Electrolytic Biocide Generation via Segmented Chlorine Dioxide Production
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disinfection methods, particularly those using chlorine dioxide, face challenges such as limited shelf life, corrosiveness, toxicity, and environmental impact, making them ineffective and unsafe for widespread use in healthcare and public facilities, where they fail to provide long-lasting microbial control and are often incompatible with common surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An electrolytic system generates a biocide with an electron-deficient carrier fluid and chlorine dioxide, utilizing an electrolytic cell with semi-permeable membranes and controlled electric potential to produce oxidative and reductive fluids, which are mixed to create a synergistic biocide with enhanced oxidative potential, stability, and reduced toxicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional chlorine dioxide formulations are used for disinfection, then microbial decontamination is achieved, but shelf life is limited and corrosiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the chlorine dioxide generation process into distinct stages: first generating stable chlorite salt solution, then converting it to chlorine dioxide only when needed. This segmentation allows the disinfectant to be stored in a stable precursor form and activated on-demand, resolving the contradiction between shelf life and decontamination efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary preparation by creating and storing stable chlorite salt solutions in advance. These pre-prepared solutions serve as stable reservoirs that can be converted to active chlorine dioxide formulations when disinfection is required, thereby extending shelf life while maintaining decontamination capability.
2Reliability
If higher concentrations of chlorite salt are used to achieve effective chlorine dioxide levels, then disinfection efficacy is improved, but corrosiveness and health hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the concentration parameter dynamically: storing chlorite salt at higher concentrations for stability, then diluting and converting to chlorine dioxide at lower, safer concentrations when needed. This parameter transformation allows high efficacy while reducing corrosiveness and health hazards in the final application formulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses chlorite salt solution as an intermediary substance between storage and active disinfection. This intermediary form allows the active ingredient to be transported and stored safely, then converted to the actual disinfectant (chlorine dioxide) only at the point of use, minimizing exposure to harmful high-concentration forms.
3Productivity
If conventional electrolytic methods are used to generate chlorine dioxide, then disinfectant is produced, but toxic byproducts and contaminated effluent are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the traditionally harmful electrolytic process into a beneficial one by using controlled electrolysis to generate hydrogen peroxide in-situ, which then reacts with chlorite salt to produce chlorine dioxide. This converts the harmful electrolytic byproducts into useful reactive species that drive the disinfection process while minimizing toxic effluent.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs strong oxidation through hydrogen peroxide generation and subsequent reaction with chlorite salt to accelerate chlorine dioxide formation. This oxidative pathway provides an alternative to conventional electrolytic methods, reducing toxic byproducts while maintaining productive chlorine dioxide generation.
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 system produces a highly effective, stable, and non-toxic biocide that rapidly kills pathogens, is environmentally friendly, and maintains efficacy for extended periods, meeting CDC criteria for ideal disinfectants with broad-spectrum activity and low corrosiveness.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolytic cell having a semi-permeable membrane disposed therein defining an anodic chamber and a cathodic chamber; an anode electrode disposed in the anodic chamber for producing a oxidative acidic fluid and at least one acidic gas, and a cathode electrode disposed in the cathodic chamber for producing a reductive alkaline fluid
Implementation Method 2
an electrolytic cell having a semi-permeable membrane disposed therein defining an anodic chamber and a cathodic chamber
Implementation Method 3
mixing a portion of the anolyte gas with the catholyte fluid to produce an ozone gas and hypochlorite bleach mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A method for electrolytically generating a biocide, including providing a brine solution carrier fluid; providing a vessel for creating a first passageway and a second passageway, flowing the carrier fluid through the vessel; applying an electric potential to the electrodes to produce an anolyte fluid, an anolyte gas, a catholyte fluid, and a catholyte gas in the vessel; removing the anolyte fluid, anolyte gas, catholyte fluid, and catholyte gas from the vessel; mixing a portion of the anolyte gas with the catholyte fluid to produce ozone gas and hypochlorite bleach mixture; re-circulating the ozone gas with the ozone gas and hypochlorite bleach mixture; mixing the anolyte fluid with the hypochlorite bleach solution; mixing a chlorite brine with the hypochlorite bleach solution to produce a chlorite brine/hypochlorite bleach solution mixture; and mixing the anolyte fluid with the chlorite brine/hypochlorite bleach solution mixture to the produce the biocide.