Air treatment filter element and air treatment filter

• US 4,534,775 A
• Filed: 04/19/1984
• Issued: 08/13/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Waterbury Companies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: General Time Corporation
• Inventors: Frazier, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SPITZER, ROBERT H
• Application Number:
  US06/601,946
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 55/73, 55/75, 55/279, 55/387, 55/389, 55/524, 55/74, 162/160, 162/161, 210/501, 210/502, 422/120, 422/122
• US Class Current: 95/92
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/106 Silica or silicates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/108 Zeolites
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/90 Odorous compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/708
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4146 Contiguous multilayered adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/00 Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols, recovery of volatile solvents by condensation B01D5/00; sublimation B01D7/00; cold traps, cold baffles B01D8/00; working-up undefined gaseous mixtures obtained by cracking hydrocarbon oils C10G70/00; cleaning coal gas C10K; working-up of natural gas, or synthetic natural gas, C10L3/10; separation of difficult-to-condense gases or air by liquefaction F25J; for investigating materials G01N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01

Abstract

An air treatment filter element is produced by contacting an adsorbent material selected from zeolite, activated carbon or a combination thereof with a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Additionally, the adsorbent material may include silica gel. Preferably, the liquid includes a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid, at least one polyhydric alcohol, the polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to 99.5% by weight of the liquid, and at least one additional compound for modifying the vapor pressure of the polyhydric alcohol, the additional compound being present in an amount from about 0 to 15% by weight of the liquid. The amount of liquid used is from about 5 to 50%, most preferably 20 to about 30%, by weight of the combined weight of the liquid and adsorbent material.

Claims

1. A method for removing odors and harmful gases from indoor air which comprises contacting the air, odors and harmful gases with an air treatment filter element, said element consisting essentially of at least one layer of an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of zeolite, activated carbon, silica gel, and a combination thereof, said adsorbent material containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said adsorbent and said liquid;

said liquid comprising;

(a) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid;

(b) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to 99.5% by weight of the liquid; and

(c) at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said harmful gas is formaldehyde.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said absorbent material is distributed in at least two adjacent layers with at least one layer containing zeolite and at least one layer containing activated carbon.

4. A method for removing odors and gases from indoor air which comprises contacting the air, odors, and harmful gases with an air treatment filter element consisting essentially of at least one layer of an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of zeolite, activated carbon, silica gel, and a combination thereof, said adsorbent material containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said adsorbent;

said liquid comprising the product obtained by contacting grapefruit pulp with a non-toxic polyhydric alcohol to form a reaction product, and separating said reaction product from the pulp residue.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said harmful gas is formaldehyde.

6. A method for removing particulate matter, odors, and harmful gases from indoor air which comprises passing particulate matter, odors, harmful gases and air through an air filter comprising:

(a) a structure for holding a filter element; and

(b) a filter element consisting essentially of;

(1) a first layer comprising silica gel containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said silica gel and said liquid; and

(2) a second layer, said second layer being adjacent to said first layer and comprising a combination of zeolite and activated carbon, said zeolite and activated carbon containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said zeolite, activated carbon and liquid;

said first and second layers being positioned between two layers containing material for removing particulate matter from the air, and said liquid of said first and second layers comprising;

(a) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(b) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to about 99.5% by weight of the liquid, and

(c) optionally, at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said harmful gas is formaldehyde.

8. A method for removing particulate matter, odors, and harmful gases from indoor air which comprises passing particulate matter, odors, harmful gases and air through an air filter comprising:

(a) a structure for holding a filter element; and

(b) a filter element consisting essentially of;

(1) a first layer comprising plastic foam;

(2) a second layer adjacent said first layer comprising silica gel containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid comprising

(i) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(ii) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to about 99.5% by weight of the liquid,

(iii) at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid, and

(iv) a naringen-iron chelate produced from the reaction of naringen in an amount from about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of the liquid with ferric chloride hydrate in an amount from about 0.01 to 0.10% by weight of the liquid, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said silica gel and said liquid;

(3) a third layer adjacent said second layer comprising a combination of zeolite and activated carbon, said zeolite and activated carbon containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid comprising

(i) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(ii) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount about 83 to 99.5% by weight of the liquid,

(iii) at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid, and

(iv) a naringen-iron chelate produced from the reaction of naringen in an amount from about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of the liquid with ferric chloride hydrate in any amount from about 0.01 to 0.10% by weight of the liquid, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said zeolite, activated carbon and liquid, and

(4) a fourth layer adjacent said third layer comprising plastic foam.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said harmful gas is formaldehyde.

