Electrolyzed Water Sterilization System for Chemical-Free Disinfection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current disinfection methods rely on harmful chemicals like bleach and ionizing radiation, which pose health and environmental risks, and are logistically challenging during crises, necessitating a safe and chemical-free alternative for sterilization of air, liquids, and surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing electrical energy to generate electrically activated species through electrolysis of water, creating electrically activated water or water mist for disinfection, which can be used independently or integrated for comprehensive infection control across various surfaces and environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical disinfectants like bleach are used for sterilization, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but health and environmental safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical disinfection methods with a physical-electrical system that uses electrolysis and electric fields to generate antimicrobial effects. The electrical energy drives water electrolysis to produce reactive oxygen species and other electrically activated species that achieve disinfection without requiring harmful chemical additives like bleach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of water through electrolysis and electric field application, transforming ordinary water into electrically activated water with enhanced antimicrobial properties. This parameter change enables the water to effectively kill microbes without introducing harmful chemicals
2Reliability
If ionizing radiation is used for sterilization, then microbial inactivation is improved, but health safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes ionizing radiation with a non-ionizing electrical field-based system. The electric field generates reactive species through water electrolysis that achieve microbial inactivation through chemical oxidation and physical damage mechanisms that do not involve ionizing radiation, thereby maintaining health safety
3Productivity
If chemical disinfectants are used during crisis, then disinfection capability is improved, but logistic availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is self-sufficient in that it generates its own disinfectant agents through electrolysis of water. Instead of requiring external supply of chemical disinfectants that may be unavailable during crises, the system produces reactive oxygen species and electrically activated species on-demand from readily available water and electrical energy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water as an intermediary medium that can be easily obtained and converted into an effective disinfectant through electrolysis. This intermediary approach allows the system to overcome logistic challenges by using a universally available resource (water) instead of specialized chemical disinfectants
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 method provides a safe, chemical-free, and effective means to inactivate microbial loads in air, liquids, and on surfaces, offering a scalable solution for infection control that is environmentally friendly and accessible during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
electrolysis of water, air or water mist to generate electrically activated species
Implementation Method 2
exposed to an electric field to generate electrically activated species such as ions, radicals etc. by creating electric field or plasma of air/gases/mist
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an integrated technique for sterilization or disinfection or sanitization, to remove microbial load in air or in liquid or on solid surfaces using water, gases and electrical energy. Electrical energy is used in the present invention to generate ions or electrically activated species from mixture of gases generated from electrolysis, air and water mist which can be directly used for sterilization or can be dissolved in water to create electrically activated water. This water is directly used for surface disinfection or may be converted into activated water mist for disinfection of air. The gas plasma or activated water mist may also be dissolved in water for disinfection of water.