Systems and methods of preparing and delivering gels

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for delivering a gel to a surface. In one embodiment, the system may have a first vessel with a first low viscosity aqueous solution comprising a binder/crosslinking agent; and a second vessel with a second low viscosity aqueous solution comprising a gelling component. The separate first and second low viscosity aqueous solutions are sprayed onto a surface where the solutions mix forming a gel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for delivering a gel to a surface comprising:
 a first vessel containing a binder/crosslinking agent in a first solution;   a second vessel containing a gelling component in a second solution; and   a delivery device in fluid communication with the first and second vessels, the delivery device having a delivery device outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  whereby when the first solution is moved from the first vessel to the delivery device outlet to create a first spray on a fixed location, and the second solution is moved from the second vessel to the delivery device outlet to create a second spray on the fixed location, the first and second solutions react to form a gel at the fixed location. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gelling component is sodium alginate and the binder/crosslinking agent is calcium chloride. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first solution or the second solution further comprise a product of interest as either a solution or a suspension. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the product of interest has application in at least one of a group of industries consisting of: food, agricultural, manufacturing, chemical, biochemical, military, aerospace, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, printing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the product of interest is an edible, a herbicide, a pesticide, a medicine, a biologic, a cosmetic, a nutraceutical, a pharmaceutical, a coating, an ink, a paint, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the product of interest is a vaccine. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the vaccine comprises oocysts. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the vaccine comprises sporocysts. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the calcium chloride is present in a concentration from about 1% to about 5%. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the sodium alginate is present in a concentration from about 0.5% to about 5%. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery device is a sprayer. 
     
     
         13 . A method for delivering a gel to a surface comprising the steps:
 providing a first vessel containing a binder/crosslinking agent in a first solution;   providing a second vessel containing a gelling component in a second solution;   providing a delivery device in fluid communication with the first and second vessels;   moving the first solution from the first vessel through the delivery device outlet and onto a surface at a fixed location; and   moving the second solution from the second vessel through the delivery device outlet and onto the surface at the fixed location to form a gel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first solution or the second solution further comprise a product of interest as either a solution or a suspension. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the product of interest has application in at least one of a group of industries consisting of: food, agricultural, manufacturing, chemical, biochemical, military, aerospace, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, printing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the product of interest is an edible, a herbicide, a pesticide, a medicine, a biologic, a cosmetic, a nutraceutical, a pharmaceutical, a coating, an ink, a paint, a dye, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the product of interest is a vaccine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vaccine comprises oocysts. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vaccine comprises sporocysts. 
     
     
         20 . A gel solution formed in situ wherein the gel is formed by a first solution containing a binder/crosslinking agent applied to a surface at a fixed location and a second solution containing a gelling component applied to the surface at the fixed location.