Sterilisation and decontamination

• US 20050031486A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Steritrox Limited
• Inventors: Mole, Alan, Golding, John Percival Burleigh
• Granted Patent: US 7,604,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/26 using ozone
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/40 by ozonisation for sterilisation F24F8/26

Abstract

A method of sterilisation and decontamination comprises the steps of producing a humidified environment having a relative humidity which is higher than ambient humidity; discharging ozone into the humidified environment; and then introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon into the humidified environment to preferentially react with the discharged ozone to form hydroxyl radicals. Apparatus is also provided for use with the method.

Claims

1. A method of sterilisation and decontamination, said method comprising steps of:

a) producing a humidified environment having a relative humidity which is higher than ambient humidity;

b) discharging ozone into said humidified environment; and

c) introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon into said humidified environment to preferentially react with said discharged ozone to form hydroxyl radicals.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein humidity produced in step (a) is non-condensing humidity.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said relative humidity is at east 75% at ambient temperature.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon contains at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is provided in a quantity of no more than 20 ppm.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is a gas.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is butene.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aromatic hydrocarbon is a natural olefin.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said natural olefin is Terpene.

10. Sterilisation and decontamination apparatus comprising a humidifier unit, an ozone discharge unit, an aromatic hydrocarbon discharge unit, and a controller by which said humidifier unit, said ozone discharge unit and said aromatic hydrocarbon discharge unit are controllable based on ambient conditions.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said humidifier unit includes an ultrasonic humidifier.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said humidifier includes a compressed air supply and a water reservoir.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ozone discharge unit includes an ozone generator and an oxygen supply supplying said ozone generator.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said controller includes a user interface and at least one preset sterilisation and decontamination routine which a user can select via said user interface and by which an operation of said apparatus is automatically controlled by said controller.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising sensors which monitor ambient relative humidity and concentration of ambient ozone.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a gas movement device for circulating humidified air, discharged ozone and discharged hydrocarbon.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said apparatus is portable.

18. A method of sterilisation and decontamination, which comprises:

providing an apparatus comprising a humidifier unit, an ozone discharge unit, an aromatic hydrocarbon discharge unit, and a controller by which said humidifier unit, said ozone discharge unit and said aromatic hydrocarbon discharge unit are controllable based on ambient conditions;

producing a humidified environment having a relative humidity which is higher than ambient humidity;

discharging ozone into said humidified environment; and

introducing an aromatic hydrocarbon into said humidified environment to preferentially react with said discharged ozone to form hydroxyl radicals.