Patent ID: 8366961
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: A61L,C11D

Abstract:
1. A method of generating a halogen-containing biocidal intermediate for use in the sterilization and disinfection of objects, said method comprising: providing a liquid solvent comprising an aqueous solution, such as water or water solutions, having the capacity to function as a source of steam, said liquid solvent being in a range of between about 0.22 mole and about 33.3 moles; combining with the liquid solvent a chemical oxidant being in a range of between about 0.003 mole and about 2.1 moles and having the capacity to liberate the halogen-containing biocidal intermediate; combining with the liquid solvent a chemical reductant being in a range of between about 0.003 mole and about 1.0 mole and having the capacity to reduce said chemical oxidant; and combining with the liquid solvent an electron transfer effector compound being in a range of between about 0.0012 mole and about 0.25 mole and having a capacity to induce electron-transfer reaction chemistry between said chemical oxidant and said chemical reductant and to cause said chemical oxidant to liberate the halogen-containing biocidal intermediate, said effector being an ionic conjugate base form of an organic acid parent compound, with the proviso that said effector excludes the acid form of the parent compound, such that the effector does not contribute protons and does not allow reaction to proceed through acidification; wherein the effector initiates a reduction of the oxidant by a transfer of an electron from the oxidant to the effector for causing a release of heat, a decrease in solution pH, and a release of the halogen-containing biocidal intermediate in heated gaseous and aqueous forms, said reaction between the effector and oxidant inducing chemical reaction between the oxidant and reductant for producing heat and increasing solution pH for generating heated halogen-containing biocidal intermediate, with the proviso that said combination excludes an acid for lowering solution pH from near-neutral pH for affecting said objects to expose any contaminating microorganisms to said halogen-containing biocidal intermediate and sterilizing said objects; and wherein said electron-transfer reaction is exothermic and generates heat, said heat sufficient for converting said aqueous solution to steam for further sterilizing said objects.