Purified hydrogen peroxide gas microbial control methods and devices
The present invention relates to methods and devices for providing microbial control and/or disinfection/remediation of an environment. The methods generally comprise: generating a Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) that is substantially free of, e.g., hydration, ozone, plasma species, and/or organic species; and directing the gas comprising primarily PHPG into the environment such that the PHPG acts to provide microbial control and/or disinfection/remediation in the environment, preferably both on surfaces and in the air.
1. An apparatus for producing non-hydrated purified hydrogen peroxide gas (PHPG) from humid ambient air-comprising:
an air distribution mechanism providing an airflow of said humid ambient air;
a source of ultraviolet light; and
a thin, air-permeable substrate structure having a titanium dioxide coated surface,
wherein said air flow is perpendicular to, and through, said air-permeable substrate structure and said humid ambient air has a residence time on said air-permeable substrate structure of less than a second, wherein said non-hydrated purified hydrogen peroxide gas comprises 0.015 ppm of ozone or less and is directed out of said air-permeable substrate structure and into an environment when said apparatus is in operation.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said titanium dioxide comprises anatase, rutile, or a combination thereof.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said titanium dioxide coated surface is approximately 4 μm thick.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shell.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said shell is spherical, hemispherical, cubic, rectangular, a quarter cylinder, or a fanciful shape.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said shell is formed from ceramic, porcelain, or a polymer.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said shell further comprises a reflector.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said air-permeable substrate structure comprises fiberglass.
9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said air-permeable substrate structure is placed just inside, and parallel to the interior surface of said shell.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said titanium dioxide is applied to said air-permeable substrate structure surface as a paint.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said source of ultraviolet light produces a wavelength greater than 181 nanometers (nm), greater than 185 nm, or greater than 187 nm.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said source of ultraviolet light produces a wavelength between 182 nm and 254 nm.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said source of ultraviolet light comprises an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV LED).
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said air-permeable substrate structure further comprises a co-catalyst.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said co-catalyst covers less than five percent of said air-permeable substrate structure.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said co-catalyst is selected from platinum, silver, nickel, palladium, or phthalocyanine.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a filter located upstream of said air-permeable substrate structure.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said filter is an organic vapor filter, a dust filter, a high efficiency filter, a hydrophobic filter, an activated charcoal intake filter, or a combination thereof.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said filter does not remove moisture from said humid ambient air.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said humid ambient air has a relative humidity of between 10% and 99%, between 30% and 60%, between 35% and 40%, or between 56% and 59%.
21. An apparatus for producing non-hydrated purified hydrogen peroxide gas (PHPG) from humid ambient air comprising:
an air distribution mechanism providing an airflow of said humid ambient air;
a source of ultraviolet light producing ultraviolet light between 182 nm and 254 nm; and
a thin, air-permeable substrate structure having a titanium dioxide coated surface,
wherein said air flow is perpendicular to, and through, said air-permeable substrate structure and said humid ambient air has a residence time on said air-permeable substrate structure of less than a second, wherein said non-hydrated purified hydrogen peroxide gas comprises 0.015 ppm of ozone or less and is directed from said air-permeable substrate structure and into an environment when said apparatus is in operation.