Methods of using chlorine dioxide as a fumigant

Abstract

The invention provides methods of using chlorine dioxide gas for the fumigation of building spaces, heating ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC, e.g., return supply ducts, heating and cooling coils and the like), vehicles, office spaces, process equipment, files, documents, mail, mail processing equipment, industrial process equipment and consumer related items under safe conditions.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method suitable for fumigating a large enclosed volume and contents requiring fumigation and restoring habitability, comprising the steps of: 
 climatizing a volume requiring fumigation containing contents;    generating chlorine dioxide gas;    introducing the chlorine dioxide gas into the volume requiring fumigation;    distributing the introduced chlorine dioxide gas in the volume requiring fumigation;    maintaining a residual amount of the chlorine dioxide gas within the volume requiring fumigation under environmentally safe conditions at a level and duration permitting gaseous penetration of included contents as required for decontamination; and    removing the chlorine dioxide gas from the volume requiring fumigation, thereby fumigating the large enclosed volume and contents and restoring habitability.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chlorine dioxide gas is removed from the volume requiring fumigation with the same equipment that was used to introduce the chlorine dioxide gas.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chlorine dioxide gas is generated as a solution of chlorine dioxide gas in a liquid.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the liquid is water.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chlorine dioxide gas is introduced using an emitter.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the emitter is a stripper.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of climatizing the volume requiring fumigation includes the step of adjusting the relative humidity.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of climatizing the volume requiring fumigation includes the step of adjusting the temperature.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of climatizing the volume requiring fumigation includes the step of avoiding exceeding the dew point.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of climatizing the volume requiring fumigation includes the step of reducing the level of illumination.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the volume requiring fumigation is a portion of a building.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the volume requiring fumigation is a vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step distributing the introduced chlorine dioxide gas comprises using a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the volume requiring fumigation is maintained substantially dark.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chlorine dioxide gas is present in the introduced gas at a concentration of at least 90%.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chlorine dioxide gas is present in the introduced gas at a concentration of at least 95%.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the chlorine dioxide gas is present in the introduced gas at a concentration of at least 99%.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the same apparatus is used to climatize the volume requiring fumigation and to introduce the chlorine dioxide gas into the volume requiring fumigation.