Augmenting Cleaning Chemicals

Abstract

Device, system and method for electrochemical generation of a liquid soap by electrolyzing a surfactant in an aqueous carrier in a cathode compartment of an electrolytic cell and electrolyzing an antimicrobial agent in an aqueous carrier in an anode compartment of the electrolytic cell with the compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane. Portions of the electrolyzed surfactant solution and portions of the electrolyzed antimicrobial solution are withdrawn from the cathode compartment and the anode compartment and combined to form the liquid soap. Skin benefiting agents such as vitamins may be added to the liquid soap with the surfactant and/or antimicrobial agent.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A device for dispensing a liquid soap, the device comprising:
 a flow through electrolytic cell comprising an anode compartment containing an anode and a cathode compartment containing a cathode, said anode and cathode compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane;   a first container for a surfactant in an aqueous carrier and a second container for an antimicrobial agent in an aqueous carrier, said first container flowably connected to the cathode compartment and said second container flowably connected to the anode compartment;   a drain in the electrolytic cell for withdrawing at least a portion of an aqueous solution formed in the anode compartment and at least a portion of an aqueous solution formed in the cathode compartment after electrolysis, said aqueous solutions forming a liquid soap when brought together.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  that is powered by power-over-ethernet (PoE), a battery or an AC current. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the surfactant or the antimicrobial agent or both undergo ionization in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the surfactant or the antimicrobial agent or both undergo de-ionization in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the surfactant or the antimicrobial agent or both are molecularly broken apart in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a skin benefiting agent is included in the first container or the second container or both depending on the selection of the surfactant and the selection of the antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the skin benefiting agent comprises between about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of the surfactant in the aqueous carrier in the first container or between about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of the antimicrobial agent in an aqueous carrier in the second container. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the skin benefitting agent is a cosmetic agent used to diminish, reduce or prevent aging, wrinkles, age spots or scar broken capillaries. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising operational controls and a user interface. 
     
     
         10 . A system for dispensing a liquid soap comprising:
 a flow through electrolytic cell comprising an anode compartment containing an anode and a cathode compartment containing a cathode, said anode and cathode compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane;   a first container for a surfactant in an aqueous carrier and a second container for an antimicrobial agent in an aqueous carrier, said first container flowably connected to the cathode compartment and said second container flowably connected to the anode compartment;   a drain in the electrolytic cell for withdrawing at least a portion of an aqueous solution formed in the anode compartment and at least a portion of an aqueous solution formed in the cathode compartment after electrolysis, said aqueous solutions forming a liquid soap when brought together.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  that is powered by power-over-ethernet (PoE), a battery or an AC current and having operational controls and a user interface. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the surfactant or the antimicrobial agent or both undergo ionization in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the surfactant or the antimicrobial agent or both undergo de-ionization in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the surfactant or the antimicrobial agent or both are molecularly broken apart in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10  wherein a skin benefiting agent is included in the first container or the second container or both depending on the selection of the surfactant and the selection of the antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the skin benefiting agent comprises between about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of the surfactant in the aqueous carrier in the first container or between about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent of the antimicrobial agent in an aqueous carrier in the second container. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the skin benefitting agent is a cosmetic agent used to diminish, reduce or prevent aging, wrinkles, age spots or scar broken capillaries. 
     
     
         18 . A method for applying liquid soap to a surface comprising:
 providing a flow through electrolytic cell comprising an anode compartment containing an anode and a cathode compartment containing a cathode, said anode and cathode compartments separated by a semipermeable membrane;   providing a first container for a surfactant in an aqueous carrier and a second container for an antimicrobial agent in an aqueous carrier, said first container flowably connected to the cathode compartment and said second container flowably connected to the anode compartment;   withdrawing at least a portion of an aqueous solution formed in the anode compartment and at least a portion of an aqueous solution formed in the cathode compartment after electrolysis, said aqueous solutions forming a liquid soap when brought together;   applying the liquid soap to the surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the liquid soap is applied to a user's hands. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the liquid soap is dispensed through a nozzle which is activated by a user moving a lever or placing at least one hand under the nozzle.