Anti-biocontaminant Products and Processes for Making the Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to micro-sized particles having anti-biocontaminant properties. Each particle is comprised of a central metal core, or support structure, (for example, alumina oxide) and has on its surface, one or more anti-biocontaminant metals and at least one redox agent.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An anti-biocontaminant product comprising:
 a support structure; and   a colloidal suspension dispersed on the support structure, the colloidal suspension including one or more anti-biocontaminant metals, gelatin, and a redox agent in a colloidal medium.   
     
     
         27 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more anti-biocontaminant metals include one or more of silver, copper, manganese, nickel, tin, zinc, and brass. 
     
     
         28 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more anti-biocontaminant metals include one or more of ionic metals, colloidal metals, and metallic metals. 
     
     
         29 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more anti-biocontaminant metals include one or more metal salts. 
     
     
         30 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more metal salts include one or more of silver nitrate, silver fluoride, and silver chloride. 
     
     
         31 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , wherein the colloidal suspension includes between about 1% to about 4% by mass of the one or more anti-biocontaminant metals. 
     
     
         32 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , wherein the support structure having the colloidal suspension dispersed thereon is treated with one or more of methyl orange and methyl violet. 
     
     
         33 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , wherein the redox agent of the colloidal suspension includes sodium thiosulphate. 
     
     
         34 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , wherein the support structure is non-porous. 
     
     
         35 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , wherein the support structure is porous. 
     
     
         36 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 35 , wherein the support structure includes one or more of alumina, alumina gel, pseudoboehmite, gamma, chi-rho, eta, and bayerite alumina. 
     
     
         37 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 26 , further comprising a target material, wherein the support structure having the colloidal suspension dispersed thereon is applied to the target material. 
     
     
         38 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 37 , wherein the target material includes one or more of woven and non-woven products, plastic, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, thermoplastic polymers, paper, cloth, mud bath products, leather, medical wipes, catheters, dust masks, sipping straws, filters, canteens, and metal. 
     
     
         39 . An anti-biocontaminant product comprising:
 a target material;   an anti-biocontaminant composition applied to the target material; the anti-biocontaminant composition comprising a support structure having dispersed thereon a colloidal suspension, the colloidal suspension including one or more anti-biocontaminant metals, gelatin, and a redox agent in a colloidal medium.   
     
     
         40 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the target material includes one or more of woven and non-woven products, plastic, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, thermoplastic polymers, paper, cloth, mud bath products, leather, medical wipes, catheters, dust masks, sipping straws, filters, canteens, and metal. 
     
     
         41 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more anti-biocontaminant metals include one or more of silver, copper, manganese, nickel, tin, zinc, and brass. 
     
     
         42 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more anti-biocontaminant metals include one or more of ionic metals, colloidal metals, and metallic metals. 
     
     
         43 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more anti-biocontaminant metals include one or more metal salts. 
     
     
         44 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more metal salts include one or more of silver nitrate, silver fluoride, and silver chloride. 
     
     
         45 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the colloidal suspension includes between about 1% to about 4% by mass of the one or more anti-biocontaminant metals. 
     
     
         46 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the anti-biocontaminant composition is treated with one or more of methyl orange and methyl violet. 
     
     
         47 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the colloidal suspension further comprises one or more amines. 
     
     
         48 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the redox agent of the anti-biocontaminant composition includes sodium thiosulphate. 
     
     
         49 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the support structure is non-porous. 
     
     
         50 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the support structure is porous. 
     
     
         51 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 50 , wherein the support structure includes one or more of alumina, alumina gel, pseudoboehmite, gamma, chi-rho, eta, and bayerite alumina. 
     
     
         52 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 50 , wherein the material has a pore size of between about 0.1 nm (1 Å) and 50 nm (500 Å). 
     
     
         53 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the anti-biocontaminant composition is dried prior to being applied to the target material. 
     
     
         54 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 53 , wherein drying the composition includes drying the composition at 150° C. for about 1 hour. 
     
     
         55 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 53 , wherein drying the composition includes drying the composition at 150° C. in the presence of a desiccant silica gel. 
     
     
         56 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 53 , wherein drying the composition includes drying the composition at between about 240° C. to about 260° C. for between about 3-4 hours. 
     
     
         57 . The anti-biocontaminant product of  claim 39 , wherein the anti-biocontaminant composition is dried after being applied to the target material.