Sterilizing Organic Products Using Ozone and UV Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization methods for organic products, such as heat and chemical agents, lead to structural breakdown and water retention, which can result in spoilage and economic losses, while chemical agents can be toxic and contaminate the products.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using a controlled atmosphere chamber that introduces a gaseous composition of ozone and carbon monoxide, combined with ultraviolet radiation, to sterilize organic products while maintaining humidity and temperature, thereby preventing structural deterioration and water retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat is used for sterilization, then microbial growth is prevented, but molecular structures of organic products break down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal sterilization (heat-based mechanical/physical process) with a combination of gaseous chemical agents (ozone, carbon dioxide, hydrogen peroxide) and ultraviolet radiation. This substitution eliminates the molecular breakdown caused by heat while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through different mechanisms: oxidative action of ozone and hydrogen peroxide, and DNA damage from UV radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sterilization parameters from thermal (heat temperature and time) to chemical and radiational parameters. By using gaseous agents at controlled concentrations and UV radiation at specific wavelengths, the method achieves sterilization without the detrimental thermal effects that compromise molecular structure integrity.
2Reliability
If chemical agents in aqueous form are used for sterilization, then microbial growth is inhibited, but water retention occurs in organic products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs gaseous chemical agents (ozone, carbon dioxide, hydrogen peroxide) instead of aqueous solutions. The gaseous form allows sterilization to occur without introducing excess water into the organic products, thereby preventing water retention, sponginess, and subsequent bacterial growth that would occur with liquid-based chemical agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the chemical sterilizing agents from liquid (aqueous) to gas. This parameter change enables effective sterilization while avoiding the water retention problem inherent in aqueous solutions, as the gaseous agents can be applied and evaporated without leaving residual water in the organic products.
3Reliability
If toxic chemical agents are used for sterilization, then microbial growth is prevented, but product contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes ozone and hydrogen peroxide as strong oxidizing agents for sterilization. These oxidants effectively kill microbes through oxidation of cellular components but can be controlled to decompose into harmless substances (ozone into oxygen, hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen), thereby avoiding the toxic contamination problem associated with traditional chemical sterilizing agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts potentially harmful chemical agents into beneficial or harmless substances. Ozone and hydrogen peroxide, while powerful sterilizing agents, decompose into oxygen and water, eliminating the toxicity issue. The ultraviolet radiation component also provides sterilization through a physical process that leaves no chemical residue, further ensuring product safety.
4Reliability
If excess water is retained in organic products during sterilization, then microbial growth is inhibited, but product quality deteriorates and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses gaseous sterilizing agents that do not introduce excess water into the organic products. By applying ozone, carbon dioxide, or hydrogen peroxide in gaseous form, the method achieves microbial growth inhibition without the water retention that would compromise product quality, cause sponginess, and increase weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes aqueous chemical sterilization with a combination of gaseous agents and ultraviolet radiation. This substitution eliminates the water retention problem while maintaining microbial growth inhibition, thereby preserving product quality and preventing the adverse effects of excess water such as weight gain and quality deterioration.
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 sterilizes organic products without breaking down their molecular structures or retaining excess water, enhancing their quality and shelf life while minimizing economic losses due to spoilage and ensuring product safety.
Implementation Method 1
A specified quantity of a gaseous composition comprising a predefined proportion of ozone is introduced into the chamber for sterilization
Implementation Method 2
One or more samples of the organic product is subjected to an ultraviolet radiation using at least one ultraviolet tube light provided within the chamber
Implementation Method 3
the gaseous composition further comprises a predefined proportion of carbon monoxide (CO) gas. The CO gas is used for carbonizing the organic product to generate carboxymyoglobin
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to sterilizing one or more samples of an organic product placed in a chamber of a sterilization device. The method includes, introducing a specified quantity of a gaseous composition comprising a predefined proportion of ozone and carbon monoxide through at least one inlet of the chamber. The method includes, subjecting each sample with ultraviolet light and the gaseous composition for predefined time period in a controlled atmosphere maintained at 90-100% humidity level and a temperature of −10 to 5 degree Celsius within the chamber. The method includes releasing the gaseous composition through at least one outlet from the chamber upon completion of the predefined time period, while simultaneously introducing purified air into chamber through the at least one inlet, until presence of the gaseous composition in the atmosphere of the chamber reaches below a threshold value.