Electrolytic cell for generating sterilization solutions having increased ozone content

Abstract

An electrolytic cell for generating a mixed oxidant that is rich in ozone is disclosed. The cell disassociates a brine solution to generate ozone and chlorine based oxidants. The improved cell design allows the ratio of ozone to the other oxidants to be optimized, thereby providing a more efficient sterilization solution. The ozone production is adjusted by adjusting the residence time of the brine solution in the cell and the orientation of the cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for generating a mixed oxidant stream including ozone, said apparatus comprising: anode means comprising a first surface; cathode means comprising a second surface;   means for maintaining an electrical potential between said first and second surfaces; and   means for causing an electrolytic solution to flow between said first and second surfaces and to be subsequently divided into cathode and anode streams, said anode stream comprising the portion of said electrolytic solution that was caused to flow between said first and second surfaces adjacent to said first surface;   means for defining a electrochemical interaction zone bounded by said first and second surfaces in which said electrolytic solution undergoes electrochemical interactions, wherein said electrolytic solution flows through said interaction zone in the same direction that bubbles generated on said first and second surfaces would travel in the absence of said flow of electrolytic solution. .Iadd.   
     
     
       2.  In an apparatus for generating a mixed oxidant stream including ozone, said apparatus including an anode comprising a first surface; a cathode comprising a second surface, and a flow generator for causing an electrolytic solution to flow between said first and second surfaces and to be subsequently divided into cathode and anode streams, said anode stream comprising the portion of said electrolytic solution that was caused to flow between said first and second surfaces adjacent to said first surface, said first surface being maintained at an electrical potential with respect to said second surface such that said electrolytic solution is decomposed to form said mixed oxidant stream, and said first and second surfaces forming first and second boundaries of an electrochemical interaction zone, the improvement comprising orienting said electrochemical interaction zone such that said electrolytic solution flows through said interaction zone in the same direction that bubbles generated on said first and second surfaces would travel if said electrolytic solution remained stationary..Iaddend..Iadd. 
     
     
       3.  A method for generating a mixed oxidant stream including ozone, said method comprising the steps of: passing an electrolytic solution between an anode comprising a first surface and a cathode comprising a second surface; and   causing said electrolytic solution to be subsequently divided into cathode and anode streams, said anode stream comprising the portion of said electrolytic solution that was caused to flow between said first and second surfaces adjacent to said first surface, said first and second surfaces forming first and second boundaries of an electrochemical interaction zone, wherein said electrochemical interaction zone is oriented such that said electrolytic solution flows through said interaction zone in the same direction that bubbles generated on said first and second surfaces would travel if said electrolytic solution remained stationary..Iaddend.