Air purification method

• US 5,756,047 A
• Filed: 12/14/1995
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Chemical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Wickham, Richard E., West, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US08/572,328
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 422/37, 422/123, 422/124, 422/125, 422/178, 55/222, 55/233, 55/257.2, 55/242, 95/212, 95/224, 95/225, 261/DIG. 46
• US Class Current: 422/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/16 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/00 Reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/60 Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D46/00 and B01D47/00

Abstract

Scrubber sterilization method which initially sterilize a gas scrubber with an initial cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, provide an iodine level of approximately 5 to 10 mg/liter in water which is sprayed into the scrubber to contact the effluent gas stream and kill biological growth, provide injection of more concentrated iodine in water in the event the iodine level in the system falls below a predetermined level, and load the filtrate material in the gas scrubber with iodine to provide an unfavorable surface for adherence of biological growth as well as a secondary sterilization means in the event that the liquid stream with iodine is stopped due to equipment or power failure.

Claims

1. A method for air purification comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an air purification system including an air intake vent, a first heat exchanger, a filtrate section having filtrate material and means for wetting the filtrate material, a mist eliminator, a second heat exchanger, and an air output vent, whereby a flow of air to be purified enters the air purification system through the air intake vent, flows past the first heat exchanger, flows through the filtrate section, flows through the mist eliminator, flows past the second heat exchanger, and exits through the air output vent; and

(b) during operation of the air purification system, wetting the filtrate material with water containing iodine at a frequency, duration and iodine concentration sufficient to purify the air and to control biological growth on the filtrate material, wherein the water containing iodine is provided to the means for wetting the filtrate material of the air purification system from an iodination system in which iodine is added to water by flow of a stream of water through a cartridge containing elemental iodine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the iodine concentration is in the range of 0.5 to 10 mg of iodine per liter of water.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of pre-treating the filtrate material with an aqueous iodine solution having a higher concentration of iodine than the solution of iodine in water used to wet the filtrate material.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the iodine concentration in the filtrate wetting solution is in the range of 0.5 to 10 mg of iodine per liter of water.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the iodine concentration in the pre-treatment solution is in the range of 100 to 300 mg of iodine per liter of water.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the iodine concentration in the pre-treatment solution is in the range of 100 to 300 mg of iodine per liter of water.

7. A method for air purification comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an air purification system including an air intake vent, a first heat exchanger, a filtrate section having filtrate material and means for wetting the filtrate material, a mist eliminator, a second heat exchanger, and an air output vent, whereby a flow of air to be purified enters the air purification system through the air intake vent, flows past the first heat exchanger, flows through the filtrate section, flows through the mist eliminator, flows past the second heat exchanger, and exits through the air output vent;

(b) pre-treating the filtrate material with an aqueous iodine solution; and

(c) wetting the filtrate material with water containing iodine at a frequency, duration, and iodine concentration sufficient to purify the air and to control biological growth on the filtrate material, wherein the water containing iodine is provided to the means for wetting the filtrate material of the air purification system from an iodination system in which iodine is added to water by flow of a stream of water through a cartridge containing elemental iodine, and wherein the pre-treating iodine solution has a nigher concentration of iodine than the solution of iodine in the water used to wet the filtrate material.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the iodine concentration in the filtrate wetting solution is in the range of 0.5 to 10 mg of iodine per liter of water.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the iodine concentration in the pre-treatment solution is in the range of 100 to 300 mg of iodine per liter of water.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the iodine concentration in the pre-treatment solution is in the range of 100 to 300 mg of iodine per liter of water.