Bacteria deactivation method and apparatus

Abstract

A bacteria deactivation device that has a porous medium through which water and bacteria contained in the water, like E. coli and fecal coliform, are passed. Silver, such as colloidal silver, within the medium deactivates bacteria that pass therethrough. The medium has a porosity and pores sized to provide high flow rates hour while meeting Environmental Protection Agency limits for human consumption of silver.

1 . A bacteria deactivation apparatus comprising:
 a receptacle arranged to receive untreated water and bacteria at an inlet location, and to provide treated water at an outlet location;   a porous medium disposed within said receptacle, said porous medium having a porosity that allows passage of water and bacteria from said inlet location to said outlet location at a water flow rate greater than 4 liters per hour;   silver disposed on said porous medium such that bacteria passing from said inlet location to said outlet location through said porous medium are exposed to said colloidal silver to deactivate substantially all of said bacteria; and   wherein said porous medium has a porosity greater than 40%, and a pore size greater than 3 microns, to prevent accumulation of bacteria in said deactivation device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the receptacle further comprises:
 a water impermeable receptacle, wherein the inlet is located at a first end of the receptacle and the outlet is located at a second end of the receptacle opposite the inlet. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the receptacle further comprises:
 two or more sections, each section containing a porous medium having a surface area different than a surface area a porous medium contained in the other compartments. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method of deactivating bacteria within water, the method comprising:
 passing water and bacteria in said water from an untreated water location, through a porous medium, and to a treated water location, said porous medium having a porosity that allows passage of water at a water flow rate greater than 4 liters per hour, wherein said porous medium has a porosity greater than 40%, and a pore size greater than 3 microns, to prevent accumulation of bacteria in said deactivation device; and   exposing said bacteria in said water to silver as said bacteria passes through said porous medium to deactivate said bacteria.