg/L and controls the molar ratio of chlorine dioxide to chloride ions to be 1:10 or less, achieving effective microbial control while maintaining corrosion rates below 0.6 mm/year on stainless steel
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements monitoring and control of the molar ratio between chlorine dioxide and chloride ions, using this ratio as a feedback parameter to adjust dosing and maintain optimal conditions that balance antimicrobial effectiveness with corrosion inhibition
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
This approach effectively inhibits microbial growth and biofilm formation without promoting corrosion, ensuring the safety and durability of metal equipment, even at low chlorine dioxide concentrations, thus maintaining the antimicrobial effect while reducing economic costs and safety risks.
Implementation Method 1
the redox potential in the process water is adjusted to a value of 400 to 800 mV by adding the chlorine dioxide
Implementation Method 2
The pH value and the (molar) ratio of chlorine dioxide to chloride ions in the chlorine dioxide-containing solution have a significant influence on the corrosiveness of the solution or process water
Data Source
AI summary
The present patent application relates to a method for controlling the growth of microorganisms in at least partially circulating process water of an industrial plant, comprising the step of introducing a chlorine dioxide-containing aqueous solution into the process water in order to adjust the redox potential in the process water to 400 to 800 mV, wherein the chlorine dioxide-containing aqueous solution has a pH value of 4 to 7.5 and a chlorine dioxide to chloride ion ratio of greater than 1, and wherein the process water has a temperature of 5 to 50°C.