Beverage manufacture, processing, packaging and dispensing using electrochemically activated water

• US 8,506,724 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radical Waters International Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Radical Waters International Ltd.
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Robin Duncan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudhry, Saeed T
• Application Number:
  US13/465,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20120222701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 134/22.1, 134/22.17, 134/25, 134/26, 134/29, 134/423, 204/253, 204/265, 204/267
• US Class Current: 134/26
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/50 by irradiation or electric treatment without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/08 Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/20 by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought washing or rinsing crockery or tableware A47L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46185 only anodic or acidic water, e.g. for oxidizing or sterilizing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46195 characterised by the oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46145 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46185 Recycling the cathodic or anodic feed
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/04 Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/16 Regeneration of sorbents, filters
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/20 Prevention of biofouling

Abstract

A system using electrochemically-activated water (ECAW) for manufacturing, processing, packaging, and dispensing beverages including: (a) using ECAW to neutralize incompatible residues when transitioning from the production of one beverage to another; (b) using ECAW to rehabilitate and disinfect granular activated charcoal beds used in the feed water purification system; (c) producing a carbonated ECAW product and using the carbonated ECAW for system cleaning or disinfecting; (d) using ECAW solutions in the beverage facility clean-in-place system to achieve improved microbial control while greatly reducing water usage and reducing or eliminating the use of chemical detergents and disinfectants; (e) further reducing biofilm growth in the processing system, and purifying ingredient water without the use of chlorine, by adding an ECAW anolyte to the water ingredient feed stream; and/or (f) washing the beverage product bottles or other packages with one or more ECAW solutions prior to packaging.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning or disinfecting at least a portion of a food processing system comprising the step of treating said portion of said food processing system with a carbonated solution comprising an electrochemically-activated water solution having an effective amount of CO₂ dissolved therein to produce a positive mV change in an oxidation-reduction potential of said electrochemically-activated water solution.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemically-activated water solution comprises an anolyte solution.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said electrochemically-activated water solution is said anolyte solution in undiluted form.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said electrochemically-activated water solution is an aqueous dilution of said anolyte solution.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrochemically-activated water solution comprises a catholyte solution.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said food processing system is a beverage processing system.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said portion of said food processing system is a beverage ingredient mixing line.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said portion of said food processing system is a piece of beverage mixing equipment.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said portion of said food processing system is a filling line for filling product bottles or for filling other product packages.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said portion of said food processing system is a piece of equipment for filling product bottles or for filling other product packages.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said food processing system is a water purification line.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said food processing system is a piece of water purification equipment.