U.S. patent application number 12/962385 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-04 for microcidal composition.
This patent application is currently assigned to ACTIVATED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS INC.. Invention is credited to Norman L. Arrison, William Dale Storey.
Application Number | 20110186462 12/962385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44144954 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110186462 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Storey; William Dale ; et
al. |
August 4, 2011 |
MICROCIDAL COMPOSITION
Abstract
An anolyte composition having sufficient strength and stability
to be packaged and marketed to consumers is produced in an
electrolytic cell having an ionomeric semi-permeable membrane.
Inventors: |
Storey; William Dale;
(Lacombe, CA) ; Arrison; Norman L.; (Edmonton,
CA) |
Assignee: |
ACTIVATED ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS
INC.
Lacombe
CA
|
Family ID: |
44144954 |
Appl. No.: |
12/962385 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61267323 |
Dec 7, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.1 ;
205/338; 205/500 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C25B 1/26 20130101; B65D
85/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/524.1 ;
205/500; 205/338 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00; C25B 1/26 20060101 C25B001/26 |
Claims
1. A method of producing anolyte having a free available chlorine
concentration of at least 1000 ppm, comprising the use of an
electrolytic cell having an anode compartment and a cathode
compartment, separated by a semi-permeable membrane.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the semi-permeable membrane
permits cation transport at a greater rate than anion
transport.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the semi-permeable membrane is
ionomeric and comprises perfluorocarboxylic acid or
perfluorosulfonic acid.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the membrane is a bilayer
membrane, comprising one layer comprising perfluorocarboxylic acid
and one layer comprising perfluorosulfonic acid.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the anolyte produced comprises a
free available chlorine concentration of at least 1680 ppm.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the anolyte produced comprises a
free available chlorine concentration of at least 2000 ppm.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the anolyte produced comprises a
free available chlorine concentration of at least about 4000
ppm.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the anode and cathode compartments
are pressurized to about 80 psi.
9. An anolyte composition produced by the method of claim 1,
formulated and packaged for general consumer use.
10. The anolyte composition of claim 9 which is formulated and
packaged in a sealed, dark or opaque container, having a capacity
of 1 litre or less.
11. The anolyte composition of claim 9 which retains a minimum
level of 400 ppm of free available chlorine, after a storage time
of one year.
12. The anolyte composition of claim 11 in which the free available
chlorine degrades at a rate of about 4 ppm per day.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/267,323 filed on Dec. 7, 2009
entitled "Microcidal Composition", the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to a composition having
microcidal levels of anolyte or catholyte, or a mixture of
both.
[0003] Anolyte is a known disinfectant due to its oxidizing
content. It has also been known as electrolysed water,
electro-activated water or electro-chemically activated water
solution. It is produced by the electrolysis of ordinary water
containing dissolved sodium chloride. The anolyte produced
comprises free available chlorine, primarily in the form of sodium
hypochlorite.
[0004] Anolyte or catholyte has not been available to the general
public. EcaFlo.RTM. anolyte solution is available for industrial or
hospital use, but is produced in bulk for quick consumption. Its
general unavailability is because anolyte or catholyte could not be
made with a practical shelf-life of over a month.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect, the present invention comprises a method of
producing anolyte having a free available chlorine concentration of
at least 1000 ppm, comprising the use of an electrolytic cell
having an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, separated by
a semi-permeable membrane. In one embodiment, the semi-permeable
membrane permits cation transport at a greater rate than anion
transport. The membrane may be ionomeric and may comprise
perfluorocarboxylic acid or perfluorosulfonic acid. In one
embodiment, the membrane is a bilayer membrane, comprising one
layer comprising perfluorocarboxylic acid and one layer comprising
perfluorosulfonic acid.
[0006] In another aspect, the invention comprises a composition of
anolyte having a concentration of free available chlorine such that
the composition still has microcidal activity after prolonged
storage. In one embodiment, the composition has a concentration of
at least about 1680 ppm of free available chlorine, and in a
preferred embodiment, has a concentration of at least about 2000
ppm and more preferably about 4000 ppm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the drawings, like elements are assigned like reference
numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, with the
emphasis instead placed upon the principles of the present
invention. Additionally, each of the embodiments depicted are but
one of a number of possible arrangements utilizing the fundamental
concepts of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of one embodiment of an
electrolysis reaction scheme for producing anolyte and/or catholyte
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] The invention relates to pre-packaged solutions of anolyte
which retains an effective amount of microcidal activity. When
describing the present invention, all terms not defined herein have
their common art-recognized meanings. To the extent that the
following description is of a specific embodiment or a particular
use of the invention, it is intended to be illustrative only, and
not limiting of the claimed invention. The following description is
intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents
that are included in the spirit and scope of the invention, as
defined in the appended claims.
[0010] As used herein, "anolyte" means an aqueous solution produced
at the anode by the electrolysis of aqueous solutions of sodium or
potassium chloride. As used herein, "catholyte" means an aqueous
solution produced at the cathode by the electrolysis of aqueous
solutions of sodium or potassium chloride.
[0011] Suitable solutions of anolyte or catholyte may be produced
by an electrolysis reactor, such as that illustrated schematically
in FIG. 1. The power source is preferably a DC voltage source,
producing between about 20 to 40 amperes. In one embodiment, the DC
voltage may be between about 12 V and 48 V, preferably between
about 20 and 30 V, such as a 26 V source. The voltage and current
provided may vary in accordance with the size of the cell, and the
other factors known to those skilled in the art.
