Year: 1898

page_text: I, REINHOLD WALTHER, Private Lecturer at the Royal Technical University,
Dresden, Saxony, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
I
In the disinfection of dwellings, stables &c. various unfavorable circumstances
have to be combated, which have hitherto rendered thorough disinfection a
matter of impossibility.
In all these cases it is frequently the most tenacious germs which have to be
exterminated, and which are even not destroyed by an aqueous 5 per cent. carbolic
solution or by a three per cent. sublimate solution, and even not by boiling for
5 to 10 hours in water.
In the methods of disinfecting spaces hitherto employed and now in use, the
space has been filled with gaseous antiseptics (chlorine, bromine, sulphurous
anhydride, formaldehyde), or aqueous carbolic solutions have been reduced to
spray, in which case, by reason of their fine subdivision, they become decomposed
into a gaseous state as steam and carbol vapor.
Up to the present however no-one has endeavoured to obtain for the space to
be disinfected those proportions of concentration of gaseous antiseptic and air
present, which are recognized to be best adapted for the solution. No account has
been taken of what proportions of antiseptic are necessary in order, in this cus-
tomary manner, to so fill the space that the efficiency of the disinfection in the
space approximates that of a disinfecting solution half as strong again.
If for example the weight of the carbolic acid is equal to that of spray-laden
air, then the enormous proportion of 13 kg. phenol would be required in order,
in accordance with the weight, to enrich the air in a space of 200 cubic metres
capacity to the extent of 5 per cent. in phenol. But this 5 per cent. proportion
by weight is not equivalent to the effectiveness of a 5 per cent. aqueous phenol
solution. For in this solution 5 gr. phenol are only distributed in a space of
100 con.; the 13 kg. phenol distributed throughout the space diffuse, on the
contrary, in 200 cubic metres, that is to say,-to 100 ccm. space only 0.0065 gr.
phenol are available; consequently the effective proportions are nearly a thousand-
fold less favorable, and it is impossible to increase this in the desired way accord-
ing to the manner now customary: the proportions above given of 13 kg. phenol
to 200 cubic metres space are however unusually large.
The effect can however be attained, and even raised beyond this aim; but the
mode of disinfection and the division of the disinfecting medium in the space
must occur in a peculiar and entirely different manner from those hitherto cus-
tomary.

page_text: The solution of the problem is given in the following considerations.
If the aqueous solution of the antiseptic substance be taken and mixed with
a medium which is miscible therewith but is not itself vaporisable and not decom-
posable into a gaseous condition, and if the solutions thus pre-
pared be atomized, the atomized masses can never totally become
decomposed into a gaseous state. There can only result a condition of the finest
subdivision, an ‘atomized mist." Each particle of mist of this mass possesses
and retains nearly permanently the same percentage composition as the original
solution possessed before atomizing.
66
It is obvious from the principle of this method that these solutions can only be
atomized; a simple evaporation of the solutions would be contrary to the prin-
ciple, since the added medium would remain in the vessel.
If the atomization be effected by suitable apparatus with proper power, the
atomized mist will expand through the entire space and on coming into contact
with collections of bacteria, allow a high-percentage solution of the antiseptic in
the form of fine particles of mist, to come into action.
As added media, I include non-vaporisable bodies which are miscible with the
aqueous, and partly also with other, solutions of the antiseptics, and are soluble
therein, and also hygroscopic bodies and their solutions. With formaldehyde,
glycerine is especially advantageous. It is above all not corrosive, and further,
combines with formaldehyde to form a spongy addition compound which may be
compared with the hydrates of formaldehyde, CH(OH), (CH)(OH). These
glycerin-formaldehyde addition products possess a special disinfecting action, pro-
bably because when they come in contact with vital albumen they yield up the
formaldehyde, so that this comes into action in the nascent state. In the employ-
ment of formaldehyde and its solutions there are thus, besides the favorable pro-
portions of concentration in the space to be disinfected based on the principle of
the method stated, chemical conditions to render the disinfection of the space par-
ticularly effective.
80
But the solutions of the disinfectants also (which as such have to be employed
in spittoons and for other similar purposes) acquire by the addition of glycerine
and hygroscopic substances the valuable property of not drying up,
that separation by evaporation into vapor and solid separated antiseptic cannot
result. With formaldehyde solutions, the employment of glycerine is again very
significant for the chemical reasons stated, and because glycerine possesses a great
capacity of solution for the solid formaldehyde and great power of absorption.
Dated th: 16th of W 1200
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Disinfectants, and in their
Application.
1, REINHOLD WALTHER, Private Lecturer at the Royal Technical University,
Dresden, Saxony, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement;
-
In the disinfection of dwellings stables &c. various untavorable circumstances

