Abstract:
A method to prepare a self-decontaminating surface, where that method includes dissolving tartaric acid in water, adding titanium (IV) isopropoxide to the tartaric acid solution to form a coating composition in water, and casting that coating composition onto a surface to form a coating having anti-microbial function.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a Continuation-In-Part Application claiming priority to, and the benefit of, a Non-Provisional U.S. Application having Ser. No. 13/448,325, filed Apr. 16, 2012, which claims priority to a Provisional U.S. Application having Ser. No. 61/476,233, filed Apr. 15, 2011, and a Provisional U.S. Application having Ser. No. 61/489,630, filed May 24, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments generally relate a chemical composition and a method to form a self decontaminating surface. In certain embodiments, the chemical composition comprises a photocatalyst. In certain embodiments, the photocatalyst comprises a titanium oxide moiety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Titanium oxide (e.g., TiO 2 ) is a nontoxic substance widely used in paints, paper, plastics, and toothpaste. It is known in the art that an alkali hydroxide can be added to an aqueous titanium salt solution to produce an amorphous titanium peroxide sol. The titanium peroxide sol can be reacted with an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution to produce an amorphous titanium peroxide sol, which is then heated to high temperatures to obtain anatase titanium oxide. 
         [0004]    Current methods for preparing sheets, coatings, or films comprising titanium oxide require that the titanium oxide particles be sintered at high temperatures (e.g., 200 to 400 degrees Celsius) in order to firmly support the titanium oxide on a substrate. Using these prior art methods, a titanium oxide compound is deposited onto a substrate, and then baked at approximately 200-400 degrees Celsius to fixedly set the compound on the substrate. The requirement of such high temperatures to cure the titanium oxide limits its utility, such as use of titanium dioxide to create self-decontaminating surfaces by retailers or consumers. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, it would be an advance in the art to develop or use a new titanium oxide sheet, coating, or film deposition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an Atomic Force Microscope image at 50 microns showing a coating on a glass surface, where that coating was formed using Applicants&#39; composition and method; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an optical image using transmission geometry with 10× objective showing a coating on a glass surface, where that coating was formed using Applicants&#39; composition and method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    The invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0010]    The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are recited to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0011]    Titanium dioxide occurs in nature as well-known minerals rutile, anatase and brookite, and additionally as two high pressure forms, a monoclinic baddeleyite-like form and an orthorhombic α-PbO2-like form, both found recently at the Ries crater in Bavaria. The most common form is rutile, which is also the most stable form. Anatase and brookite both convert to rutile upon heating. Rutile, anatase and brookite all contain six coordinated titanium. 
         [0012]    Titanium dioxide has numerous modifications—in addition to rutile, anatase and brookite there are three metastable forms produced synthetically (monoclinic, tetragonal and orthorombic), and high pressure forms (α-PbO2-like, baddeleyite-like and cotunnite-like): 
         [0013]    Oxidation—loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a molecule, atom or ion. Substances that have the ability to oxidize other substances are said to be oxidative or oxidizing and are known as oxidizing agents, oxidants, or oxidizers. Put another way, the oxidant removes electrons from another substance, and is thus itself reduced. And, because it “accepts” electrons, it is also called an electron acceptor. 
         [0014]    In chemistry, photocatalysis is the acceleration of a photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst. In catalyzed photolysis, light is absorbed by an adsorbed substrate. In photogenerated catalysis, the photocatalytic activity (PCA) depends on the ability of the catalyst to create electron—hole pairs, which generate free radicals (hydroxyl radicals: .OH) able to undergo secondary reactions. Its comprehension has been made possible ever since the discovery of water electrolysis by means of the titanium dioxide. Commercial application of the process is called Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). There are several methods of achieving AOP&#39;s, that can but do not necessarily involve TiO 2  or even the use of UV light. Generally the defining factor is the production and use of the hydroxyl radical. 
         [0015]    When TiO 2  is illuminated with light of sufficient energy, electron-hole pairs are excited so that additional electrons go across the band gap to conduction band (“CB”), while holes stay in the valence band (“VB”). The excited electrons may then be used for redox reactions at the surface of TiO 2 . There are multiple phases of TiO 2 . For example, Rutile phase can be excited by visible light, but has a fast charge recombination rate; Anatase, on the other hand, has a slow recombination rate, but can only be excited by UV lights. Thus, it is reasonable to produce mixed phase photocatalyst to increase the total efficiency 
         [0016]    Certain titanium oxide crystalline morphologies exhibit photocatalytic characteristics when exposed to Ultra Violet (UV) light. When exposed to UV light, titanium oxide, creates electron-hole pairs which generate free radical (e.g., hydroxyl radicals). The degree of photocatalytic strength varies depending on the type of titanium oxide, for example anatase titanium oxide (particle size of about 5 to 30 nanometers) is a stronger photocatalyst than rutile titanium oxide (particle size of about 0.5 to 1 microns). Therefore, titanium oxide has potential use in sterilization, sanitation, and remediation applications. 
         [0017]    In certain embodiments, Applicants&#39; method and composition provide a titanium alkoxide starting material (RO) 4 Ti photocatalyst surface coating precursor. For example, in certain embodiments Applicants&#39; method forms a liquid coating composition using titanium tetraisopropoxide  1 . 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0018]    In certain embodiments, that liquid coating composition is cast onto a surface to form a coating comprising a linear polymeric structure  3  on the surface. 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0019]    In other embodiments, Applicants&#39; method forms a liquid coating composition using titanium tetraisopropoxide  2 , and casts that coating composition solution onto a surface to form a coating comprising a cross-linked structure  4  on the surface. 
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         [0020]    In other embodiments, Applicants&#39; coating composition is formed using titanium tetraisopropoxide 
         [0021]    The following Example is presented to further illustrate to persons skilled in the art how to make and use the invention. This example is not intended as a limitation, however, upon the scope of the invention. 
       Example 
       [0022]    9.0 grams of tartaric acid were dissolved in 0.120 liters of water in an Erlynmeyer flask to give a 0.5 molar solution. This solution was stirred overnight at room temperature. The following day, the tartaric acid solution was filtered through filter paper (Whatman #1), then subsequently through a 0.2 micron PRFW filter to remove particulates. 25 mL of filtered 0.5 M tartaric acid (0.01249 moles of tartaric acid) was poured into a round bottom flask and chilled on ice with stirring. 3.69 grams of titanium (IV) isopropoxide was added slowly first with a 1 mL addition. 1 mL aliquots of titanium (IV) isopropoxide were added until all of it was added to the tartaric acid solution. 
         [0023]    Upon addition of the titanium (IV) isopropoxide the ice bath was removed. The solution remained a solution for approximately 10 minutes after which it became a clear gel and became progressively opaque (white). The gel was stirred at RT overnight. The gelatinous material was mixed with water, or alcohol ROH and water, and then cast onto a glass slide to form a coating thereon. 
         [0024]    Depending on the stoichiometry of the starting materials, in certain embodiments Applicants&#39; coating of this Example comprises a tartaric acid/titanium isopropoxide adduct 5, wherein R is H, alkyl, and phenyl. When the molar ratio of TI(OR) 4  and tartaric acid is greater that about 3, the adduct product 5 predominates. 
         [0025]    When the molar ratio of TI(OR) 4  and tartaric acid is about 1, A polymeric product 6 predominates, wherein (r) is between 2 and about 10. When the molar ratio of TI(OR) 4  and tartaric acid is greater than 1 but less than about 3, a mixture of adduct 5 and polymer 6 is obtained. In the Example, the molar ratio is about 5, and adduct 5 is predominately formed. 
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         [0026]    In other embodiments, Applicants&#39; coating composition comprises one or more hydroxyl acids other than tartaric acid in combination with TiO 2 . In certain embodiments, these one or more hydroxyl acids include one or more alpha hydroxyl acids including glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, and/or mandelic acid. In certain embodiments, these one or more hydroxyl acids include one or more beta hydroxyl acids including salicyclic acid and/or beta-hydroxypropionic acid. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show images of the coating formed on the glass surface.  FIG. 1  is an Atomic Force Microscope image at 50 microns.  FIG. 2  is an optical image using transmission geometry with 10× objective. 
         [0028]    In certain embodiments, Applicants&#39; coating composition is embodied in a flexible, planar member to form a composite disinfecting wipe. Applicants&#39; composite disinfecting wipe is capable of cleaning and removing residues from soiled surfaces while simultaneously destroying undesirable microorganisms, e.g. bacteria, mold, viruses, prions and the like that colonize on common surfaces with which people come into contact, such as doorknobs, countertops, toilet seats, floors, beds, walls, and the like. 
         [0029]    Glass slides prepared in accord with the Example were inoculated with bacteria or virus and sampled at various times with a sterile cotton swab. That cotton swab was placed into a tube containing a neutralizing broth. Methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus  (“MRSA”) and MS-2 were utilized. MS-2 is a bacteriophage used as a surrogate for Norovirus, Enterovirus, Polio, and the like. TABLE 1 recites log reduction of MRSA-inoculated glass slides coated using various weight percent solutions of the composition of the Example to form a coating on the glass slides prior to MRSA inoculation. 
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                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Log Reductions of MRSA Using Composition Of Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10% 
                 5% 
                 ~3% 
                 ~1% 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Time Points 
                 Log Reduction 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 minutes 
                 1.0 
                 0.9 
                 0.4 
                 0.3 
               
