SBIR Phase II: Electrochemical Disinfectant Generator for Multiple In-Situ Applications

该小型企业研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目涉及电化学操作设备的开发和商业化，这些设备将通过提供现场按需生成极强效的双重消毒剂来彻底改变消毒剂行业。过氧酸是众所周知的消毒剂，其通过攻击细胞壁上的S-S和S-H键来去除甚至抗性微生物（即孢子）。生产过氧酸的常规方法涉及混合浓过氧化氢、有机酸和催化剂（通常为浓硫酸），并且涉及危险化学品的运输和储存。在第一阶段，充分证明了一种新方法产生双重消毒剂的可行性。在该过程中，用于将有机酸转化为双重消毒剂的反应物在装置内产生，避免了与储存相关的问题。所有规定的成功标准都已成功实现，一个著名的工业合作伙伴对将这种新型设备商业化表现出浓厚的兴趣。在第二阶段，电化学装置的进一步优化之后，将制造三种装置的原型，以证明其在各种消毒应用中的功效。对于产生对包括孢子和病毒的广谱微生物具有生物杀灭性的有效消毒剂的装置存在相当大的需求。这些按需产生强效消毒剂的装置在家庭医疗保健和食品服务机构以及医院和疗养院的感染控制应用中具有商业潜力。据估计，2007年整个清洁/消毒行业的收入将达到310亿美元。

This Small Business Research (SBIR) Phase II project is concerned with the development and commercialization of electrochemically operated devices that will revolutionize the disinfectant industry by providing on-site, on-demand generation of extremely potent dual disinfectants. Peroxyacids are well known disinfectants that remove even resistant microorganisms (i.e. spores) by attacking S-S and S-H bonds on cell walls. The conventional method of manufacturing peroxy acids involves mixing concentrated hydrogen peroxide, an organic acid, and a catalyst (usually concentrated sulfuric acid), and involves the transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals. During the Phase I, the feasibility of a novel approach for the generation of the dual disinfectant was amply demonstrated. In this process, reactants for converting organic acids to dual disinfectants are generated within the device, avoiding problems associated with storage. All the criteria of success specified have been successfully accomplished and a well-known industrial partner has shown a keen interest in commercializing the novel devices. In Phase II, further optimization of the electrochemical devices will be followed by fabrication of prototypes of three devices for demonstrating their efficacy for a variety of disinfection applications. There is a considerable need for devices that produce potent disinfectants that are biocidal against a broad spectrum of microbes including spores and viruses. These devices that produce potent disinfectants on-demand have commercial potential in domestic health care and food service establishments as well as in infection control applications in hospitals and nursing homes. It is estimated that revenues of the entire cleaning/sanitizing industry will be $31 billion in 2007.