IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,882,844
Granted Patent B2
US 11,882,844 · App. 17/200,346 · Granted Jan 30, 2024

Reactive gas, reactive gas generation system and product treatment using reactive gas

Inventors: Kevin M. Keener (Ames, IA); Mark A. Hochwalt (Chesterfield, MO)
Assignee: NanoGuard Technologies, LLC
A23B9/22A61L2/14A61L2/20A61L2/202A23V2002/00A61L9/22A61L2202/25
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,882,844
App. No.
17/200,346
Granted
Jan 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of treating a product or surface with a reactive gas, comprises producing the reactive gas by forming a high-voltage cold plasma (HVCP) from a working gas; transporting the reactive gas at least 5 cm away from the HVCP; followed by contacting the product or surface with the reactive gas. The HVCP does not contact the product or surface.

Claims (35)

1. A method of treating a product with a reactive gas, comprising:

producing the reactive gas by forming a high-voltage cold plasma (HVCP) from a working gas with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system;

transporting the reactive gas at least 3 meters away from the HVCP; followed by contacting the product with the reactive gas;

wherein the HVCP does not contact the product, and

the reactive gas comprises at least one reactive or excited species other than ozone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the product is medically sterilized by the contacting.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the working gas comprises MA65.

4. A method of medically sterilizing a surface, comprising:

producing the reactive gas by forming a high-voltage cold plasma (HVCP) from a working gas with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system; and

contacting the surface with the reactive gas;

wherein the HVCP does not contact the surface,

at least a portion of the surface is at least 3 meters away from the HVCP,

the reactive gas comprises at least one reactive or excited species other than ozone, and

the surface is a surface of an enclosed space, or equipment in an enclosed space, where the enclosed space has a volume of at least 28 liters.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising removing the reactive gas from contact with the surface, after 1 second to 12 hours.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the working gas comprises MA65.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the surface is an inside surface of a room in a hospital.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the product is Salmonella pasteurized by the contacting.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the product is E. coli pasteurized by the contacting.

10. A method of medically sterilizing a product with a reactive gas, comprising:

producing the reactive gas by forming a high-voltage cold plasma (HVCP) from a working gas with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system;

transporting the reactive gas at least 3 meters away from the HVCP; followed by contacting the product with the reactive gas, to medically sterilize the product;

wherein the HVCP does not contact the product,

the product is a medical device or medical equipment, and

the reactive gas comprises at least one reactive or excited species other than ozone.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reactive gas comprises the ozone and at least one nitrogen oxide.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the working gas comprises MA65.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reactive gas comprises the ozone and at least one nitrogen oxide.

14. The method of claim 4 , wherein the reactive gas comprises the ozone and at least one nitrogen oxide.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting causes a reduction in viable microorganisms or microorganism spores.

16. The method of claim 4 , wherein the contacting causes a reduction in viable microorganisms or microorganism spores.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the contacting causes a reduction in viable microorganisms or microorganism spores.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment chamber has a volume of at least 8 cubic meters.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds, meat, dairy products, eggs, spices, seasonings, fish, shell fish, prepared foods, frozen foods, water, beverages, baby food, liquid eggs, fruit juice, flour, oil, nutritional products, vitamins, nutraceuticals, baked foods, packaged products, animal feed, cans, bottles, plastic containers, food containers, cookware, utensils, pills, capsules, medical devices, medical equipment, laboratory glass and plastic ware.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of packaged products, cans, bottles, plastic containers, food containers, cookware, utensils, pills, capsules, medical devices, medical equipment, laboratory glass and plastic ware.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 16215187 · Dec 10, 2018
Continuation 14921910 · Oct 23, 2015
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