To sterilize a sterilization filter unit with heated steam, minimize the heat load on the sterilization filter unit and extend the service life of the sterilization filter unit. Heated steam is supplied to a sterilization filter unit that sterilizes supplied air, the temperature of the heated steam discharged from the sterilization filter unit is measured at predetermined time intervals, the F value is calculated from the measured temperature, and sterilization of the sterilization filter unit is ended when the F value reaches a target value.

An antimicrobial filter media, which includes a non-woven fabric; and an antimicrobial agent bound to the nonwoven fabric by a binder, the antimicrobial agent including silver sodium zirconium hydrogenphosphate and thiabendazole, and the silver sodium zirconium hydrogenphosphate and the thiabendazole are employed at a weight ratio of 1:1.5 to 1.5:1, to an air cleaner including the same, and to a process for preparing the same. The antimicrobial filter media includes silver sodium zirconium hydrogenphosphate and thiabendazole, as an antimicrobial agent, at a specific weight ratio. As a result, it is possible to effectively filter harmful microorganisms to supply purified air, to have excellent antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties at the same time, and to further enhance the durability and lifespan characteristics by virtue of excellent filter damage prevention effect.

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.

A 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 has been prepared using at least one halogen-containing flux.

A process can be used for the preparation of an up-conversion phosphor of the general formula (I)

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The process involves providing i) at least one lanthanoid salt, ii) a silicate or a silicon dioxide, iii) at least one alkaline earth metal salt and at least one alkali metal salt, and iv) at least one flux. The process then involves either mixing components i), ii), iii) and iv) by grinding to obtain a mixture; or mixing components i), ii), iii) and iv) in an organic polar or nonpolar solvent that is not a protic solvent by grinding to obtain a mixture, and precalcining the mixture. The process further involves calcining the mixture, and obtaining a silicate-based up-conversion phosphor of the general formula (I), preferably after cooling the material. At least 3.5% by weight of flux is used, based on the total amount of the reactants.

A handle for an oral-care implement, the handle comprises an electrical motor arranged to drive an output element structured and configured to couple the handle and a head attachable to and detachable from the handle; and a microcontroller for controlling the motor and to cause the output element to vibrate in (a) at least one oral-hygiene mode during which the oral-care implement is being used for an oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is vibrating at a substantially constant frequency, and (b) a disinfection mode during which the handle is being disinfected, before or after being used for the oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is continuously vibrating at a modulated frequency alternating within a frequency range of between about 140 Hz and about 250 Hz, for a duration of the disinfection mode.

To sterilize a sterilization filter unit with heated steam, minimize the heat load on the sterilization filter unit and extend the service life of the sterilization filter unit.

Heated steam is supplied to a sterilization filter unit that sterilizes supplied air, the temperature of the heated steam discharged from the sterilization filter unit is measured at predetermined time intervals, the F value is calculated from the measured temperature, and sterilization of the sterilization filter unit is ended when the F value reaches a target value.

An embodiment provides a method for cleaning a surface, including: encapsulating a cleaning composition in a polymer material to form a compound, wherein the polymer material surrounds the cleaning composition; placing the compound in a location adjacent to the surface, wherein the location adjacent to the surface is a volume separated from an outer volume; dissolving the polymer material at a pH above a target value above the polymer material pH dissolution point, wherein the dissolving releases the cleaning composition; and cleaning the surface using the released cleaning composition. Other aspects are described and claimed.

An embodiment provides a method for cleaning a surface, including: encapsulating a cleaning composition in a polymer material to form a compound, wherein the polymer material surrounds the cleaning composition; placing the compound in a location adjacent to the surface, wherein the location adjacent to the surface is a volume separated from an outer volume; dissolving the polymer material at a pH above a target value above the polymer material pH dissolution point, wherein the dissolving releases the cleaning composition; and cleaning the surface using the released cleaning composition. Other aspects are described and claimed.

A method for producing calcium phosphate by the present invention is characterized by comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a 0.5-1.5 M aqueous calcium salt solution, a 0.3-0.8 M aqueous phosphate solution, and a 0.1-0.5 M aqueous carbonate solution; (b) mixing the aqueous phosphate solution and the aqueous carbonate solution in step (a) to prepare a mixture solution; (c) adding an aqueous alkaline solution to the aqueous calcium salt solution in step (a); (d) adding an aqueous alkaline solution to the mixture solution in step (b); (e) mixing and reacting the aqueous calcium salt solution with the aqueous alkaline solution added thereto in step (c) and the mixture solution with the aqueous alkaline solution added thereto in step (d) to prepare a precipitate; and (f) filtering, washing, and drying the precipitate in step (e) to obtain calcium phosphate, wherein the primary particle size of the calcium phosphate is 100 nm or smaller and the specific surface area thereof is 40-150 m2/g.