               
                   
                  1 Hour 
                 Not Done 
                 Not Done 
                 &gt;5.9 
                 0.1 
               
               
                   
                  2 hours 
                 &gt;5.6 
                 &gt;4.0 
                 &gt;5.5 
                 1.8 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0030]    TABLE 2 recites data using slides coated using a 10 weight percent composition of the Example to form a coating on the glass slides prior to either MRSA or MS-2 inoculation. MS-2 was showed an average of 2.4 log reduction at two hours. MRSA showed greater than a 5.6 log reduction at two hours. 
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                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Average Log Reduction For MRSA And MS-2 At Two Hours 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 MINUTES 
                 2 HOURS 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 MS-2 
                 0.6 
                 2.4 
               
               
                   
                 MRSA 
                 1.9 
                 &gt;5.6 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0031]    A test using glass slides coated using a 3 weight percent solution of the coating composition of the Example, and inoculated with either MRSA or MS-2. wherein the slides were inoculated in the dark, did not show any log reduction. This result shows that the titanium moieties in the glass slide coating were providing anti-microbial function via a photocatalytic effect. 
         [0032]    TABLE 3 recites data regarding the anti-microbial efficacy of coatings formed on glass slides using various weight percent solutions of the coating composition of the Example. 
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                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Log Reductions Of Organisms After 1 Hour 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 5% 
                 ~3% 
                 ~1% 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Organism 
                 Log Reduction 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 MS-2 
                 4.1 
                 1.3 
                 1.7 
               
               
                   
                 
                   E. coli 
                 
                 &gt;5.0 
                 &gt;5.0 
                 &gt;5.0 
               
               
                   
                 
                   Ps. aeruginosa 
                 
                 &gt;5.2 
                 &gt;5.2 
                 &gt;5.2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0033]    While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth herein.