Method for abatement of allergens, pathogens and volatile organic compounds

Abstract

The present invention pertains to methods utilizing ozone treatment for abating allergens, pathogens, odors, and volatile organic compounds. The methods can be employed to abate pollutants, bacteria, viruses, mold, dander, funguses, dust mites, animal and smoke odors, and the like. The methods employ specific combinations of ozone concentration, hydrogen peroxide concentration, temperature, and humidity delivered over a specified period of time to achieve satisfactory abatement of the allergen, pathogen, odor, or volatile organic compound.

1 . A method for abating a substance in a space, the method comprising the steps of:
 sealing a space such that conditions of ozone concentration, temperature, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and relative humidity within the space can be controlled, wherein the space contains at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a pathogen, an allergen, and odor-causing agent;   maintaining an atmospheric ozone concentration in the space of at least about 2 ppm;   maintaining an atmospheric hydrogen peroxide concentration in the space, wherein the atmospheric hydrogen peroxide concentration is at least about 75% by weight of that of the atmospheric ozone concentration;   maintaining a relative humidity within the space of at least about 50%; and   maintaining a temperature within the space of at least about 15° C.;   wherein the steps are conducted substantially simultaneously for a time period of at least about 0.5 hours, whereby the substance is abated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the atmospheric ozone concentration is from about 2 to about 10 parts per million. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the relative humidity is from about 50% to about 90%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the atmospheric hydrogen peroxide concentration is from about 75% to about 150% by weight of the atmospheric ozone concentration. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is from about 15° C. to about 27° C. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time period is from about 0.5 hours to about 3 hours. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 ceasing providing ozone to the space; and thereafter   exposing an interior of the space to ultraviolet light, whereby an odor associated with ozone is reduced.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 ceasing providing ozone to the space; and thereafter   exposing the space to a temperature above 27° C., whereby an odor associated with ozone is reduced.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 providing ions to the space, whereby an odor associated with ozone is reduced.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the space comprises an interior portion of a building. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the space comprises a room of a building. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the building comprises a dwelling. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the space comprises an interior portion of a ship. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the space comprises an interior portion of passenger car. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the space comprises an interior portion a mobile home or a motor home. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen is mold. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen is selected from the group consisting of Norwalk virus and anthrax. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the allergen is selected from the group consisting of dust mite feces, dander, tobacco smoke and a protein capable of inducing an allergic reaction in a human susceptible thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the odor-causing agent is a volatile organic compound. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the odor-causing agent is urine. 
     
     
         21 . A method for abating a substance in an enclosed space, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an ingress into the space, wherein the space contains at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a pathogen, an allergen, and odor-causing agent;   providing an egress out of the space;   providing ozone to an atmosphere within the space via the ingress, so as to an atmospheric ozone concentration, as measured at the egress, of at least about 2 ppm;   providing hydrogen peroxide to an atmosphere within the space via the ingress, so as to maintain an atmospheric hydrogen peroxide concentration, as measured at the egress, that is at least about 75% by weight of that of the atmospheric ozone concentration;   maintaining a relative humidity within the space of at least about 70%; and   maintaining a temperature within the space of at least about 15° C.;   wherein the steps are conducted substantially simultaneously for a time period of at least about 0.5 hours, whereby the substance is abated.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the space is selected from an interior of a wall in a building, an interior of a floor in a building, and an interior of a ceiling in a building. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the atmospheric ozone concentration is from about 2 to about 10 parts per million. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the atmospheric hydrogen peroxide concentration is from about 75% to about 150% by weight of the atmospheric ozone concentration 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the ingress and the egress are situated on substantially opposite ends of the space. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pathogen is mold. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pathogen is selected from the group consisting of Norwalk virus and anthrax. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the allergen is selected from the group consisting of dust mite feces, dander, tobacco smoke and a protein capable of inducing an allergic reaction in a human susceptible thereto. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the odor-causing agent is a volatile organic compound. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the odor-causing agent is urine. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the space comprises an interior portion of a building. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the space comprises a room of a building. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the building comprises a dwelling.