Electrolytic System and Method for Generating Biocides Having an Electron Deficient Carrier Fluid and Chlorine Dioxide

Abstract

A biocide, including from about 10 parts per million to about 1,000 parts per million of chlorine dioxide; hypochlorite; chlorite salt; and a buffer; wherein the biocide has a pH of from about 4 to about 10 and an oxidation/reduction potential of from about +700 to about +1,200 millivolts.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A biocide, comprising:
 from about 10 parts per million to about 1,000 parts per million of chlorine dioxide;   hypochlorite;   chlorite salt; and   a buffer; wherein the biocide has a pH of from about 4 to about 10 and an oxidation/reduction potential of from about +700 to about +1,200 millivolts.   
     
     
         2 . The biocide of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer may be selected from the group consisting of potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide that does not substantially change the oxidation/reduction potential. 
     
     
         3 . The biocide of  claim 1 , wherein the chlorine dioxide is present from about 50 parts per million to about 300 parts per million. 
     
     
         4 . The biocide of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a surfactant that does not change the oxidation/reduction potential and/or whose surfactant characteristics are not substantially changed by the chlorine dioxide. 
 
     
     
         5 . The biocide of  claim 4 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl sufates, and lauroyl sarcosinates. 
     
     
         6 . The biocide of  claim 4 , wherein the surfactant is present in the range of from about 0.001% to about 3.0%. 
     
     
         7 . The biocide of  claim 4 , wherein the surfactant is biodegradable. 
     
     
         8 . The biocide of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a corrosion inhibitor. 
 
     
     
         9 . The biocide of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more of the group consisting of dispersants, agglomerants, flocculants, chelants, and nano-particles. 
 
     
     
         10 . An electrolytically generated biocide, comprising:
 a reductive alkaline fluid generated in an electrolytic cell;   a hypochlorite solution produced by combining the reductive alkaline fluid and an anodic gas generated by the electrolytic cell;   an electron deficient solution produced by combining the hypochlorite solution with an oxidative acidic fluid from the electrolytic cell;   from about 50 parts per million to about 1,000 parts per million of chlorine dioxide produced by combining the electron deficient solution with a chlorite salt; and   a buffer; wherein the electrolytically generated biocide has a pH of from about 4 to about 10 and an oxidation/reduction potential of from about +700 to about +1,200 millivolts.   
     
     
         11 . The electrolytically generated biocide of  claim 10 , wherein the buffer is selected from the group consisting of potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide that does not substantially change the oxidation/reduction potential. 
     
     
         12 . The electrolytically generated biocide of  claim 10 , wherein the chlorine dioxide is present from about 50 parts per million to about 300 parts per million. 
     
     
         13 . The electrolytically generated biocide of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a surfactant that does not change the oxidation/reduction potential and/or whose surfactant characteristics are not substantially changed by the chlorine dioxide.   
     
     
         14 . The electrolytically generated biocide of  claim 10 , further comprising
 one or more surface active agents selected from the group consisting of micelle generators, wetting agents, foaming agents, chelating agents, and corrosion inhibitors.   
     
     
         15 . The electrolytically generated biocide of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more surface active agents are present in the range of from about 0.05% to about 3.0%. 
     
     
         16 . A biocide, comprising:
 from about 10 parts per million to about 1000 parts per million of chlorine dioxide;   hypochlorite;   chlorite salt; and   a buffer; wherein the biocide has a pH of from about 4 to about 10 and an oxidation/reduction potential of from about +700 to about +1,200 millivolts.   
     
     
         17 . The biocide of  claim 16 , wherein the buffer is selected from the group consisting of potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and magnesium hydroxide that does not substantially change the oxidation/reduction potential. 
     
     
         18 . The biocide of  claim 16 , wherein the biocide has a shelf life of at least 15 days. 
     
     
         19 . The biocide of  claim 16 , wherein the biocide is a Category IV toxicity for acute eye irritation, acute dermal toxicity, acute inhalation, acute oral toxicity, acute skin irritation, and acute skin sensitization according to Environmental Protection Agency testing guidelines. 
     
     
         20 . The biocide of  claim 16 , wherein the biocide has at least a 5.4 log 10  pathogen kills on both gram positive and gram negative microbes in 30 seconds or less. 
     
     
         21 . The biocide of  claim 16 , wherein the biocide has a 10 minute complete inactivation using Environmental Protection Agency good laboratory practice criteria for one or more of  Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staph ( Staphylococcus aureus ), MRSA (Methicillin Resistant  Staphylococcus aureus ), VRE (Vancomycin Resistant  Enterococcus faecalis ), H1N1 (Influenza Type A), HIV Type 1, Hepatitis, Rhinovirus, Norovirus,  Trichophyton mentagrophytes  (fungal organisms),  Salmonella enterica , odor causing, C diff ( Clostridium difficile ),  Acinetobacter baumannii , Klebsiellia pneumonia, Vancomycin Resistant  Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes , and  Campylobacter jejuni.