Chemical combination for generation of disinfectant and heat

• US 7,883,640 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Kustin, Kenneth, Doona, Christopher, Taub, Irwin A., Curtin, Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Eashoo; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): GODENSCHWAGER, PETER F
• Application Number:
  US10/988,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,281 Days
• Field of Search: 252/187.1, 252/187.23, 126/263.01, 126/263.05
• US Class Current: 252/187.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0042 Reducing agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/046 Salts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/1206 free metals, e.g. aluminium grit or flakes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2086 Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3956 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

This invention comprises a lightweight, portable chemical combination of reagents for sterilizing or disinfecting objects in the absence of electrical power or fire. The chemical combination includes a chemical oxidant with the capacity to liberate a biocidal intermediate, a chemical reductant of the oxidant with the capacity to react with the oxidant, and an effector to induce a reaction between the oxidant and reductant. In one embodiment, the oxidant comprises chlorite, the reductant comprises sulfite, and the effector comprises ascorbate. In another embodiment, the chemical combination comprises the oxidant, reductant, effector and iron-activated magnesium. When water or water solutions are added to either embodiment, the chemical combination generates heat, steam and a biocidal intermediate that can destroy contaminating microorganisms. In one embodiment, the biocidal intermediate is a halogen-based biocidal intermediate, such as chlorine dioxide. In another embodiment, the biocidal intermediate is a halogen-free biocidal intermediate.

Claims

1. A chemical combination of constituents, for reacting to generate a biocidal intermediate, for use in the sterilization and disinfection of objects, said constituents comprising;

a liquid solvent comprising an aqueous solution, such as water or water solutions, having the capacity to function as a source of humidity or steam;

a chemical oxidant, comprising chlorite, having the capacity to liberate a biocidal intermediate;

a chemical reductant, comprising sulfite, having the capacity to reduce said chemical oxidant; and

an effector compound, said effector compound comprising ascorbate, in less than a stoichiometric amount than the oxidant and in less than a stoichiometric amount than the reductant, having an electron transferring capacity for inducing electron transfer reaction chemistry between said chemical oxidant to liberate the biocidal intermediate and said chemical reductant to cause said chemical oxidant to liberate the biocidal intermediate, said biocidal intermediate being chlorine dioxide, said effector inducing electron transfer reaction chemistry for generating the biocidal intermediate by oxidation-reduction reaction in the solution and excluding an addition of a quantity of acid for excluding acidification;

wherein upon said combination of the constituents, the ascorbate initiates a reduction of chlorite by a transfer of an electron from chlorite to ascorbate for causing a release of heat, a decrease in solution pH, and a release of chlorine dioxide in heated gaseous and aqueous forms, said reaction between ascorbate and chlorite inducing chemical reaction between oxidant chlorite and reductant sulfite for producing heat and increasing solution pH for generating heated chlorine dioxide with the proviso that said chemical combination excludes an acid for lowering solution pH from near-neutral pH for affecting said objects to expose any contaminating microorganisms to said chlorine dioxide and sterilizing said objects; and

wherein said electron-transfer reaction is exothermic and generates heat, said heat sufficient for converting said aqueous solution to steam for further sterilizing said objects.

2. The chemical combination according to claim 1 wherein said combination occurs in an enclosed container for producing and maintaining in the container an environment of disinfecting biocide gas and/or solution and an atmosphere of steam or high relative humidity and temperature for a period of time sufficient to destroy any contaminating microorganisms and/or chemicals present.

3. A chemical combination of constituents, for generating a biocidal intermediate, for use in disinfecting and sterilizing objects, said constituents comprising;

a liquid solvent comprising an aqueous solution such as water or water solutions having the capacity to function as a source of steam;

a chemical oxidant, comprising chlorite, having the capacity to liberate a biocidal intermediate;

a chemical reductant, comprising sulfite, having the capacity to reduce said chemical oxidant;

an electron-transfer effector compound, said effector compound comprising ascorbate, in less than a stoichiometric amount than the oxidant and in less than a stoichiometric amount than the reductant and having a capacity to induce an electron-transfer reaction between said chemical oxidant and said chemical reductant in order to cause said chemical oxidant to liberate a biocidal intermediate, said biocidal intermediate being chlorine dioxide; and

a metallic reductant, said metallic reductant being iron-activated magnesium, having-the capacity to reduce said liquid solvent;

said oxidant, chemical reductant, effector, and metallic reductant are mixed for forming a mixture in a single reactor vessel, and said mixture is combined with said aqueous solution for forming said combination, and

wherein upon said combination of the constituents, the effector initiates a reduction of the oxidant, by electron-transfer reaction chemistry, by a transfer of an electron from the oxidant to the effector for causing a release of heat, a decrease in solution pH, and a release of biocidal intermediate in heated gaseous and aqueous forms, said electron-transfer reaction between the effector and the oxidant inducing chemical reaction between the oxidant and reductant for producing heat and increasing solution pH for generating heated biocidal intermediate with the proviso that said chemical combination excludes an addition of acid for lowering solution pH below near-neutral pH for affecting said objects to expose any contaminating microorganisms to said intermediate and sterilizing said objects; and

wherein said electron-transfer reaction chemistry is exothermic and generates heat, said heat sufficient for converting said aqueous solution to steam for further sterilizing said objects.

4. The chemical combination according to claim 3 wherein said metallic reductant is configured in a form selected from a group consisting of powder, turnings, ribbons, or wires, said form for reacting upon contact with said liquid solvent having a high surface area.

5. The chemical combination according to claim 3 wherein said combination occurs in an enclosed container for producing and maintaining in the container an environment of disinfecting biocide gas and/or solution and an atmosphere of steam or high relative humidity and temperature for a period of time sufficient to destroy any contaminating microorganisms and/or chemicals present.