page_text: have to be combated, which have hitherto rendered thorough disinfection a
matter of impossibility.
In all these cases it is frequently the most tenacious germs which have to be
exterminated, and which are even not destroyed by an aqueous 5 per cent. carbolic
solution or by a three per cent. sublimate solution, and even not by boiling, for
5 to 10 hours in water.
In the methods of disinfecting spaces hitherto employed and now in use, the
space has been filled with gaseous antiseptics (chlorine, bromine, sulphurous
anhydride, formaldehyde), or aqueous carbolic solutions have been reduced to
spray, in which case, by reason of their fine subdivision they become decomposed
into a gaseous state as steam and carbol vapor.
Up to the present however no one has endeavoured to obtain for the space to
be disinfected those proportions of concentration of gaseous antiseptic and air
present which are recognised to be best adapted for the solution. No account has
been taken of what proportions of antiseptic are necessary in order, in this cus-
tomary manner, to so fill the space that the efficiency of the disinfection in the
space approximates that of a disinfecting solution half as strong again.
If for example the weight of the carbolic acid is equal to that of spray-laden
air, then the enormous proportion of 13 kg. phenol would be required in order,
in accordance with the weight, to enrich the air in a space of 200 cubic metres
capacity to the extent of 5 per cent. in phenol. But this per cent. proportion
by weight is not equivalent to the effectiveness of a 5 per cent. aqueous phenol
solution. For in this solution 5 gr. phenol are only distributed in a space of
100 com.; the 13 kg. phenol distributed throughout the space diffuse, on the
contrary, in 200 cubic metres, that is to say,-to 100 ccm. space only 0.0065 gr.
phenol are available; consequently the effective proportions are nearly a thousand
fold less favourable, and it is impossible to increase this in the desired way accord-
ing to the manner now customary; the proportions above given of 13 kg. phenol
to 200 cubic metres space are however unusually large.
The effect can however be attained, and even raised beyond this aim; but the
mode of disinfection and the division of the disinfecting medium in the space
must occur in a peculiar and entirely different manner from those hitherto rus-
tomary.
The solution of the problem is given in the following considerations.
If the aqueous solution of the antiseptic substance be taken and mixed with
a medium which is miscible therewith but is not itself vaporisable and not decom-
posable into a gaseous condition, and if the solutions thus pre-
pared be atomized, the atomized masses can never totally become
decomposed into a gaseous state. There can only result a condition of the finest.
subdivision, an atomized mist." Each particle of mist of this mass possesses
and retains nearly permanently the same percentage composition as the original
solution possessed before atomizing.
"
It is obvious from the principle of this method that these solutions can only be
atomized; a simple evaporation of the solutions would be contrary to the prin-
ciple, since the added medium would remain in the vessel.
If the atomization he effected by suitable apparatus with proper power, the
atomized mist will expand through the entire space and, on coming into contact
with collections of bacteria, allow a high-percentage solution of the antiseptic in
the form of fine particles of mist, to come into action.
As added media, I include non-vaporisable and hygroscopic bodies which are
miscible with the aqueous, and partly also with other, solutions of the antiseptics,
and are soluble therein, Glycerine is particularly suitable for employment as
such an added medium. It is above all not corrosive, and further, combines
with formaldehyde to form an addition compound in which the formaldehyde is
feebly held. and which may be compared with the hydrates of formaldehyde,
CH₂(OH), (CH₂) ‘O‘(OH),. These glycerin-formaldehyde addition products
possess a special disinfecting action, probably because when they come in contact

page_text: with vital albumen they yield up the formaldehyde, so that this comes into action
in the nascent state. In the employment of formaldehyde and its solutions there
are thus, besides the favorable proportions of concentration in the space to be dis-
infected based on the principle of the method stated, chemical conditions to render
the disinfection of the space particularly effective. The proportions of formalde-
hyde and glycerine which I have found most suitable and prefer to employ are
100 parts by weight of formaldehyde to 10 parts by weight of glycerine.
But the solutions of the disinfectants also (which as such have to be employed
in spittoons and for other similar purposes) acquire by the addition of glycerine
or other hygroscopic substance. the valuable property of not drying up, so
that separation by evaporation into vapor and solid separated antiseptic cannot
result. With formaldehyde solutions, the employment of glycerine is again very
significant for the chemical reasons stated, and because glycerine possesses a great
capacity of solution for the solid formaldehyde and great power of absorption.
With the above described methods of disinfecting it is highly desirable when
formaldehyde is employed to prevent or reduce as far as possible polymerisation
of the formaldehyde if in a finely divided or gaseous state. This I effect by the
employment with the atomised mist herein before referred to of large quantities of
moist air, preferably by causing steam to mingle with the said atomised mist.
The disinfecting energy of the divided formaldehyde is thus maintained and the
disinfectant caused to thoroughly permeate the room or space to be disinfected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
-
1. The method of disinfecting rooms or other spaces which method consists in
projecting into said rooms or spaces an atomised spray, said spray being composed
of a disinfectant or a solution thereof in admixture with a medium of the
character hereinbefore specified and which is not itself vaporizable or decompos-
able into a gaseous condition with the object of preventing separation of said dis-
infectant and medium, substantially as herein before described.
2. The method of disinfecting rooms or other spaces which method consists in
projecting into said rooms or spaces an atomized spray, said spray being composed
of a disinfectant or a solution thereof and glycerine or other hygroscopic medium,
with the object of preventing separation of said disinfectant and glycerine or
hygroscopic medium, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The method of disinfecting rooms or other spaces which method consists in
projecting into said rooms or spaces an atomized spray consisting of a formalde-
hyde solution having a hygroscopic body or bodies admixed therewith, whereby
the separation of the spray into formaldehyde gas and water vapor is prevented,
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
4. The method of disinfecting rooms or other spaces which method consists in
projecting into said rooms or spaces an atomized spray consisting of a formalde-
hyde solution having glycerine admixed therewith, whereby the separation of the
spray into formaldehyde gas and water vapor is prevented and a highly effective
disinfecting addition compound of glycerine with formaldehyde is at the same
time rendered available, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
5. In the application of finely divided formaldehyde as a disinfectant in the
manner herein before described the employment of a large quantity of moist air
(preferably steam laden air) for the purpose of obviating or decreasing polymerisa-
tion of the formaldehyde, substantially as herein before described.
6. As a new article of manufacture for disinfecting or antiseptic purposes a mix-
ture of a disinfectant or a solution thereof with a medium of the character herein-
before specified, said medium being non-vaporizable and not decomposable into
a gaseous condition, substantially as and with the object hereinbefore described.

page_text: 7. As a new article of manufacture for disinfecting or antiseptic purposes a
mixture of a formaldehyde solution with glycerine or other hygroscopic body, sub-
stantially as and with the object herein before described.
Dated this 14th day of December 1898
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.