Supercritical CO2 High Pressure Processing for PPE Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure processing (HPP) is ineffective for decontaminating personal protective equipment (PPE) like N95 masks due to the absence of free water, limiting its microbial inactivation efficacy.
Innovation Solution
Using gaseous carbon dioxide (CO2) to create supercritical CO2 under specific temperature and pressure conditions for HPP, allowing for microbial inactivation of PPE and low/intermediate moisture foods without the need for water as a pressurizing medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional water-based HPP is used to treat PPE, then microbial inactivation can be achieved, but the process is ineffective due to absence of free water in PPE materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and chemical composition of the pressurizing medium from liquid water to gaseous carbon dioxide. This parameter change allows the medium to penetrate low moisture products like PPE that cannot be effectively treated by water-based HPP, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining microbial inactivation efficacy and expanding applicability to low moisture products
Solution Approach 2:
Carbon dioxide gas acts as an intermediary medium that can penetrate PPE materials and deliver the pressurization effect without requiring free water. The CO2 gas molecules can interact with microorganisms on dry surfaces, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between the pressurization system and low moisture products
2Adaptability or versatility
If gaseous CO2 is used as pressurizing medium, then HPP can be applied to PPE and low moisture foods, but the equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using compressed carbon dioxide gas as the pressurizing medium. The system utilizes gas compression and pressure regulation mechanisms to deliver controlled high pressure to products, leveraging established pneumatic technology to manage the complexity of handling gaseous CO2
3Ease of manufacture
If water is used as pressurizing medium, then the process is simple and well-established, but it cannot decontaminate PPE without free water
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the pressurizing medium from liquid to gas phase, specifically using carbon dioxide gas. This parameter change enables the system to effectively decontaminate PPE and low moisture foods while maintaining process control through established gas compression and pressure regulation technologies
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 method effectively decontaminates PPE and low moisture foods by converting CO2 into a liquid or supercritical phase, inactivating pathogens and extending the shelf life of treated products, including N95 masks, while maintaining product integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the formation of supercritical CO2 (sCO2) under correct temperature and pressure conditions may contribute to the microbial inactivation process
Implementation Method 2
HPP of product packaged in gaseous CO2 can provide a solution to the need for decontamination and re-use of N95 masks or other PPE for health care workers and frontline personnel
Implementation Method 3
changing the phase of CO2 or other gas from the gas phase into the liquid or supercritical phase within the packages
Data Source
AI summary
A high pressure process for decontamination comprises subjecting a hermetically-sealed package containing a product and a gas to an operating pressure by a pressurizing media containing water, wherein the product has a water activity less than or equal to 0.9; increasing the operating pressure to change the gas into a different phase; and maintaining the operating pressure for a sufficient length of time to achieve some decontamination inside the package.