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

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将专注于开发一种电化学操作的有机过氧酸发生器。过氧酸是广受欢迎的消毒剂，可以消除甚至具有抗药性的微生物(即孢子、病毒)。过氧酸产生可生物降解的最终产品，在稀释浓度(ppm水平)下有效，甚至在食品制备应用中也是安全的，因此适用于家庭、餐馆和医院的许多使用点应用。这些措施包括将过氧乙酸或过氧乙酸用于各种用途，包括：i)防止水处理设备中异养菌的堆积；ii)消灭水和食品表面上的病原体；iii)对医疗器械进行消毒；以及iv)通过引入就地清洁能力对食品加工设备进行消毒。生产过氧酸的传统方法是将浓过氧化氢、有机酸和无机酸催化剂(浓硫酸)与多种稳定剂和添加剂混合。在建议的方法中，可以根据需要使用氧气或空气生成和使用过氧酸，从而消除了对过氧化氢和硫酸的需要。在第一阶段，将对电催化剂(以提高电流和能源效率)、初步电池设计和催化剂配置以及过氧酸产品的生物杀灭特性进行优化。在家庭、酒店、食品服务机构和医院的使用点应用中，对微型和可扩展的现场清洁设备的需求相当大。由于对微生物污染的担忧，许多设备制造商正试图将自清洁能力纳入其现有产品线，特别是那些成本效益高、环境友好的产品线，尤其是那些需要最少用户交互的产品线。仅在水处理应用方面，据估计，这些落叶在美国的年市场价值超过10亿美元，在全球范围内达到30亿美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project will focus on the development of an electrochemically operated organic peroxy acid generator. Peroxyacids are popular disinfectants that can eliminate even resistant microorganisms (i.e. spores, viruses). Peracids produce biodegradable end products, are effective at dilute concentrations (ppm levels), are safe for use even in food preparation applications, and are thus applicable to many point-of-use applications in homes, restaurants and hospitals. These include the use of peroxylactic or peroxyacetic acids for diverse uses, including: i) preventing thebuild up of heterotrophic bacteria in water treatment appliances, ii) destroying pathogens in water and on food surfaces, iii) sterilizing medical devices, and iv) sanitizing food processing equipment by incorporating a clean-in-place capability. The conventional method of manufacturing peroxy acids involves mixing concentrated hydrogen peroxide, organic acid, and inorganic acid catalyst (concentrated sulfuric acid) with numerous stabilizers and additives. In the proposed method, peracids can be generated and used on demand using oxygen or air, thus eliminating the need for hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid. In Phase I, optimization of the electrocatalyst (to improve current and energy efficiencies), preliminary cell design and catalyst configuration, and biocidal properties of the peracid product will be conducted.There is a considerable need for miniature and scalable clean-in-place devices in point-of-use applications in homes, hotels, food service establishments and hospitals. Many equipment manufacturers are trying to incorporate a self cleaning capability into their existing product lines due to concerns of microbial contamination, especially one that requires minimal user interaction, is cost effective, and environmentally friendly. In water treatment applications alone, the market for these decives is estimated to be over $1billion annually in the U.S. and $3 billion worldwide.