Method and Device For Disinfection and/or Purification Of A Product

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for illuminating and at the same time purifying or disinfecting products such as air, flowers, food, vegetables, meat, poultry or fish. The method comprises the use of IR emitting LED elements.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . Method for reducing the number of microorganisms in or on a product, which method comprises illuminating the product with infrared light from one or more LED elements, preferably with infrared light in a range from 900 nM to 960 nM. 
     
     
         31 . Method according to  claim 30 , wherein the product is simultaneously illuminated by white light emitted from one or more LED elements. 
     
     
         32 . Method according to  claim 31 , wherein the white light is a combination of warm white light, and cold white light. 
     
     
         33 . Method according to  claim 30 , wherein the product is air, flowers, food, vegetables, meat, poultry or fish. 
     
     
         34 . Method according to  claim 30 , wherein the microorganisms are bacteria, yeast, fungi or parasites. 
     
     
         35 . Method according to  claim 34 , wherein the bacteria, yeast, fungi, or parasites belong to the genus, family or group of  Escheria, Legionella, Listeria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Saccharomyces, Leduconostoc, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio or Yersinia.    
     
     
         36 . Method according to  claim 30 , wherein the radiant output of the LED elements is at least 10 mW. 
     
     
         37 . Method according to  claim 30 , wherein the current feeding the LED elements is pulsed at frequencies in the range of 10 kHz to 1 MHz. 
     
     
         38 . Device for reducing the number of microorganisms in or on a product using IR light, wherein the device comprises one or more LED elements and a power for the LED elements, wherein said LED-elements comprise an IR LED element, preferably an IR LED element within a range from 900 nm to 960 nm. 
     
     
         39 . Device according to  claim 38 , wherein the one or more LED elements further comprise white light LED elements, which preferably comprise a warm white LED-element and a cold white LED-element. 
     
     
         40 . Device according to  claim 39 , wherein the white light LED-elements comprise a 3000 K LED element and a 6500 K LED element. 
     
     
         41 . Device according to  claim 39 , wherein the white and IR LED-elements are included in alternating manner in an elongated panel or string in the direction of elongation. 
     
     
         42 . Device according to  claim 39 , wherein the number of white light LED elements in the device is larger than the number of IR-elements. 
     
     
         43 . Device according to  claim 39 , wherein the number of cold white LED-elements is larger than the number of warm white light LED-elements. 
     
     
         44 . System for reducing the number of microorganisms in or on a product comprising a LED light source for infrared radiation of light onto said liquid, said infra red light source being separated from said fluid by a glass or synthetic material transparent for IR light, wherein said source is included in an elongated holder for a multiplicity of LED elements, and wherein said fluid is guided by a fluid guide element stretching in the direction of elongation of said light source. 
     
     
         45 . System according to  claim 44 , wherein the guide element is a tube and wherein the elongated source is preferably included at opposite sides of said tube.