APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING STORED CROPS INFECTED WITH TOXINS

• US 20130071287A1
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pureline Treatment Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pureline Treatment Systems, LLC
• Inventors: O'Connell, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,107,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/37
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 9/18 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0094 Gaseous substances
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 11/024 from chlorites
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 11/026 from chlorate ions in the presence of a peroxidic compound, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, ozone, peroxysulfates

Abstract

A method of reducing toxins in stored crops comprises producing a stream of aqueous or gas ClO₂ and exposing the stored crops to the ClO₂ wherein the ClO₂ kills toxin-producing microorganisms and/or reacts with toxins to reduce the toxins in said stored crops. An apparatus for reducing toxins in stored crops comprises a treatment area for containing the stored crops and a ClO₂ generator comprising an inlet for introducing at least one chlorine-containing feed chemical and an outlet for exhausting a stream of aqueous or gas ClO₂ from the generator into the treatment area wherein introducing the ClO₂ kills toxin-producing microorganisms and/or reacts with toxin molecules to reduce the toxins in the stored crops.

Claims

1. A method of reducing toxin-producing microorganism concentration in stored crops, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) producing ClO₂ gas; and

(b) exposing said stored crops to said ClO₂ gas wherein said ClO₂ gas kills toxin-producing microorganisms in said stored crops.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps are performed sequentially.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated by reacting chlorine gas with water and then adding sodium chlorite.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated by reacting sodium hypochlorite with an acid and then adding sodium chlorite.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated by reacting sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated using an electrochemical cell and sodium chlorite.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated using an electrochemical cell and sodium chlorate.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated using an equipment-based sodium chlorate and hydrogen peroxide method.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said ClO₂ is produced by reacting sodium chlorate and hydrogen peroxide.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said ClO₂ is produced by dry mix chlorine dioxide packets having a chlorite precursor packet and an acid activator packet.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said toxin-producing organisms produce mycotoxins.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said mycotoxins are selected from the group comprising Aflatoxin, Vomitoxin, Fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin, Zearalenone, Fusarochromanone, Patulin and Citrinin.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said stored crops are stored grains.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said stored crops are stored corn.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said stored grains are stored and treated in a grain silo.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said stored grains are stored and treated in a grain dryer.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said stored corn is stored and treated in an ethanol plant.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising exposing said stored crops to citric acid wherein said citric acid kills toxin-producing microorganisms in said stored crops.

19. A method of reducing toxin molecule concentration in stored crops, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) producing ClO₂ gas; and

(b) exposing said stored crops to said ClO₂ gas wherein said ClO₂ gas reacts with said molecules to detoxify said toxins.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said steps are performed sequentially.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated by reacting chlorine gas with water and then adding sodium chlorite.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated by reacting sodium hypochlorite with an acid and then adding sodium chlorite.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated by reacting sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated using an electrochemical cell and sodium chlorite.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated using an electrochemical cell and sodium chlorate.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein said ClO₂ gas is generated using an equipment-based sodium chlorate and hydrogen peroxide method.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein said ClO₂ is produced by reacting sodium chlorate and hydrogen peroxide.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein said ClO₂ is produced by dry mix chlorine dioxide packets having a chlorite precursor packet and an acid activator packet.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein said toxins are mycotoxins.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said mycotoxins are selected from the group comprising Aflatoxin, Vomitoxin, Fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin, Zearalenone, Fusarochromanone, Patulin and Citrinin.

31. The method of claim 19 wherein said stored crops are stored grains.

32. The method of claim 19 wherein said stored crops are stored corn.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said stored grains are stored and treated in a grain silo.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein said stored grains are stored and treated in a grain dryer.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein said stored corn is stored and treated in an ethanol plant.

36. The method of claim 19 further comprising exposing said stored crops to citric acid wherein said citric acid reacts with said molecules to detoxify said toxins.

