Methods of Inactivating Pathogens

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method for sanitizing a space. The method includes applying a composition containing triethylene glycol into a space containing a pathogen (e.g., a Staphylococcus , a Pseudomonas , a Listeria, Salmonella, Klebsiella , a mycobacterium , a mold, or a spore) in an amount effective to inactivate the pathogen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a dispenser device having a reservoir, wherein the reservoir contains a composition comprising triethylene glycol,   wherein the dispenser device is configured to:
 apply the composition into a space containing a pathogen in an amount effective to inactivate the pathogen, 
 wherein the pathogen comprises a  Staphylococcus , a  Pseudomonas , a  Listeria , a  Salmonella , a  Klebsiella , a  mycobacterium , a mold, or a spore and the triethylene glycol is in the space at a concentration of from about 0.01 mg/m 3  to about 10 mg/m 3 . 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser device comprises a vaporizer configured to vaporize the composition and apply the vaporized composition into the space. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser device comprises a nebulizer configured to nebulize the composition and apply the nebulized composition into the space. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser device comprises an atomizer configured to atomize the composition and apply the atomized composition into the space. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a tubing configured to couple the dispenser device to a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) unit, and
 wherein the dispenser device is configured to provide at least a portion of the composition to the HVAC unit via the tubing.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the triethylene glycol is in an amount of from about 10% to about 90% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises water. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the water is in an amount of from about 5% to about 90% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises propylene glycol. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the propylene glycol is in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 20% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from about 50% to about 90% by weight triethylene glycol, and from about 10% to about 50% by weight water. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 52.5% by weight triethylene glycol, about 1% by weight propylene glycol, and about 46.5% by weight water. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser device is configured to apply the composition into the space at a concentration of from about 0.01 mg/m 3  to about 1 mg/m 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser device is configured to produce an aerosol of the composition, wherein the aerosol comprises liquid droplets having an average diameter of from about 10 nm to about 10 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the dispenser device is configured to apply the aerosol in the space at a concentration of from about 0.01 mg/m 3  to about 10 mg/m 3 . 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser device comprises a heat exchange configured to heat the composition. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the space is an indoor space. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the space is occupied by human being.