[0012] In one embodiment, the cathode and anode chambers of the
reactor are separated by a semi-permeable membrane, which allows
the passage of ions in solution. In one embodiment, the membrane is
ionomeric and comprises perfluorocarboxylic acid or
perfluorosulfonic acid, or both. In one embodiment, Nafion.TM.
ionomer membranes may be suitable. In one embodiment, the
semi-permeable membrane comprises a bilayer membrane comprising
perfluorocarboxylic acid and perfluorosulfonic acid film layers. In
one embodiment, the perfluorocarboxylic acid membrane is known to
have a membrane catalytic deprotonation effect, which causes proton
fluxes during electrolysis. Without restriction to a theory, it is
believed that ionomeric membranes which permit greater movement of
cations than anions are preferred. It is believed that this
preferential movement of cations, and relative impedance of anions,
is the result of using sulfonated or carboxylated perfluorovinyl
ether groups on a tetrafluoroethylene backbone.
[0013] A review of Nafion membranes is available in the literature
Mauritz, K. A., Moore, R. B. (2004). "State of Understanding of
Nafion". Chemical Reviews 104: 4535-4585, the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference, where permitted.
[0014] The electrodes may preferably comprise titanium, which may
be uncoated or coated with a noble metal such as platinum or
palladium, or a metal oxide, or a mixture of metal oxides. In one
embodiment, the coating is electrically conductive, but chemically
inert.
[0015] In one embodiment, the salt solution comprises either NaCl
or KCl, preferably in a concentration of between about 24 to 30
g/l, and is fed through the reactor at a rate such that the
residence time in the reactor is between about 8 minutes to about
12 minutes, preferably between about 9-10 minutes. In one
embodiment, the flowrate is about 32 litres per hour (or 161/h in
each of the cathode and anode compartments). The flowrate and
residence time within the reactor may be varied to produce anolytes
and catholytes of differing ionic concentrations.
[0016] As may be appreciated by those skilled in the art,
electrolysis results in protons, cations and positively charged
moieties crossing into and accumulating in the cathode chamber,
while chloride, anions and negatively charged moieties accumulate
in the anode chamber. The fluid exiting from the anode partition is
anolyte, while the fluid exiting from the cathode partition is
catholyte. The reactor may be pressurized, and in one embodiment,
may operate at a pressure of about 80 psi (about 550 kPa). The
small amounts of oxygen and hydrogen gas produced by the
electrolysis remain in solution at an elevated pressure.
[0017] Anolyte may be pH neutral or slightly acidic. Without
restriction to a theory, it is believed that anolyte does not
contain chlorite (ClO.sub.2.sup.-) and chlorate (ClO.sub.3.sup.-)
ions. The free available chlorine in anolyte exists primarily as
hypochlorous acid and ions (HClO or ClO.sup.-), free chlorine
(Cl.sub.2) and chloride ion (Cl.sup.-). Without restriction to a
theory, it is believed that hypochlorous acid and ions, free
chlorine, and/or chloride ions, are restricted or limited in
crossing the ionomeric membrane. As a result, they accumulate in
the anolyte to levels not found in the prior art.
[0018] Effective solutions of anolyte or catholyte made from either
NaCl or KCl that the general public, industries, or institutions
can be used to meet their various needs as a sanitizer (hands,
tables, etc.) and disinfectant for all stages of cleaning in homes,
schools, hospitals, veterinary clinics, ambulances, airplanes,
buses, trains, ships or any public building for viruses, bacteria
and parasites. It may also be used to stop fungus and applied as a
fog or aerosol to kill viruses and bacteria that are air
transmitted and if applied to plants is very effective at killing
plant bacteria and viruses that can kill plants. Anolyte can be
used as an industrial biocide for oil field applications for water
used in fracking operating, field stimulation, or to stop algae or
other forms of growth in piping or cooling systems of any kind.
Anolyte may be used a deodorizer for portable toilets, humans,
animals, and chickens, fish, and any place that mercaptans of any
kind are produced. Catholyte can be used in dental offices to
control pH for patient treatment.
[0019] An effective anolyte solution must have a concentration of
about 400 ppm (parts per million by weight) of free available
chlorine produced in the anolyte. The applicant has determined that
a prepackaged solution of anolyte drops about 4 ppm per day in
storage. Because one embodiment of the anolyte solution of the
present invention has a concentration of at least about 4000 ppm of
free chlorine, it can be stored for about 900 days before it
reaches an ineffective level. An anolyte composition having a
concentration of about 1680 ppm will have a shelf life of about 1
year before it reaches the minimum concentration of about 400
ppm.
[0020] The anolyte composition may be stored in dark or opaque
containers to reduce ultraviolet or visible light degradation of
the product. The containers are preferably sealed to prevent
oxidative degradation. The anolyte may be used in liquid form,
which may be added to treat water streams or sources, or directly
or in a dilute form as a disinfecting agent.
[0021] Pre-packaged sealed containers of anolyte may be provided in
containers sized for domestic use, such as 1 litre or less. Anolyte
may be formulated as gels, creams or lotions, in like manner to
alcohol-based hand sanitizers, for personal use. In one embodiment,
personal sized containers of less than 100 ml may be provided.
Examples
Solution Shelf Life Log Book
[0022] 1) Produced 1000 liters (tote) on Day1. Free available
chlorine tested at 4400 PPM. 2) Tested on Day 144. Free available
chlorine tested at 3800 PPM. Total chlorine loss of 600 PPM or 4.16
PPM per day for 144 days. 3) Tested on Day 248. Free available
chlorine tested at 3400 PPM. Total chlorine loss of 1000 PPM or
4.03 PPM per day for 248 days 4) Tested on Day 347. Free available
chlorine tested at 1800 PPM. Larger daily losses of free available
chlorine during this test period. Without restriction to a theory,
we believe this is because the storage tote was located in direct
sun light for many hours each day.
[0023] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various
modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific
disclosure can be made without departing from the scope of the
invention claimed herein.
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