Broad spectrum antimicrobial purification devices and methods for purifying fluids

Abstract

Devices and methods for inactivating microbiological contaminants in a fluid are provided for use in water, air, and other fluid treatment applications. The device includes (i) a housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet; and (ii) an antimicrobial material secured in the housing between said at least one fluid inlet and said at least one fluid outlet. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial material is a biguanide dihydrate compound, such as a chlorhexidine dihydrate, which exhibits broad spectrum antimicrobial activity.

1 . A device for inactivating microbiological contaminants in a fluid comprising:
 a housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet; and   an antimicrobial material secured in the housing between said at least one fluid inlet and said at least one fluid outlet,   wherein said antimicrobial material comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said antimicrobial material comprises the compound 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material is in the form of loose granules. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material is in the form of a porous unitary structure. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the unitary structure is in the shape of a disk, cylinder, block, or sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more support structures within the housing which support the unitary structure within the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A device for inactivating microbiological contaminants in a fluid comprising:
 a housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet; and   an antimicrobial material secured in the housing between said at least one fluid inlet and said at least one fluid outlet,   wherein said antimicrobial material comprises a compound of the formula   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  comprises a straight chained, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or aryl group; 
         wherein R 2  and R 3 , independent of one another, comprise a hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, amido, alkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, acyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyano, sulfo, sulfato, mercapto, imino, sulfonyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfamoyl, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, phosphoryl, phosphino, thioester, thioether, anhydride, oximno, hydrazino, carbamyl, phosphonic acid, phosphonato, or a straight, chained, branched, or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclic group; and 
         wherein x is a number from 1 to 8 and y is a number from 1 to 4. 
       
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein R 1  comprises a straight chained, branched, or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or aryl group which is substituted with a moiety selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, amido, alkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, acyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyano, sulfo, sulfato, mercapto, imino, sulfonyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfamoyl, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, phosphoryl, phosphino, thioester, thioether, anhydride, oximno, hydrazino, carbamyl, phosphonic acid, and phosphonato. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein R 2  and R 3 , independent of one another, comprise a straight, chained, branched, or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclic group, which is substituted with a moiety selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, amido, alkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, acyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyano, sulfo, sulfato, mercapto, imino, sulfonyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfamoyl, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, phosphoryl, phosphino, thioester, thioether, anhydride, oximno, hydrazino, carbamyl, phosphonic acid, and phosphonato. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein R 2  and R 3 , independent of one another, are aryls, substituted aryls, or phenyls. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein each of R 2  and R 3  is a halo-substituted phenyl. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein R 2  and R 3 , independent of one another, are substituted halogens, substituted amines, substituted amides, substituted cyanos, or substituted nitros. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein R 1  is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, or pentyl. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein R 1  is methyl. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein y is 1. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the antimicrobial material is in the form of a compression molded structure. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein each of R 2  and R 3  is a halo-substituted phenyl, R 1  is methyl, and y is 1. 
     
     
         18 . A method for inactivating a microorganism in a fluid, comprising the steps of:
 contacting a fluid with a water-insoluble antimicrobial material which comprises a compound of the formula   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  comprises a straight chained, branched, or cyclic alkyl, or aryl group; 
         wherein R 2  and R 3 , independent of one another, comprise a hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, amido, alkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, acyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyano, sulfo, sulfato, mercapto, imino, sulfonyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfamoyl, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, phosphoryl, phosphino, thioester, thioether, anhydride, oximno, hydrazino, carbamyl, phosphonic acid, phosphonato, or a straight, chained, branched, or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclic group; 
         wherein x is a number from 1 to 8 and y is a number from 1 to 4, 
         wherein said contacting is effective to inactivate at least one microorganism in the fluid. 
       
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid consists essentially of water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid consists essentially of air. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of beverages and physiological fluids. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said contacting comprises flowing the fluid through a device which comprises a housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, wherein said an antimicrobial material is secured in the housing between said at least one fluid inlet and said at least one fluid outlet. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the antimicrobial material is in the form of a porous unitary structure. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein R 2  and R 3 , independent of one another, are aryls, substituted aryls, or phenyls. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of R 2  and R 3  is a halo-substituted phenyl. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein R 2  and R 3 , independent of one another, are substituted halogens, substituted amines, substituted amides, substituted cyanos, or substituted nitros. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein R 1  is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, or pentyl. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein R 1  is methyl. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein y is 1. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of R 2  and R 3  is a halo-substituted phenyl, R 1  is methyl, and y is 1. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the antimicrobial material is in the form of a compression molded structure. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein x is 6 and y is 1. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the halo-substituted phenyl is a chloro- or fluoro-substituted phenyl.