Solid Peroxy Disinfectant Dosage Form with Color Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disinfectants used in hospitals, such as chlorine dioxide, hypochlorite, and quaternary ammonium compounds, are not high-level disinfectants and lack sporocidal activity at usable concentrations, and peracetic acid, while effective, is volatile, corrosive, and flammable in its liquid form.
Innovation Solution
A solid disinfectant dosage form containing a peroxy activator, a peroxy compound, and a color indicator system that produces a solution with peracetic acid concentrations of at least 1000 ppm, providing a visual indication of concentration and stability through a color change system mimicking a traffic light display, ensuring sporocidal activity and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If peracetic acid is used at a concentration of 4000 ppm to achieve sporocidal activity, then high-level disinfection is achieved, but the solution becomes extremely volatile, corrosive and flammable
Solution Approach 1:
The peracetic acid disinfectant is divided into separate stable components (peroxy compound and activator) that are mixed in situ. The peroxy compound (e.g., sodium percarbonate) and activator (e.g., tetraacetyl ethylene diamine) are stored separately and only combined during use, eliminating the hazards of storing and handling concentrated peracetic acid while maintaining its sporocidal efficacy when generated at the point of application
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary chemical system is used where the peroxy compound acts as a stable precursor that releases active oxygen upon contact with the activator. This intermediary approach allows the generation of effective peracetic acid concentrations without directly handling the hazardous substance, as the peroxy compound serves as a safer intermediate form that transforms into the active disinfectant only when needed
2Ease of operation
If chlorine dioxide, hypochlorite or quaternary ammonium compounds are used, then ease of handling is improved, but sporocidal activity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the concentration parameter and chemical form of the active ingredient. Instead of using conventional disinfectants at standard concentrations, the system generates peracetic acid in situ at controlled concentrations (1000-4000 ppm) through the reaction of peroxy compound and activator. This parameter change enables sporocidal activity that conventional disinfectants cannot achieve, while maintaining ease of handling through the stable solid or liquid precursor forms
3Measurement precision
If a color indicator system with multiple dyes is added to provide visual concentration indication, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs color change indicators that undergo visible color transitions based on peracetic acid concentration levels. Different dyes are selected with specific bleaching rates that correspond to different concentration thresholds, providing intuitive visual feedback (e.g., purple to pink to colorless) without requiring complex instrumentation. This leverages the natural color properties of chemical indicators to achieve precise concentration measurement through simple visual observation
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 solution maintains effective sporocidal activity for 24 hours, is non-corrosive, and easy to use, providing a safe and efficient disinfection method that is effective against pathogens like Clostridium difficile, even in dirty conditions, without the need for direct handling of the active ingredient.
Implementation Method 1
a peroxy activator; a peroxy compound; selected so that addition of the dosage form to water produces a disinfectant solution containing peracetic acid
Implementation Method 2
a first non-mordant dye having a first colour and being bleachable after a first dye lifetime of 0.5 to 10 minutes in a test solution at 20° C. to 40° C. and pH8.0 to 8.5
Data Source
AI summary
Solid disinfectant dosage forms having a peroxy activator and a peroxy compound are provided. The dosage form can be selected so that addition of the dosage form to a predetermined quantity of water produces a disinfectant solution containing peracetic acid in a concentration of at least about 1000 ppm. The dosage form can include a colour indicator arranged to provide a first colour signal when the concentration of peracetic acid is lower than about 1000 ppm and a second colour signal when the concentration is higher than about 1000 ppm and a third colour signal when the concentration falls below about 1000 ppm. The peroxy compound can be selected from the group consisting of sodium percarbonate, ammonium persulphate, calcium percarbonate, magnesium percarbonate, sodium perborate, sodium persulfate, sodium perphosphate and mixtures thereof.