Food-handling facility disinfection treatment

• US 9,616,144 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DD Sterozone LLC
• Original Assignee: Medizone International Inc.
• Inventors: Shannon, Michael Edward, Zoutman, Dick Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Sean E
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPAMER, DONALD R
• Application Number:
  US13/821,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20130164385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2022 Poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 13/00 Fumigators; Apparatus for distributing gases poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide A01M1/2022
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/13 Biocide decomposition means, e.g. catalysts, sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/211 Use of hydrogen peroxide, liquid and vaporous
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/212 Use of ozone, e.g. generated by UV radiation or electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005

Abstract

Food handling facilities such as meat packing, plants, dairies, kitchens and the like are disinfected using a disinfecting atmosphere which includes ozone and hydrogen peroxide, at a relative humidity of at least 60%.

Claims

1. A process of combating human-harmful, food poisoning-causing bacteria and spores thereof in an enclosed space and on surfaces within the space, consisting of:

exposing the bacteria in the space and on surfaces therein to a disinfecting atmosphere which includes ozone at an amount of 2-350 ppm by weight and hydrogen peroxide at an amount of 0.5-10 wt. %, at a relative humidity of at least 60%, and for a period of at least 30 minutes sufficient for an effective kill of the bacteria and spores;

wherein the amount of hydrogen peroxide is derived from a supply solution of 0.2%-10% hydrogen peroxide; and

subsequently removing ozone from the atmosphere, down to 0.04 ppm or less.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the amount ozone in the disinfecting atmosphere is from 10-350 ppm.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the amount ozone in the disinfecting atmosphere is from 20-200 ppm.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the amount ozone in the disinfecting atmosphere is from 20-100 ppm.

5. The process of claim 2 wherein the amount ozone in the disinfecting atmosphere is from 35-100 ppm.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen peroxide amount in the disinfecting atmosphere is from 0.5-7%.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the hydrogen peroxide amount in the disinfecting atmosphere is from 1-5%.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the period of exposure is from about 30 minutes to about 120 minutes.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein the period of exposure is from about 60 minutes to about 105 minutes.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein exposing the bacteria in the space occurs while subjecting porous and fibrous surfaces within the space to physical agitation while exposed to the disinfecting atmosphere.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein the physical agitation is conducted with application of bristles.

12. The process of claim 10 wherein the physical agitation is conducted with application of air pressure jets.

13. The process of claim 10 wherein the physical agitation is conducted with application of ultrasonic energy, radio frequency energy or electromagnetic waves, capable of causing physical disruption.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein biofilm carrying surfaces are exposed to a localized stream of the disinfecting atmosphere.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein the localized stream is provided at a pressure of from 14.7 to 100 psi.

16. The process of claim 1, wherein the bacteria is a Listeria species.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the Listeria species is Listeria monocytogenes.

18. The process of claim 1, wherein the bacteria is a Salmonella species.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the Salmonella species is either Salmonella typhimurium or Salmonella typhi.