Electrochemical Generation of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

Abstract

Method and apparatus for electrochemical generation of quaternary ammonium hypohalite salts, which may be combined with the capabilities of free chlorine to form a novel biocidal system. An aqueous solution preferably comprising dissolved quaternary ammonium halide salts is electrolyzed, which converts the halide component of the quaternary ammonium salt to the corresponding halogen. The halogen dissolves in the aqueous solution producing hypohalous acid and hypohalite anion. A combination of one or more quaternary ammonium compounds and a halide salt, surfactant, and/or germicide may be electrolyzed. The solution may be incorporated into a delivery system for example, a spray bottle or hand sanitizer, or as part of a dispensing system whereby quaternary ammonium halide salts absorbed onto wipes can be dispensed as quaternary ammonium hypohalite salts.

1 . A method for producing a solution, the method comprising:
 electrolyzing a first solution comprising a quaternary ammonium compound in solution; and   producing a second solution comprising a quaternary ammonium hypohalite in solution.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the quaternary ammonium compound comprises a quaternary ammonium halide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first solution further comprises a halide salt in solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the halide salt comprises an alkali metal halide salt. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first solution comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of surfactant, organic surfactant, colorant, perfume, disinfectant, germicide, and biocide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second solution further comprises an additional oxidant species. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the additional oxidant species is selected from the group consisting of halide based oxidant, halogen, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, chlorine dioxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a combination of the quaternary ammonium hypohalite and the additional oxidant species in the second solution substantially increases the disinfection efficacy of the second solution over an unelectrolyzed solution comprising the quaternary ammonium hypohalite and the additional oxidant species mixed together in solution. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second solution does not substantially comprise a halide salt. 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a solution, the method comprising:
 electrolyzing a first solution comprising a first quaternary ammonium compound in solution and a second component; and   producing a second solution comprising a second quaternary ammonium compound in solution and a second compound.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second component comprises ammonia or an ammonium salt and the second compound comprises a haloamine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second component comprises a chlorite salt and the second compound comprises chlorine dioxide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second component comprises dissolved oxygen at a greater concentration than a naturally occurring dissolved oxygen concentration of the first solution and the second compound comprises hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the electrolyzing step is performed in a divided electrolytic cell and the second quaternary ammonium compound and hydrogen peroxide is produced in the cathodic compartment of the divided electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first solution comprises a quaternary ammonium halide or a halide salt. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the second solution comprises a quaternary ammonium hypohalite produced in the anodic compartment of the divided electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         17 . A device for dispensing a disinfecting solution, the device comprising:
 a flow through electrolytic cell comprising an anode and a cathode, said electrolytic cell configured to electrolyze a quaternary ammonium compound in solution; and   a spray nozzle for dispensing the electrolyzed solution.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  comprising a spray bottle configuration, wherein electrolysis of the solution is activated by a user squeezing a trigger. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein electrolysis of the solution is activated by a user moving a lever or a user placing at least one hand under said device. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the electrolyzed solution comprises a quaternary ammonium hypohalite in solution. 
     
     
         21 . A device for dispensing wipes comprising a solution, the device comprising:
 a supply of wipes, said wipes comprising a quaternary ammonium compound;   an anode; and   a cathode;   wherein said wipes are disposable between said anode and said cathode, at which time the quaternary ammonium compound is electrolyzed.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said wipes comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium halide, halide salt, surfactant, organic surfactant, colorant, perfume, disinfectant, germicide, and biocide. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said anode comprises a drum anode and said cathode comprises a drum cathode. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said anode and said cathode each comprise a flat plate, said device further comprising a mechanism for pressing a wipe between said anode and said cathode. 
     
     
         25 . A method for on demand generation of a quaternary ammonium hypohalite solution, the method comprising:
 signaling a desired amount of a first solution comprising a quaternary ammonium hypohalite in solution to be produced;   mixing a second solution comprising a quaternary ammonium compound in solution with a third solution comprising a halogen solution, the amounts of the second solution and third solution corresponding to the desired amount of the third solution;   producing the desired amount of the third solution; and   dispensing the desired solution immediately or prior to significant degradation of the third solution.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the halogen solution comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of bleach, hypochlorous acid, hypobromous acid, hypoiodous acid, hypochlorite, hypobromite, hypoiodite, and hypohalite.