37. A method of reducing toxin-producing microorganism concentration in stored crops, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) producing an aqueous ClO₂ solution; and

(b) exposing said stored crops to said aqueous ClO₂ solution wherein said aqueous ClO₂ solution kills substantially all toxin-producing microorganisms in said stored crops.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said steps are performed sequentially.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein said aqueous ClO₂ is produced by a solid composition comprising an alkali chlorite salt, a solid acid source and an acrylate.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said aqueous ClO₂ is produced using a chlorine dioxide solution generator.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein said toxin-producing organisms produce mycotoxins.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said mycotoxins are selected from the group comprising Aflatoxin, Vomitoxin, Fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin, Zearalenone, Fusarochromanone, Patulin and Citrinin.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein said stored crops are stored grains.

44. The method of claim 37 wherein said stored crops are stored corn.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein said stored grains are stored and treated in a grain silo.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein said stored grains are stored and treated in a grain dryer.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein said stored corn is stored and treated in an ethanol plant.

48. The method of claim 37 further comprising exposing said stored crops to citric acid wherein said citric acid kills toxin-producing microorganisms in said stored crops.

49. A method of reducing toxin molecule concentration in stored crops, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) producing an aqueous ClO₂ solution; and

(b) exposing said stored crops to said aqueous ClO₂ solution wherein said aqueous ClO₂ solution reacts with said molecules to detoxify said toxins.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said steps are performed sequentially.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said aqueous ClO₂ is produced by a solid composition comprising an alkali chlorite salt, a solid acid source and an acrylate.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein said aqueous ClO₂ is produced using a chlorine dioxide solution generator.

53. The method of claim 49 wherein said toxins are mycotoxins.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said mycotoxins are selected from the group comprising Aflatoxin, Vomitoxin, Fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin, Zearalenone, Fusarochromanone, Patulin and Citrinin.

55. The method of claim 49 wherein said stored crops are stored grains.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein said stored crops are stored corn.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein said stored grains are stored and treated in a grain silo.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein said stored grains are stored and treated in a grain dryer.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein said stored corn is stored and treated in an ethanol plant.

60. The method of claim 49 further comprising exposing said stored crops to citric acid wherein said citric acid reacts with said molecules to detoxify said toxins.

61. An apparatus for reducing toxins in stored crops, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a treatment area for containing said stored crops; and

(b) a ClO₂ generator comprising an inlet for introducing at least one chlorine-containing feed chemical and an outlet for exhausting a ClO₂ gas stream from said generator into said treatment area;

wherein introducing said ClO₂ gas kills toxin-producing microorganisms and reacts with toxins to reduce said toxins in said stored crops.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein said ClO₂ generator is mobile.

63. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein said toxins are mycotoxins.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said mycotoxins are selected from the group comprising Aflatoxin, Vomitoxin, Fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin, Zearalenone, Fusarochromanone, Patulin and Citrinin.

65. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein said stored crops are stored grains.

66. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein said stored crops are stored corn.

67. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein said treatment area is a grain silo.

68. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein said treatment area is a grain dryer.

69. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said treatment area is a vessel in an ethanol plant.

70. An apparatus for reducing toxins in stored crops, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a treatment area for containing said stored crops; and

(b) a ClO₂ generator comprising an inlet for introducing at least one chlorine-containing feed chemical and an outlet for exhausting an aqueous ClO₂ stream from said generator into said treatment area;

wherein introducing said ClO₂ gas kills toxin-producing microorganisms and reacts with toxins to reduce said toxins in said stored crops.

71. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein said ClO₂ generator is mobile.

72. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein said toxins are mycotoxins.

73. The apparatus of claim 72 wherein said mycotoxins are selected from the group comprising Aflatoxin, Vomitoxin, Fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin, Zearalenone, Fusarochromanone, Patulin and Citrinin.

74. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein said stored crops are stored grains.

75. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein said stored crops are stored corn.

76. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein said treatment area is a grain silo.

77. The apparatus of claim 74 wherein said treatment area is a grain dryer.

78. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said treatment area is a vessel in an ethanol plant.