Environmentally compatible processes compositions and materials treated thereby

Abstract

Environmentally friendly processes for killing pathogens in water involves adding to the water an amount sufficient of a hydrogen peroxide solution having a pH of less than 4, to kill pathogens in the water, wherein the hydrogen peroxide solution contains metallic ions of silver and at least one of copper and zinc, metallic ions being present in the hydrogen peroxide solution in an amount of 10 ppb to 5%; wherein the hydrogen peroxide solution contains at least one of peracetic, nitric, sulfuric and phosphoric acids; wherein the solution preferably contains one or more of sulfuric acid, salicylic acid, phosphonic acid, citric acid and glycerin; and wherein the water is preferably also subjected to UV and/or IR radiation.

1 . A method of killing pathogens in water, comprising adding to said water an amount sufficient of a hydrogen peroxide solution having a pH of less than 4, to kill pathogens in said water, wherein said hydrogen peroxide solution contains metallic ions of silver and at least one of copper and zinc, said metallic ions being present in said hydrogen peroxide solution in an amount of 10 ppb to 5%; wherein said hydrogen peroxide solution contains at least one of peracetic, nitric, sulfuric and phosphoric acids, and wherein said solution optionally contains one or more of sulfuric acid, salicylic acid, phosphonic acid, citric acid and glycerin.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solution contains both of said ions of copper and zinc.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solution contains at least one of said sulfuric acid, salicylic acid, phosphoric acid and citric acid.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said solution contains at least one of said sulfuric acid, salicylic acid, phosphoric acid and citric acid.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solution contains both phosphoric and peracetic acid.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said solution contains both phosphoric and peracetic acid.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solution contains both phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said solution contains both phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said solution contains both phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solution contains said glycerin.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said solution contains at least one of said salicylic acid, citric acid, glycerin, and sulfuric acid.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said solution contains said glycerin.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solution further contains one or more of nickel, iron, potassium, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, magnesium, boron, phosphorous, iodine, sulfur and citrate.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said solution contains at least one of said sulfuric acid, salicylic acid, phosphoric acid and citric acid.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said solution contains both phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said solution contains both phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying said water in which said pathogens have been killed to treat edible matter or flower bulbs or tubers by immersion or spraying, or contacting soil with said water to kill pathogens in said soil, or contacting surfaces with said water to kill pathogens on said surfaces.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is illuminated by Infra Red radiation, Ultra Violet radiation, or both Infra Red and Ultra Violet radiations.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is illuminated by Infra Red illumination and subsequently by Ultra Violet illumination.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is illuminated by Ultra Violet illumination and subsequently by Infra Red illumination.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is illuminated by Ultra Violet having a wavelength of less than 280 nm, optionally a wavelength of substantially between 200-10 nm.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is illuminated by Infra Red radiation having a wavelength of substantially from 0.75 to 1.4 μm.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is illuminated by Infra Red radiation having a wavelength of substantially from 1.4 to 3 μm.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution further contains at least one of titanium, lithium and nitric acid.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is at a temperature of at least 30° C. or is heated to a temperature of at least 30° C.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution further contains ethanol.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution further contains phosphonic and nitric acids.