Ion enhancement
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 a source of 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 an insoluble metal ion donor for releasing 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 concentration metal ions comprising:
adding silver salt to the body of water; and
adding 5,5-dimethylhydantoin to the body of water to interact with the silver salt to enhance a silver ion concentration in the body of water.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding a silver salt to the body of water comprises adding silver chloride.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding a silver salt to the body of water comprises adding silver bromide.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding a silver salt to the body of water comprises adding silver chloride to the body of water on a carrier of limestone.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the method of treating a body of water comprises treating a body of recreational water for at least partial human immersion therein by insertion of a tablet comprised of silver chloride and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin.
6 . The method of claim 1 including the step of placing a dispenser containing both the silver salt and the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin in the body of water and allowing water to come into contact with both the silver salt and the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding a concentration of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin to the body of water comprises adding an amount of DMH in the body of water to obtain a final concentration of at least 5 ppm DMH.
8 . A method of treating a body of water to kill microorganisms by enhancing the concentration of metal ions comprising:
adding a source of metal ions to the body of water to generate metal ions in the body of water; and
adding 5,5-dimethylhydantoin to the body of water to enhance the metal ion concentration in the body of water to thereby lessen the need for a supplemental biocide.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the source of metal ions comprises silver chloride.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the step of adding the source of metal ions to the body of water comprises adding the source of metal ions to the body of water on a carrier of limestone.
11 . The method of claim 8 including the step of adding a supplemental water disinfection system comprising sodium bromide.
12 . A dispenser for killing microorganisms in a body of water comprising:
a first housing having a water accessible compartment containing a source of 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 metal ion donor for releasing metal ions when contacted by the body of water containing the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin.
13 . The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the metal ion donor comprises an insoluble metal ion donor.
14 . A dispenser for killing microorganisms in a body of water comprising;
a first housing having a water accessible compartment containing a metal ion donor for releasing metal ions into the body of water when contacted by the body of water; and
a second housing having a water accessible compartment containing a source of unhalogenated hydantoin for releasing the unhalogenated hydantoin when contacted by the body of water containing metal ions to maintain a higher metal ion level in the body of water in killing microorganisms than if metal ions were used alone in killing microorganisms in the body of water.
15 . The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the metal ion donor comprises a silver ion donor for releasing silver ions into the body of water when contacted by the body of water.
16 . The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the source of unhalogenated hydantoin comprises a source of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin.
17 . The dispenser of claim 14 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.
18 . The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the silver ion donor comprises silver chloride.
19 . The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the source of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin comprises a 5,5-dimethylhydantoin tablet.
20 . A fluid for recreational use comprising:
a body of water; and
a source of silver and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin in tablet form with the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin and the source of silver cooperating to maintain a level of silver ions present to sustain a standard plate count of less than 200 colonies per milliliter at 35 degrees F.
21 . The fluid of claim 20 wherein the source of the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin and the source of silver cooperate to maintain a concentration of silver ions present in the amount of 1 to 3 ppb.
22 . The fluid of claim 20 wherein the concentration of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin is present in the amount of 5 to 25 ppm.