Deodorizing and sanitizing employing a wicking device

Abstract

A device provides a sanitizing gas, a sanitizing liquid, or both. The device includes a first liquid chemical component, a first container for housing the first liquid chemical component, a second liquid chemical component, a reaction chamber, and a first wicked conduit between the first container and the reaction chamber. The first liquid chemical component is a chlorite and the second liquid chemical component is an acid. The first and second liquid chemical components are brought into contact in the reaction chamber to produce the sanitizing gas, the sanitizing liquid, or both. The first wicked conduit transports the first liquid chemical component from the first container to the reaction chamber.

1 . A device for providing a sanitizing gas, a sanitizing liquid, or both, the device comprising: 
 (a) a first liquid chemical component, wherein the first liquid chemical component comprises a chlorite;    (b) a first container for housing the first liquid chemical component;    (c) a second liquid chemical component, wherein the second liquid chemical component comprises an acid;    (c) a reaction chamber wherein the first and second liquid chemical components are brought into contact to produce the sanitizing gas, the sanitizing liquid, or both; and    (f) a first wicked conduit between the first container and the reaction chamber for transporting the first liquid chemical component from the first container to the reaction chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , and further comprising a second container for housing the second liquid chemical component and a second wicked conduit between the second container and the reservoir for transporting the second liquid chemical component from the second container to the reservoir.  
   
   
       3 . A device for producing controlled quantities of a sanitizing and.deliming composition in a liquid form, in a gaseous form, or both, the device comprising: 
 (a) a liquid component comprising a metal halite;    (b) a first container for holding the liquid component, wherein the first container is equipped with a first wick;    (c) an acidic component; and    (d) a reservoir having at least one opening, wherein the acidic component is housed in the reservoir;    (e) wherein the liquid component is transported from the first container to the reservoir through a capillary action of the first wick, and upon contact with the acidic component, reacts to produce the sanitizing and deliming composition in liquid or gaseous form.    
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the acidic component is provided to the reservoir from a second container through a capillary action of a second wick.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second wick is larger than the first wick.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid component comprises a metal chlorite.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the reservoir further comprises an outlet port for releasing the sanitizing and deliming composition in a liquid form when the sanitizing and deliming composition reaches a level which is at or above the outlet port.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the reservoir further comprises an opening at a top end of the reservoir for releasing the sanitizing and deliming composition in gaseous form.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first wick is contained in a first conduit having a first end open and connected to the first container and a second end open and in fluid communication with the reservoir and wherein the second wick is contained in a second conduit having a first end open and connected to the second container and a second end open and in fluid communication with the reservoir.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the acidic component is in solid form.