Antimicrobial filter cartridge

• US 6,171,496 B1
• Filed: 02/09/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microban Products Company (W.M. Barr & Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microban Products Company (W.M. Barr & Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patil, Arvind S.
• Primary Examiner(s): FORTUNA, ANA M
• Application Number:
  US09/246,509
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 210/500.23, 210/321.6, 210/321.78, 210/321.8, 210/321.79, 210/321.81, 210/321.9, 210/321.87, 210/321.88, 210/321.89, 210/636, 210/484, 210/488, 210/489, 264/48, 264/49, 264/162, 264/283, 428/198
• US Class Current: 210/484
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/10 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/34 Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/16 with two or more oxygen or sulfur atoms directly attached to the same aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/022 Filtration
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/16 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0442 Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal additives apparatus incorporating such gas filtering material B01D46/0028
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/0695 Wound layers apparatus incorporating such gas filtering material B01D2275/105
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2239/1216 Pore size
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/04 Specific process operations in the feed stream; Feed pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/12 Addition of chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/2626 Absorption or adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/2688 Biological processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/23 Specific membrane protectors, e.g. sleeves or screens
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/44 Cartridge types
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/90 Additional auxiliary systems integrated with the module or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2325/48 Antimicrobial properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/216 with wound sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/58 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/1607 the material being fibrous B01D39/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/2055 Carbonaceous material solid sorbent compositions comprising free carbon B01J20/20
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/2058 : the material being particulate
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/025 : Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/027 : Nanofiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/04 : Feed pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/10 : Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/145 : Ultrafiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/147 : Microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 : Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/024 : with a single potted end
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/0241 : being U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/06 : Tubular membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/10 : Spiral-wound membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/02 : characterised by their properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/10 : Supported membranes; Membrane supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/12 : Composite membranes; Ultra-thin membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/125 : In situ manufacturing by polymerisation, polycondensation, cross-linking or chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/141 : Heterogeneous membranes, e.g. containing dispersed material; Mixed matrix membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/1411 : containing dispersed material in a continuous matrix
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/16 : Cellulose acetate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 : using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 : using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/285 : using synthetic organic sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 : by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/50 : by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 : with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 : Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/06 : Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead

Abstract

An antimicrobial microfiltration filter is made from a bundle of polymeric semipermeable hollow fibers treated with an antimicrobial agent and a microporous filter medium which may also be treated with an antimicrobial agent.

Claims

1. An antimicrobial filter cartridge comprising:

a plurality of semi-permeable hollow fibers, said hollow fibers being open at one end and comprising a non-metallic antimicrobial agent, and

at least one layer of a microporous filter medium wrapped around said hollow fibers.

2. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said microporous filter medium is a melt blown polymer web formed from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, rayon, lyocell, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene and mixtures thereof.

3. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said microporous filter medium is a yarn wound about said hollow fibers.

4. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 3 wherein said yarn is made from cotton or a polymer selected from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, rayon, lyocell, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene and mixtures thereof.

5. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 2 wherein said melt blown polymer web further comprises an antimicrobial agent incorporated therein.

6. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 3 wherein said yarn is wound in a spiral winding in such manner that each winding turn of said yarn contacts its adjacent turns.

7. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 3 wherein said yarn is wound in a criss-cross pattern.

8. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 3 wherein said yarn further comprises an antimicrobial agent.

9. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of 2,4,4-trichloro-2-hydroxy diphenol ether and 5-chloro-2-phenol (2,4 dichlorophenoxy) compounds.

10. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said hollow fibers have a nominal pore size of from about 0.01 micron to about 1.0 micron.

11. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said hollow fibers have a nominal pore size of from about 0.1 micron to about 0.75 micron.

12. An antimicrobial filter cartridge comprising,

activated carbon and

a plurality of semi-permeable hollow fibers in close proximity to said activated carbon, said hollow fibers being open at one end and comprising a non-metallic antimicrobial agent;

and

at least one layer of a microporous filter medium wrapped around said plurality of hollow fibers.

13. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 12, wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of 2,4,4-trichloro-2-hydroxy diphenol ether and 5-chloro-2-phenol(2,4 dichlorophenoxy) compounds.

14. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 12 wherein said activated carbon is treated with an antimicrobial agent.

15. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 12 wherein said microporous filter medium is a melt blown polymer web formed from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, rayon, lyocell, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene and mixtures thereof.

16. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 12 wherein said microporous filter medium is a yarn wound about said hollow fibers.

17. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 16 wherein said yarn is made from cotton or a polymer selected from the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, rayon, lyocell, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene and mixtures thereof.

18. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 15 wherein said melt blown polymer web further comprises an antimicrobial agent.

19. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 16 wherein said yarn is wound in a spiral winding such that each winding turn of said yarn contacts its adjacent turns.

20. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 16 wherein said yarn is wound in a criss-cross pattern.

21. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 16 wherein said yarn further comprises an antimicrobial agent.

22. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 12 wherein said hollow fibers have a nominal pore size of from about 0.01 micron to about 1.0 micron.

23. The antimicrobial filter cartridge of claim 12 wherein said hollow fibers have a nominal pore size of from about 0.1 micron to about 0.75 micron.

24. A semi-permeable hollow fiber filter system comprising a plurality of polymer fibers surrounded by a microporous filter medium, and enclosed within a housing, said polymer fibers being generally cylindrical and having an outer wall and an inner wall thereby defining an annular space within each of said polymer fibers, said annular space being in fluid communication with the outside of the housing, said polymer fibers further comprising a non-leaching non-metallic antimicrobial agent disbursed throughout said polymer fiber.