A method of limiting the spread of the norovirus within a cruise ship comprising: identifying a surface within a common area of a cruise ship that passengers are likely to touch; and applying a silane quaternary ammonium ion or salt thereof to the surface. The common area can be an elevator and the surface an elevator button. The common area can be a stairway and the surface a handrail. The common area can be a casino. The common area can be a dining room. The common area can be a walkway and the surface a handrail. The silane quaternary ammonium ion or salt thereof can be 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium ion, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride, 3-(trihydroxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium ion, or 3-(trihydroxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride. Applying the silane quaternary ammonium ion or salt thereof to the surface comprises applying a solution including the silane quaternary ammonium ion or salt thereof and a solvent.

This document describes self-cleaning devices. In one aspect, a self-cleaning device includes a fabric having a surface covered with a photocatalyst, one or more light sources embedded in the fabric, and a triggering mechanism that activates a cleaning cycle by activating the one or more light sources. The triggering mechanism can include a pressure sensor. The triggering mechanism can be configured to activate the cleaning cycle in response to detecting a decrease in pressure being applied to the pressure sensor.

The present disclosure describes a process for producing a reducing liquid comprising providing a liquid: providing a reducing gas and/or a metasilicate; and infusing the reducing gas and/or the metasilicate to the liquid, for the reducing gas and/or metasilicate to react with the liquid to produce a reducing liquid that has an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) value of about 100 mV or more negative. Further described is the process for preparing a reducing gas, which includes the steps of preparing an activator, introducing the activator into an electrolytic reactor, adding water, and applying a direct current to produce the reducing gas. Also described is a system for producing a reducing liquid.

The present disclosure describes a process for producing a reducing liquid comprising providing a liquid; providing a reducing gas and/or a metasilicate; and infusing the reducing gas and/or the metasilicate to the liquid, for the reducing gas and/or metasilicate to react with the liquid to produce a reducing liquid that has an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) value of about 100 mV or more negative. Further described is the process for preparing a reducing gas, which includes the steps of preparing an activator, introducing the activator into an electrolytic reactor, adding water, and applying a direct current to produce the reducing gas. Also described is a system for producing a reducing liquid.

The present disclosure describes a process for producing a reducing liquid comprising providing a liquid; providing a reducing gas and/or a metasilicate; and infusing the reducing gas and/or the metasilicate to the liquid, for the reducing gas and/or metasilicate to react with the liquid to produce a reducing liquid that has an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) value of about 100 mV or more negative. Further described is the process for preparing a reducing gas, which includes the steps of preparing an activator, introducing the activator into an electrolytic reactor, adding water, and applying a direct current to produce the reducing gas. Also described is a system for producing a reducing liquid.

The present invention intends to disclose a process for in situ flocculation followed by solidification of biomedical waste that is capable of simultaneously treating and disinfecting solid and fluid samples. The process comprises of the addition of the waste samples to an alkaline aqueous solution of metal silicates followed by the addition of an organic or inorganic acid for flocculation and a solid metal oxide or phosphate at a defined volumetric and/or weighted composition leading to instantaneous solidification with >99.9% microbial disinfection and an all-in-one disinfecting device for treatment of biomedical waste. The present disclosure also provides a disinfection-flocculation-solidification and disposal device comprising the disinfection composition.

A water-based curable composition, for production of coatings having an antimicrobial property, contains at least one film-forming polymer, optionally at least one additive and/or at least one curing agent, and at least one up-conversion phosphor of the general formula (I): A.sub.1-x-y-zB*.sub.yB.sub.2SiO.sub.4:Ln.sup.1.sub.x,Ln.sup.2.sub.z. In the general formula (I), x=0.0001-0.0500; z=0.0000 or z=0.0001 to 0.3000 with the proviso that: y=x+z; A is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; B is selected from Li, Na, K. Rb and Cs; B* is selected from Li, Na and K; and preferably B and B* are not the same. Additionally, Ln.sup.1 is selected from praseodymium (Pr), erbium (Er), and neodymium (Nd); and Ln.sup.2 is gadolinium (Gd). The phosphor, as a result of an aftertreatment, includes at least one material which has a band gap of greater than 6.0 electronvolts (eV) and is hydrolysis-stable.