Ion enhancement

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating a body of water to kill microorganisms by enhancing the concentration metal ions therein. The apparatus comprising a dispenser with a first housing having a water accessible compartment containing 5,5-dimethylhydantoin for releasing the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin when contacted by the body of water and a second housing having a water accessible compartment containing a biocidal metal to the body of water for generating biocidal metal ions when contacted by the body of water containing the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin

1 . A method of treating a body of water to kill microorganisms by enhancing the microbial agents comprising the steps of:
 adding a biocidal component to the body of water; and   adding a concentration of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin to the body of water to enhance the effectiveness of the biocidal component in the body of water to thereby lessen the need for a supplemental biocide.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of adding the biocidal component to the body of water comprises adding a silver alloy to the body of water. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of adding the biocidal component to the body of water comprises adding silver nitrate to the body of water. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a body of water to kill microorganisms by enhancing the microbial agents comprising the steps of:
 adding a biocidal metal to the body of water to generate biocidal metal ions in the body of water; and   adding 5,5-dimethylhydantoin to the body of water to interact with the biocidal metal to enhance the biocidal metal ion concentration in the body of water.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of adding the biocidal metal to the body of water comprises adding a metallic silver to the body of water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of adding the biocidal metal to the body of water comprises adding metallic silver alloy to the body of water. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A dispenser for killing microorganisms in a body of water comprising:
 generating biocidal metal ions into the body of water when contacted by the body of water; and   a second housing having a water accessible compartment containing an unhalogenated hydantoin for releasing the unhalogenated hydantoin when contacted by the body of water containing biocidal metal ions to maintain a higher biocidal metal ion level in the body of water in killing microorganisms than if biocidal metal ions were used alone in killing microorganisms in the body of water.   
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the biocidal metal comprises a metallic silver. 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the unhalogenated hydantoin comprises 5,5-dimethylhydantoin. 
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the second housing and the first housing are located in a dispenser having a set of openings for the ingress and egress of water into the compartments in the dispenser. 
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the biocidal metal comprises a metallic silver alloy. 
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the biocidal metal comprises pure silver. 
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 19  the biocidal metal comprises a substrate coated or impregnated with metallic silver. 
     
     
         26 . The dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin comprises a 5,5-dimethylhydantoin tablet.