PROCESS FOR CLEANING SUBSTRATES WITH OXIDISING AGENTS AND REDUCING AGENTS

• US 20110023913A1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rainer Fulling
• Original Assignee: Rainer Fulling
• Inventors: Fulling, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 8,557,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/29
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/168 Use of other chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/14 Hard surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/44 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0042 Reducing agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the purification of substrates, characterized in that the purification is carried out by at least one oxidation agent, selected from the group consisting of permanganate and ferrate (VI), and subsequently by a reduction agent. Organic residue, such as legionella or extracellular polymer substances (EPS) can be removed from surfaces of filtration or classification devices and from transport and storage devices utilizing said method. The use of oxidation agents further relates to the oxidation of extracellular polymer substances (EPS).

Claims

1. A process for cleaning substrates wherein cleaning is carried out by at least one oxidising agent selected from the group consisting of permanganate and ferrate (VI), and subsequently by a reducing agent wherein the oxidising agent selected from the group consisting of permanganate and ferrate (VI) is in the form of an alkaline solution and the dissolved oxidising agent has a percentage by mass of 0.002 to 0.1 mass-% in the solution.

2. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is contaminated on its surfaces, where the substrates are surfaces of filtering or classification devices as well as transport and storage devices for fluids, the filtering devices are selected from the group consisting of filters and membranes and the transport devices are selected from the group consisting of pipes, pipelines, hoses, capillaries and pumps.

6. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is contaminated with organic material where the organic material is selected from the group consisting of microorganisms, their aggregates, components, excretions and decomposition products.

8. The process in accordance with claim 6 wherein the microorganisms are bacteria and that the aggregates, components, excretions and decomposition products are extracellular polymer substances (EPS).

9. The process in accordance with claim 8 wherein the bacteria are legionellas.

13. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pH is in the range from 9 to 14.

16. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reducing agent is dissolved and that it is selected from the group consisting of sulphuric acid, its salts, disulphuric acid, its salts, hydrazine and hydroxylamine.

17. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reducing agent is mixed with a metal-salt complexing agent.

19. The process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is surrounded by alkaline medium before or at the same time as adding the oxidising agent.

20. The process in accordance with claim 19 wherein the medium has a pH of 12 or more.

21. The process in accordance with claim 19 wherein the pH of the medium is brought to a range of 7-9 after adding the oxidising agent and the reducing agent is added afterwards.

22. The process in accordance with claim 19 wherein it is rinsed once or several times between adding the oxidising agent and adding the reducing agent and/or it is rinsed once or several times after adding the reducing agent.

24. The process in accordance with claim 19 wherein cleaning can take place once or several times with the same or different oxidising agents and/or that cleaning can take place once or several times with the same or different reducing agents.

27. The process in accordance with claim 24 wherein one or several steps for rinsing can take place if it is cleaned several times between each time the oxidising agent is added, and/or that one or several steps for rinsing take place if it is cleaned several times between each time the reducing agent is added.

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