Method and device for producing aqueous iodine and other halogen solutions

Abstract

Method and devices for producing aqueous iodine and other halogen solutions for dietary, disinfection, sterilization and preservation purposes and the uses thereof.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of producing an aqueous solution of thermodynamically free iodine from iodine vapor transferred across a membrane from an iodine source, comprising the following steps: 
 selecting a membrane that is permeable to iodine and water vapor but impermeable to liquids and solids;    providing a source of iodine vapor;    providing such membrane in the form of an enclosure to contain the source of iodine vapor;    providing a vessel that contains a receiving medium for the iodine vapor; and    permeating iodine vapor across the membrane.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine source is iodine as an iodine-releasing solid or an iodine-releasing liquid that contains iodine in solution or in a complex form.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  including the additional steps of: 
 absorbing the iodine vapor in the liquid contained in the vessel;  
 mixing the iodine vapor with inert gas contained in or flowing through the vessel; and  
 controlling flow of the receiving medium such that it is either static or moving.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  including the additional step of: 
 passing the inert gas containing iodine vapor through a liquid medium that absorbs said iodine vapor.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is an organic plastic material.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is an inorganic material.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is single ply.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is multi-ply construction wherein the plies are of the same or different composition and structure.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is a continuous film.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is non-woven.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is a nanostructure.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is perforated.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the membrane material is substantially non-permeable to solid iodine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , including the additional step of; 
 transferring iodine vapor through discrete pores in the membrane of less than 5 microns.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , including the additional steps of: 
 providing a vessel of a material that is substantially impermeable to iodine vapor and essentially unreactive towards iodine;    maintaining a temperature of the receiving medium in the range of about −10 to 110 degrees Centigrade;    maintaining a pressure in the vessel containing the receiving medium in a range from vacuum to about 5 atmospheres; and    constructing and testing the vessel for the specified pressure rating.    
     
     
         16 . A device for producing a saturated or concentrated solution of iodine, comprising: 
 an iodine vapor-permeable membrane sealed by a melt sealer or adhesive means into a sachet or pouch;    an iodine source contained within said sachet or pouch;    an iodine-receiving medium;    a vessel containing the iodine-receiving medium;    a suitable means for providing controlled flow, where desired, of the iodine-receiving medium;    a suitable means of supplying agitation of the receiving medium;    a suitable means of heating or cooling and temperature control of the receiving medium, where required for the intended end-use;    a suitable means for controlling the pressure in the receiving medium, where required for the intended end-use; and    a suitable means for removing a measured volume of iodine solution from the vessel in batch or continuous mode.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is an inorganic material.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is single ply.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is multi-ply construction wherein the plies are the same or different composition and structure.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is a continuous film.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is non-woven.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is a nanostructure.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the iodine vapor-permeable membrane is perforated.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the membrane material is substantially non-permeable to solid iodine.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 16  that can produce controlled or blended iodine solutions of any strength up to the saturation level.  
     
     
         26 . A method of preparing an iodine fluid for dietary purposes directly or by blending, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a membrane that is permeable to iodine and water vapor but impermeable to liquids and solids;    providing such membrane in the form of an enclosure to contain the source of iodine vapor;    providing a source of iodine vapor within the enclosure;    providing a vessel that contains a receiving medium for the iodine vapor;    controlling a flow of the iodine-receiving medium in the vessel;    removing a measured volume of iodine solution from the vessel in a batch or continuous mode; and    preparing an iodine fluid for dietary purposes.    
     
     
         27 . A method of preparing a fluid for disinfecting, sterilizing and preserving food ingredients, food stuffs, feed ingredients and feedstuffs, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a membrane that is permeable to iodine and water vapor but impermeable to liquids and solids;    providing such membrane in the form of an enclosure to contain the source of iodine vapor,    providing a source of iodine vapor within the enclosure;    providing a vessel that contains a receiving medium for the iodine vapor;    removing a measured volume of iodine solution from the vessel in a batch or continuous mode; and    preparing a fluid for disinfecting, sterilizing and preserving food ingredients, food stuffs, feed ingredients and feedstuffs.    
     
     
         28 . A method for preserving food products such as fish, seafood, poultry and meat, according to the steps of: 
 producing ice from an aqueous iodine solution prepared according to the steps of: 
 selecting a membrane that is permeable to iodine and water vapor but impermeable to liquids and solids;  
 providing such membrane in the form of an enclosure to contain the source of iodine vapor,  
 providing a source of iodine vapor within the enclosure; and  
 providing a vessel that contains a receiving medium for the iodine vapor.  
   
     
     
         29 . A method for preserving food products such as fruits and vegetables, comprising the steps of: 
 spraying a dilute aqueous iodine solution prepared according to the steps of: 
 selecting a membrane that is permeable to iodine and water vapor but impermeable to liquids and solids;  
 providing such membrane in the form of an enclosure to contain the source of iodine vapor;  
 providing a source of iodine vapor within the enclosure; and  
 providing a vessel that contains a receiving medium for the iodine vapor.  
   
     
     
         30 . A method for producing an aqueous solution of a halogen or mixture of halogens, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a membrane that is permeable to halogen and water vapor but impermeable to liquids and solids;    providing such membrane in the form of an enclosure to contain the source of halogen vapor;    providing a source of halogen vapor within the enclosure; and    providing a vessel that contains a receiving medium for the halogen vapor.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  including the additional steps of: 
 absorbing the halogen vapor in the liquid contained in the vessel;  
 mixing the halogen vapor with inert gas contained in or flowing through the vessel; and  
 controlling flow of the receiving medium such that it is either static or moving.