Mixtures for producing chlorine dioxide gas in enclosures and methods of making the same

• US 9,382,116 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICA TriNova, LLC
• Original Assignee: ICA TriNova, LLC
• Inventors: Isaac, Thomas L., Tenney, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDONOUGH, JAMES E
• Application Number:
  US14/152,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20140193522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 423/477, 423/462, 423/478
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/12 Powders or granules A01N25/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 11/022 Chlorine dioxide (ClO2)
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 11/023 Preparation from chlorites or chlorates
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 11/024 from chlorites

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a mixture for producing chlorine dioxide gas provided in an enclosure comprising an impregnate comprising a chlorine dioxide precursor impregnated in a porous carrier and a proton-generating species, wherein the impregnate and proton-generating species are intermixed to produce a stable mixture and the mixture is provided in an enclosure. The present disclosure also relates to methods for producing chlorine dioxide gas.

Claims

1. A mixture for producing chlorine dioxide gas provided in an enclosure, comprising:

an impregnate comprising a chlorine dioxide precursor impregnated in a porous carrier; and

a proton-generating species;

wherein the impregnate and the proton-generating species are intermixed to produce a mixture and the mixture is provided in an enclosure;

wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide produced in 24 hours when the enclosure is opened after 27 days of storage is 90% or greater of the amount of chlorine dioxide produced in 24 hours when the enclosure is opened after 0 days of storage; and

wherein the enclosure is a humidity-activated sachet and the mixture is enclosed within a membrane.

18. The mixture according to claim 1, wherein the impregnate is dried to 5% water or less.

19. The mixture according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure does not include a water-retaining substance.

24. A method of limiting the production of bio-organisms in a food package, comprising providing the mixture in an enclosure according to claim 1, and wherein the food package includes a fruit, a vegetable, or a mixture thereof.

2. A mixture for producing chlorine dioxide gas provided in an enclosure, comprising:

an impregnate comprising a chlorine dioxide precursor impregnated in a porous carrier; and

a proton-generating species;

wherein the impregnate and the proton-generating species are intermixed to produce a mixture and the mixture is provided in an enclosure;

wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide produced in 24 hours when the enclosure is opened and exposed to a temperature of 70°

F. and a relative humidity of 50% is 90% or greater of the amount of chlorine dioxide produced in 24 hours when the enclosure is opened and exposed to a temperature of 70°

F. and a relative humidity of 99%, and

wherein the enclosure is a humidity-activated sachet and the mixture is enclosed within a membrane.

3. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the porous carrier is zeolite, diatomaceous earth, silica, alumina, porous polymer, clay, or a mixture thereof.

4. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein said impregnate is treated with a base.

5. The mixture according to claim 4, wherein said base is potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, or a blend thereof.

6. The mixture according to claim 2, further comprising a water-retaining substance selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and mixtures thereof.

7. The mixture according to claim 6, wherein the water-retaining substance is impregnated in a porous carrier.

8. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the chlorine dioxide precursor is selected from the group consisting of metal chlorites, metal chlorates, chloric acid, hypochlorous acid, and mixtures thereof.

9. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the proton-generating species is an inorganic acid, an organic acid, or a salt or mixture thereof.

10. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the proton-generating species comprises a metal salt selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, CaCl₂, ZnSO₄, ZnCl₂, CoSO₄, CoCl₂, MnSO₄,MnCl₂, CuSO₄, CuCl₂, MgSO₄, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, and mixtures thereof.

11. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the proton-generating species is in the form of a powder or crystals.

12. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the proton-generating species is impregnated in a porous carrier, and wherein porous carrier is zeolite, diatomaceous earth, silica, alumina, porous polymer, clay, or a mixture thereof.

13. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the proton-generating species is provided in excess of the stoichiometric amount.

14. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the impregnate comprises sodium chlorite.

17. A method of limiting the production of bio-organisms in a food package, comprising providing the mixture in an enclosure according to claim 2, and wherein the food package includes a fruit, a vegetable, or a mixture thereof.

20. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the impregnate is dried to 5% water or less.

21. The mixture according to claim 2, wherein the enclosure does not include a water-retaining substance.

15. A mixture for producing chlorine dioxide gas provided in an enclosure, comprising:

an impregnate comprising a chlorine dioxide precursor impregnated in a porous carrier; and

a proton-generating species;

wherein the impregnate and the proton-generating species are intermixed to produce a mixture and the mixture is provided in an enclosure;

wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide produced in 24 hours when the enclosure is opened and exposed to a temperature of 70°

F. and a relative humidity of 35% is 85% or greater of the amount of chlorine dioxide produced in 24 hours when the enclosure is opened and exposed to a temperature of 70°

F. and a relative humidity of 99%; and

wherein the enclosure is a humidity-activated sachet and the mixture is enclosed within a membrane.

16. The mixture according to claim 15, wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide produced in 24 hours when the enclosure is opened and exposed to a temperature of 70°

F. and a relative humidity of 35% is 90% or greater of the amount of chlorine dioxide produced in 24 hours when the enclosure is opened and exposed to a temperature of 70°

F. and a relative humidity of 99%.

22. The mixture according to claim 15, wherein the impregnate is dried to 5% water or less.

23. The mixture according to claim 15, wherein the enclosure does not include a water-retaining substance.

25. A method of limiting the production of bio-organisms in a food package, comprising providing the mixture in an enclosure according to claim 15, and wherein the food package includes a fruit, a vegetable, or a mixture thereof.