10. A method for removing particulate matter, odors, and harmful gases from indoor air which comprises passing particulate matter, odors, harmful gases and air through an air filter comprising:

(a) a structure for holding a filter element; and

(b) a filter element consisting essentially of;

(1) first and third layers comprising plastic foam, and

(2) a second layer between said first and third layers comprising a combination of silica gel, zeolite and activated carbon, said silica gel, zeolite and activated carbon containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said silica gel, zeolite, activated carbon and liquid, said liquid comprising;

(i) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservation composition in an amount from 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(ii) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to 99.5% by weight of the liquid, and

(iii) at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said harmful gas is formaldehyde.

12. An air treatment filter element consisting essentially of an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of zeolite, activated carbon and a combination thereof, said adsorbent material containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid comprising:

(a) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(b) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to 99.5% by weight of the liquid, and

(c) at least one additional compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said additional compound being present in an amount from about 0 to 15% by weight of the liquid, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said adsorbent and said liquid.

13. The filter element of claim 12 wherein said zeolite is zeolite X.

14. The filter element of claim 13 wherein said fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) captan,

(b) quaternary ammonium cosmetic preservatives,

(c) parabens, and

(d) iodophors.

15. The filter element of claim 14 wherein said polyhydric alcohol is propylene glycol.

16. The filter element of claim 15 wherein said liquid further includes a naringen-iron chelate produced from the reaction of naringen in an amount from about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of the liquid with an iron salt in an amount from about 0.01 to 0.10% by weight of the liquid.

17. The filter element of claim 16 wherein said iron salt is ferric chloride hydrate.

18. The filter element of claim 17 wherein said polyhydric alcohol is a combination of propylene glycol, glycerin and tripropylene glycol and further wherein said additional compound is water.

19. The filter element of claim 18, wherein said fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition is present in an amount of about 1% by weight of said liquid.

20. The filter element of claim 19 further containing a separate layer comprising activated carbon and silica gel, said activated carbon containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, wherein said liquid contains an oxidizing agent, said oxidizing agent being compatible with said liquid.

21. The filter element of claim 12, wherein said adsorbent material is activated carbon or a combination of zeolite and activated carbon, wherein said filter element further includes silica gel and wherein said liquid contains an oxidizing agent, said oxidizing agent being compatible with said liquid.

22. An air treatment filter element consisting essentially of an adsorbent material selected from the group consisting of zeolite, activated carbon and a combination thereof, said adsorbent material containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid comprising the product obtained by contacting grapefruit pulp with a non-toxic polyhydric alcohol to form a reaction product, and separating said reaction product from the pulp residue, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said adsorbent and said liquid.

23. The filter element of claim 22 wherein said adsorbent material further includes silica gel, said silica gel containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms.

24. The filter element of claim 23, wherein said adsorbent material is distributed in at least two adjacent layers.

25. The filter element of claim 24, wherein one of said layers of said adsorbent material contains zeolite and another of said layers of said adsorbent material contains activated carbon.

26. The filter element of claim 24, wherein at least one of said layers of adsorbent material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of zeolite, activated carbon, silica gel and a combination thereof.

27. An air treatment filter comprising:

(a) a structure for holding a filter element; and

(b) a filter element consisting essentially of;

(1) a first layer comprising silica gel containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said silica gel and said liquid; and

(2 ) a second layer, said second layer being adjacent to said first layer and comprising a combination of zeolite and activated carbon, said zeolite and activated carbon containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said zeolite, activated carbon and liquid;

said first and second layers being positioned between two layers containing material for removing particulate matter from the air, and said liquid of said first and second layers comprising;

(a) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(b) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to about 99.5% by weight of the liquid, and

(c) optionally, at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid.

28. The air treatment filter of claim 27, wherein said two layers containing material for removing particulate matter comprise plastic foam.

29. The filter of claim 28, wherein said fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in said first layer and said second layer is captan, said captan being present in an amount of 1% by weight of the liquid, wherein said polyhydric alcohol in said first layer and said second layer is a combination of propylene glycol, said propylene glycol being present in an amount from about 74 to 89% by weight of the liquid, and glycerin, said glycerin being present in an amount from about 5 to 10% by weight of the liquid, wherein said additional compound in said first layer and said second layer is water, said water being present in an amount from about 5 to 15% by weight of the liquid, wherein said liquid in said first layer is present in an amount of about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said liquid and said silica gel, and wherein said liquid in said second layer is present in an amount of about 30% by weight of the combined weight of said said liquid, zeolite and activated carbon.

30. The filter of claim 29, wherein said plastic foam is polyurethane containing 20 pores per inch.

31. The air treatment filter of claim 30 wherein said zeolite is zeolite X.

32. An air treatment filter comprising:

(a) a structure for holding a filter element; and

(b) a filter element consisting essentially of;

(1) a first layer comprising plastic foam;

(2) a second layer adjacent said first layer comprising silica gel containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid comprising

(i) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(ii) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to about 99.5% by weight of the liquid,

(iii) at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid, and

(iv) a naringen-iron chelate produced from the reaction of naringen in an amount from about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of the liquid with ferric chloride hydrate in an amount from about 0.01 to 0.10% by weight of the liquid, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said silica gel and said liquid;

(3) a third layer adjacent said second layer comprising a combination of zeolite and activated carbon, said zeolite and activated carbon containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid comprising

(i) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in an amount from about 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(ii) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount about 83 to 99.5% by weight of the liquid,

(iii) at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid, and

(iv) a naringen-iron chelate produced from the reaction of naringen in an amount from about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of the liquid with ferric chloride hydrate in any amount from about 0.01 to 0.10% by weight of the liquid, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said zeolite, activated carbon and liquid, and

(4) a fourth layer adjacent said third layer comprising plastic foam.

33. The filter of claim 32, wherein said plastic foam is polyurethane, wherein said fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition in said second layer and said third layer is captan, said captan being present in an amount of about 1% by weight of said liquid, wherein said polyhydric alcohol in said second layer and said third layer is a combination of propylene glycol, said propylene glycol being present in an amount of about 80.5% by weight of said liquid, and glycerin, said glycerin being present in an amount of about 8.5% by weight of said liquid, wherein said at least one additional compound in said second layer and said third layer is water, said water being present in an amount of about 10% by weight of said liquid, wherein said naringin-iron chelate is produced from the reaction of naringin in an amount of 0.175% by weight of the liquid with ferric chloride hydrate in an amount of 0.05% by weight of the liquid, and further wherein said liquid in said second layer is present in an amount of about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said liquid and said silica gel and wherein said liquid in said third layer is present in an amount of about 30% by weight of the combined weight of said liquid, zeolite and activated carbon.

34. The filter of claim 33 wherein said polyurethane contains 20 pores per inch.

35. The air treatment filter of claim 34 wherein said zeolite is zeolite X.

36. The air treatment filter of claim 35 wherein said structure is plastic.

37. An air treatment filter comprising:

(a) a structure for holding a filter element; and

(b) a filter element consisting essentially of;

(1) first and third layers comprising plastic foam, and

(2) a second layer between said first and third layers comprising a combination of silica gel, zeolite and activated carbon, said silica gel, zeolite and activated carbon containing a liquid for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, said liquid being present in an amount from about 5 to about 50% by weight of the combined weight of said silica gel, zeolite, activated carbon and liquid, said liquid comprising;

(i) a fungicide/bacteriocide preservation composition in an amount from 0.5 to 2% by weight of the liquid,

(ii) at least one polyhydric alcohol, said polyhydric alcohol being present in an amount from about 83 to 99.5% by weight of the liquid, and

(iii) at least one compound for modifying the vapor pressure of said polyhydric alcohol, said compound being present in an amount of less than about 15% by weight of the liquid.

38. The air treatment filter of claim 37 wherein said fungicide/bacteriocide preservative composition is captan, said captan being present in an amount of 1% by weight of said liquid, wherein said polyhydric alcohol is a combination of propylene glycol, said propylene glycol being present in amount of about 80.5% by weight of said liquid, and glycerin, said glycerin being present in amount of about 8.5% by weight of said liquid, wherein said additional compound is water, said water being present in amount of about 10% by weight of said liquid, and said liquid being present in amount of about 30% by weight of the combined weight of said silica gel, zeolite, activated carbon and liquid.

39. The filter of claim 38 wherein said foam is polyurethane containing 20 pores per inch.

40. The air treatment filter of claim 39, wherein said zeolite is zeolite X.