Electrolytic Chlorine Dioxide Biocide System for Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disinfectant solutions, particularly chlorine dioxide formulations, face limitations such as limited shelf life, corrosiveness, toxicity, and environmental impact, making them ineffective and unsafe for widespread use in healthcare and public facilities, and they fail to provide a non-toxic, environmentally benign, and material-compatible disinfection solution.
Innovation Solution
An electrolytic system generates a biocide with an electron-deficient carrier fluid and chlorine dioxide, utilizing multiple disinfection mechanisms, including oxidation by chlorine dioxide and electrochemical alteration of the water-based carrier fluid, to create a stable, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly disinfection solution with extended shelf life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional chlorine dioxide formulations are used for disinfection, then disinfection efficacy is achieved, but shelf life is limited and corrosiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the chlorine dioxide generation process into distinct electrolytic cells with anode and cathode chambers divided by a membrane. The anode chamber generates chlorine dioxide and acidic fluid, while the cathode chamber generates alkaline fluid, allowing independent control and optimization of each component to improve both efficacy and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls pH levels independently in each chamber through electrolytic generation. The anode chamber maintains acidic conditions optimal for chlorine dioxide generation, while the cathode chamber maintains alkaline conditions, allowing optimization of disinfection efficacy while managing corrosiveness through pH control.
2Reliability
If conventional chlorine dioxide formulations are used for disinfection, then disinfection efficacy is achieved, but toxicity and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes harmful byproducts through the membrane separation and alkaline neutralization process. Chlorine dioxide is generated in the anode chamber but immediately neutralized when mixed with alkaline fluid from the cathode chamber, reducing toxicity while maintaining disinfection efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts potentially harmful acidic byproducts generated at the anode into beneficial neutralized solutions by combining them with alkaline fluid from the cathode chamber. This neutralization process reduces corrosiveness and toxicity while the resulting solution maintains effective disinfection properties.
3Reliability
If conventional chlorine dioxide formulations are used for disinfection, then disinfection efficacy is achieved, but material compatibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls pH parameters through electrolytic generation and mixing ratios. By adjusting the proportion of alkaline fluid mixed with chlorine dioxide solution, the system optimizes pH to reduce corrosiveness to materials while maintaining effective disinfection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary that separates acidic and alkaline environments during generation, allowing independent optimization. The alkaline fluid serves as a mediator that neutralizes corrosive acidic byproducts while preserving disinfection efficacy, reducing material compatibility issues.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If stabilized chlorine dioxide products are used to extend shelf life, then shelf life is improved, but efficacy decreases due to low disassociation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary electrolytic generation of chlorine dioxide and alkaline fluid, storing them separately in their stable forms. Just before use, these pre-generated components are mixed to create the active disinfection solution, combining long shelf life of stored components with high efficacy of freshly mixed solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolytic cells can continuously generate chlorine dioxide and alkaline fluid as needed, maintaining a continuous supply of effective disinfection solution. This continuous generation capability ensures both long-term availability (shelf life) and consistent high efficacy without degradation.
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 electrolytic chlorine dioxide biocide system provides effective, long-lasting disinfection with minimal toxicity and environmental impact, suitable for various surfaces and pathogens, including chemical contaminants, and can be customized for different applications, meeting CDC criteria for ideal biocides.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolytic cell having a membrane disposed therein defining an anodic chamber and a cathodic chamber; an anode electrode disposed in the anodic chamber for generating chlorine dioxide and an acidic fluid; and a cathode electrode disposed in the cathodic chamber for generating an alkaline fluid
Implementation Method 2
oxidation-reduction potential of the carrier fluid
Implementation Method 3
chlorine dioxide and an oxidation-reduction potential greater than +1,150 millivolts to destroy structures of microbes
Data Source
AI summary
A method for electrolytically generating a biocide having an electron deficient carrier fluid and chlorine dioxide, including providing a carrier fluid; providing a pair of electrodes interposed by a semi-permeable membrane within a vessel for creating a first passageway and a second passageway, an anode electrode of the pair of electrodes disposed in the first passageway, cathode electrode of the pair of electrodes disposed in the second passageway; flowing the carrier fluid through the vessel; applying an electric potential to the pair of electrodes to produce an oxidative acidic fluid, a reductive alkaline fluid, and anodic gases in the container; removing the fluids and gases from the vessel; mixing a portion of the anodic gases with the reductive alkaline fluid to produce a hypochlorite solution; and mixing a chlorite brine with the hypochlorite solution, followed by the introduction of additional oxidative acidic fluid to release the biocide.