Method for controlling bacterial growth in process water

• US 8,105,494 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johns Manville Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Johns Manville Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miks, Michael William
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam X
• Assistant Examiner(s): STELLING, LUCAS A
• Application Number:
  US12/836,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 2107481-74815, 210/754, 210/758, 210/760, 210/764, 210/765, 210/756, 427/389.8
• US Class Current: 210/748.11
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• 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 1/766 by means of halogens other than chlorine or of halogenated compounds containing halogen other than chlorine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for reducing or preventing the growth of organisms in the process water used to coat glass fibers with a formaldehyde-free binder composition. One or more biocides is added to the process water that mitigates the growth of microbes in the water. The biocides are added in an amount sufficient to minimize growth of organisms without adversely affecting the application of the binder composition to the glass fibers.

Claims

1. A method for controlling bacterial growth in process water used to form acrylic coated fibers comprising adding an effective amount of at least one biocide to the process water stream

wherein the effective amount of at least one biocide is added to a slip stream taken off of the process water stream;

and,

wherein at least one biocide is added in the form of a gas.

2. The method of claim 1 in which any biocides added to the process water are non-corrosive substances.

3. The method of claim 1 in which at least one biocide added to the process is a halogen-containing compound.

4. The method of claim 1 in which a biocide is sodium bromide.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising activating the sodium bromide by adding a chlorinated compound to the sodium bromide stream.

6. The method of claim 1 in which a biocide is sodium hypochlorite.

7. The method of claim 1 in which a biocide or biocides are added in the form of a powder.

8. The method of claim 1 in which a biocide or biocides are added in the form of solid pellets.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the biocide or biocides in the form of solid pellets are added at a rate of between about 20 and 25 kilograms per day.

10. The method of claim 1 in which a biocide or biocides are added in liquid form.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the biocide or biocides in liquid form are added at a rate between about 40 and 130 liters per week.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the gas is chlorine or ozone.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adding an effective amount of at least one penetrant to the process water.

14. The method of claim 13 in which a penetrant is glutaraldehyde.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of exposing the process water to radiation.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the radiation is ultraviolet light.