Drinking water purification device

Abstract

A fast acting water purification system containing a source of silver ions which is suitable for use in personal or household water containers, where the non-potable water may contain halides or other materials that limit the solubility of silver in the non-potable water, with the purification agent including a source of silver ions and a compound containing a hydantoin ring increase the presence of silver ions in the non-potable water to a level sufficient to quickly kill harmful microorganisms in the non-potable water without the need to add additional biocides to the non-potable water or pretreat the non-potable water.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A household water purification system for insitu generation of potable water from non-potable water comprising:
 a container for retaining non-potable water;   a water purification material in contact with the non-potable water wherein said water purification material comprises a source of silver ions and a compound containing a hydantoin ring whereby the solubility of the silver ions in the non-potable water is elevated above the normal water solubility of silver ions in the non-potable by the presence of the compound containing the hydantoin ring to thereby convert the non-potable water into potable water.   
     
     
         10 . The household water purification system of  claim 9  wherein the compound containing the hydantoin ring is either glycolylurea or Dimethylhydantoin and an outlet to permit a user to draw the potable water from the container on an as needed basis and the container holds less than five gallons of water. 
     
     
         11 . The household water purification system of  claim 9  hydantoin wherein the compound containing the hydantoin ring lacks any biocidal properties and the water purification material is located in a floating dispensers having openings for ingress and egress of water therein generates in-situ water purification without the aid of an additional water purification agent. 
     
     
         12 . The household water purification system of  claim 9  including a valve for opening and closing an outlet to the household water purification material. 
     
     
         13 . The household water purification system of  claim 11  including a filter media located downstream of the water purification material. 
     
     
         14 . A method of purifying water immediately prior to consumption of the water comprising;
 introducing a non-potable water, where the non-potable water may contain halides, into a housing;   bringing the non-potable water into contact with a source of silver ions and a compound containing a hydantoin ring to increase the natural water solubility of silver ions in the non-potable water; and   converting the non-potable water into potable water by exposing the non-potable water to the source of silver ions and the compound containing a hydantoin ring prior to consuming the potable water.   
     
     
         15 . The method of purifying water of  claim 14  wherein introducing the compound containing a hydantoin ring comprises introducing sufficient DMH into the nonpotable water to increase the solubility of silver ions in the non potable water to a level in excess of the natural water solubility of silver ions and removing silver ions from the potable water with an ion exchange resin to reduce the silver ions in the potable water before ingesting the potable water. 
     
     
         16 . The method of purifying water of  claim 14  wherein the step of introducing a source of silver ions into the water container and a compound containing a hydantoin ring into the water comprises placing a tablet having a source of silver ions and compound containing a hydantion ring in the container and the container comprises a hand held container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of purifying water of  claim 14  including the step of adjusting the natural water solubility of silver ions by adding a compound containing a hydantoin ring where the compound containing a hydantoin ring lacks any biocidal properties and pumping the water through the water purification material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of purifying water of  claim 14  including the step of directing the potable water through a filter media to decrease the level of silver ions in the potable water after the non-potable water has been purified with the water purification material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of purifying water of  claim 18  wherein the step of directing the water through a filter media comprises direction the water through an ion exchange filter before ingesting the potable water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of purifying water of  claim 14  wherein the source of silver ions comprises silver chloride and the compound containing a hydantoin ring lacks biocidal properties.