Electrolytic degradation systems and methods usable in industrial applications
First Claim
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1. A method of selectively degrading hydrogen peroxide in an antimicrobial composition, comprising:
- (a) providing an antimicrobial composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, carboxylic acid, and peracid;
(b) providing a split cell comprising a first loop comprising an anode in fluid communication with the antimicrobial composition, and a second loop comprising a cathode in fluid communication with a reducing solution, the first loop and the second loop being in electrical communication with one another using a salt bridge; and
(c) providing an electric potential from a power supply thereby causing the reducing solution to accept electrons from the antimicrobial composition in order to selectively remove hydrogen peroxide from the antimicrobial composition by degradation.
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to the use of a split and single electrical cells in industrial applications, and particularly in aseptic packaging applications.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of selectively degrading hydrogen peroxide in an antimicrobial composition, comprising:
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(a) providing an antimicrobial composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, carboxylic acid, and peracid; (b) providing a split cell comprising a first loop comprising an anode in fluid communication with the antimicrobial composition, and a second loop comprising a cathode in fluid communication with a reducing solution, the first loop and the second loop being in electrical communication with one another using a salt bridge; and (c) providing an electric potential from a power supply thereby causing the reducing solution to accept electrons from the antimicrobial composition in order to selectively remove hydrogen peroxide from the antimicrobial composition by degradation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for maintaining predetermined amounts of hydrogen peroxide, carboxylic acid, and peracid in an antimicrobial composition, comprising:
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a split cell comprising a first loop and a second loop that are in electrical communication with one another using a salt bridge, wherein the first loop contains an anode and the second loop contains a cathode; a power supply that transmits an electric potential between the first loop and the second loop; and a sump, wherein the first loop contains an antimicrobial composition, the antimicrobial solution containing predetermined amounts of hydrogen peroxide, carboxylic acid and peracid; wherein the first loop and the antimicrobial composition are in fluid communication with the sump; and wherein the second loop contains a reducing solution, the reducing solution being capable of accepting electrons from the antimicrobial solution and capable of transmitting electrical current through the salt bridge into the first loop. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An aseptic packaging system, comprising:
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a sump; a sterilizing area; a first line that transfers an antimicrobial composition from the sump to the sterilizing area, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises predetermined amounts of desired components; a second line that transfers the antimicrobial composition from the sterilizing area back to the sump or to a drain; a split cell integrated into the sump, the first line, or the second line, wherein the split cell comprises a first loop comprising an anode in fluid communication with the antimicrobial composition, and a second loop comprising a cathode in fluid communication with a reducing solution, the first loop and the second loop being in electrical communication with one another using a salt bridge, and wherein the split cell maintains the predetermined amounts of desired components in the antimicrobial composition; a third line that transfers a rinse to the sterilizing area; a fourth line that transfers used rinse away from the sterilizing area; and a single cell integrated into the fourth line, wherein the single cell degrades predetermined amounts of desired components in the used rinse. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of disinfecting packages through an aseptic or extended shelf life filling system comprising:
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(a) forming an antimicrobial composition in a sump, the antimicrobial composition comprising; (i) hydrogen peroxide; (ii) carboxylic acid; and (iii) peracid; (b) transporting the antimicrobial composition from the sump to a sterilizing area using an aseptic line; (c) applying the composition to a surface of a food package in the sterilizing area on a packaging line in an amount sufficient to render a final food product located in the food package suitable for distribution and sale under non-refrigerated storage conditions; (d) integrating a split cell into the packaging line, the split cell comprising a first loop comprising an anode in fluid communication with the antimicrobial composition, and a second loop comprising a cathode in fluid communication with a reducing solution, the first loop and the second loop being in electrical communication with one another using a salt bridge; and (e) using the split cell to maintain predetermined amounts of hydrogen peroxide, carboxylic acid, and peracid in the antimicrobial composition (f) transporting the antimicrobial composition from the sterilizing area back to the sump through a second line. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification