Catalyst Unit for Splitting a Decontamination Agent Introduced Into a Containment for a Decontamination Process

Abstract

The catalyst unit (1) for splitting a decontamination agent introduced into a containment for a decontamination process has at least one catalyst element (21). This catalyst element (21) first consists of a carrier material made of aluminum ceramics or activated carbon, and also of a catalytically active component in the form of nanoparticles, applied to the carrier material by means of chemical plating, and made of silver or silver oxide or of a silver and silver oxide mixture. The catalytically active component on the at least one catalyst element (21) is present in the range from 0.05 weight percent to 0.5 weight percent relative to the carrier material. The at least one catalyst element (21) has a catalytically effective surface in the range of up to 320 m.sup.2 per gram of used material, as a combination of carrier material plus applied catalytically active component. With the catalyst unit (1), an non-critical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent of lower than 0.5 ppm, preferentially a maximum of 0.1 ppm can be achieved. The containment is configured in particular as an isolator, sluice or RABS (Restricted

Access Barrier System), as well as being of a mobile and stationary type, such as means for transportation, and spaces for treatment, isolation and/or diagnosis of patients, as well as production spaces and laboratories.

Claims

1. A catalytic unit for splitting a decontamination agent introduced into a containment for the purposes of a decontamination process, wherein the catalytic unit possesses at least one catalytic element consisting of a carrier material formed from aluminum ceramic or activated carbon; and a catalytically active component applied to the carrier material by chemical plating and taking the form of nanoparticles formed from silver or silver oxide or a mixture of silver and silver oxide.

2. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catalytically active component comprises from 0.05 weight percent to 0.5 weight percent, of the carrier material in the at least one catalytic element; the at least one catalytic element has a catalytically effective surface area ranging up to 320 m.sup.2 per gram of catalyst material used, being the combination of carrier material plus applied catalytically active component; and the specific surface area [m.sup.2 per gram] of the catalyst material used, being the combination of carrier material plus applied catalytically active component, is not decreased by the applied nanoparticles in relation to the specific surface area [m.sup.2 per gram] of the carrier material alone, before application of the nanoparticles.

3. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catalytic unit comprises: at least one plate-shaped catalytic element or two or more consecutively packed such catalytic elements having a gastight covering possessing an open inlet for inflowing a process stream into the catalytic unit and an open outlet for outflowing the process stream out of the catalytic unit; or at least one hollow cylindrical catalytic element or two or more concentrically packed such catalytic elements having a gastight covering possessing an open inlet for inflowing the process stream into the catalytic unit and an open outlet for outflowing the process stream out of the catalytic unit.

4. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catalytic unit is for splitting a decontamination agent which has a sporicidal effect which causes at least a 3-log reduction; passes in aerosol form into the containment; and may be one of hydrogen peroxide [H.sub.2O.sub.2] and nitrogen dioxide [NO.sub.2] and peroxyacetic acid [C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3] and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide [H.sub.2O.sub.2] and peroxyacetic acid [C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3]; and the containment is configured as an isolator, lock or restricted access barrier system (RABS), including mobile and stationary kinds, such as a means of transport and rooms for treatment, isolation and/or diagnosis of patients, and also production rooms and laboratories.

5. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catalytic unit is for splitting a decontamination agent present for a decontamination process in a gas stream, passing through the catalytic unit and exiting into an area or a second containment or into the open atmosphere, wherein the exiting gaseous medium has an uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent amounting to less than 0.5 ppm, whereas a concentration above 1.0 ppm is defined as critical; and the attained uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent is not more than 0.1 ppm.

6. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one activated UV light source is directed at the at least one catalytic element during the splitting process to intensify the catalytic effect.

7. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one UV light source (3) is disposed outside the catalytic unit; or between adjacent catalytic elements; or centrally in a hollow cylindrical catalytic unit comprising one or more catalytic elements.

8. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein one UV light source is arranged in each case outside the catalytic unit; between adjacent catalytic elements; and centrally in a hollow cylindrical catalytic unit comprising one or more catalytic elements.

9. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein to maximize the intensification of the catalytic effect the at least one UV light source is constituted and positioned and/or guide elements are disposed on the UV light source and/or on the catalytic unit such that a maximum of the radiative effect of the UV light source is attainable on a maximum of the surface area of the one catalytic element or the two or more catalytic elements; and/or the wavelength of the at least one UV light source is adjusted according to the constitution of the carrier influenced catalytically active component.

10. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the catalytic unit comprises: at least one plate-shaped catalytic element or two or more consecutively packed such catalytic elements having a gastight covering possessing an open inlet for inflowing a process stream into the catalytic unit and an open outlet for outflowing the process stream out of the catalytic unit; or at least one hollow cylindrical catalytic element or two or more concentrically packed such catalytic elements having a gastight covering possessing an open inlet for inflowing the process stream into the catalytic unit and an open outlet for outflowing the process stream out of the catalytic unit.

11. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the catalytic unit is for splitting a decontamination agent which has a sporicidal effect which causes at least a 3-log reduction; passes in aerosol form into the containment; and may be one of hydrogen peroxide [H.sub.2O.sub.2] and nitrogen dioxide [NO.sub.2] and peroxyacetic acid [C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3] and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide [H.sub.2O.sub.2] and peroxyacetic acid [C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3]; and the containment is configured as an isolator, lock or restricted access barrier system (RABS), including mobile and stationary kinds, such as a means of transport and rooms for treatment, isolation and/or diagnosis of patients, and also production rooms and laboratories.

12. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the catalytic unit is for splitting a decontamination agent which has a sporicidal effect which causes at least a 3-log reduction; passes in aerosol form into the containment; and may be one of hydrogen peroxide [H.sub.2O.sub.2] and nitrogen dioxide [NO.sub.2] and peroxyacetic acid [C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3] and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide [H.sub.2O.sub.2] and peroxyacetic acid [C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3]; and the containment is configured as an isolator, lock or restricted access barrier system (RABS), including mobile and stationary kinds, such as a means of transport and rooms for treatment, isolation and/or diagnosis of patients, and also production rooms and laboratories.

13. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the catalytic unit is for splitting a decontamination agent present for a decontamination process in a gas stream, passing through the catalytic unit and exiting into an area or a second containment or into the open atmosphere, wherein the exiting gaseous medium has an uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent amounting to less than 0.5 ppm, whereas a concentration above 1.0 ppm is defined as critical; and the attained uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent is not more than 0.1 ppm.

14. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the catalytic unit is for splitting a decontamination agent present for a decontamination process in a gas stream, passing through the catalytic unit and exiting into an area or a second containment or into the open atmosphere, wherein the exiting gaseous medium has an uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent amounting to less than 0.5 ppm, whereas a concentration above 1.0 ppm is defined as critical; and the attained uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent is not more than 0.1 ppm.

15. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the catalytic unit is for splitting a decontamination agent present for a decontamination process in a gas stream, passing through the catalytic unit and exiting into an area or a second containment or into the open atmosphere, wherein the exiting gaseous medium has an uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent amounting to less than 0.5 ppm, whereas a concentration above 1.0 ppm is defined as critical; and the attained uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent is not more than 0.1 ppm.

16. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one activated UV light source is directed at the at least one catalytic element during the splitting process to intensify the catalytic effect.

17. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one activated UV light source is directed at the at least one catalytic element during the splitting process to intensify the catalytic effect.

18. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one activated UV light source is directed at the at least one catalytic element during the splitting process to intensify the catalytic effect.

19. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one activated UV light source is directed at the at least one catalytic element during the splitting process to intensify the catalytic effect.

20. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein to maximize the intensification of the catalytic effect the at least one UV light source is constituted and positioned and/or guide elements are disposed on the UV light source and/or on the catalytic unit such that a maximum of the radiative effect of the UV light source is attainable on a maximum of the surface area of the one catalytic element or the two or more catalytic elements; and/or the wavelength of the at least one UV light source is adjusted according to the constitution of the carrier influenced catalytically active component.

21. The catalytic unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein to maximize the intensification of the catalytic effect the at least one UV light source is constituted and positioned and/or guide elements are disposed on the UV light source and/or on the catalytic unit such that a maximum of the radiative effect of the UV light source is attainable on a maximum of the surface area of the one catalytic element or the two or more catalytic elements; and/or the wavelength of the at least one UV light source is adjusted according to the constitution of the carrier influenced catalytically active component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS

[0031] In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1Ashows a catalytic unit, illustratively consisting of a single catalytic element in plate shape, as a block diagram;

[0033] FIG. 1Bshows the catalytic unit of FIG. 1A, having a UV radiation source disposed either side of the catalytic unit on the outside thereof, as a block diagram;

[0034] FIG. 2Ashows a catalytic unit consisting of a single catalytic element in the form of a concentric hollow cylinder having one UV radiation source disposed outside and in the center of the catalytic unit, as a block diagram;

[0035] FIG. 2Bshows the catalytic unit of FIG. 2A with interchanged inlet and outlet, as a block diagram; and

[0036] FIG. 2Cshows the catalytic unit of FIG. 2A, in vertical section along the line A-A.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0037] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the detailed description follows of the catalytic unit the invention provides for splitting a decontamination agent present in an at least essentially gaseous process stream. This is done by setting forth two basic versions and mentioning various modifications thereto.

FIG. 1A

[0038] This first version catalytic unit 1 consists, illustratively, of a single catalytic element 21 in plate form and is provided a gastight covering 4 possessing an open inlet 8 for inflowing a process stream into the catalytic unit 1 and an open outlet 9 for outflowing the process stream out of the catalytic unit 1. This leads the entire process stream from the inlet 8 through the catalytic unit 1 to the outlet 9. Alternatively, the catalytic unit 1 may also consist of two or more consecutively packed such plate-shaped catalytic elements 21.

[0039] The at least one catalytic element 21 consists of: [0040] a) a carrier material formed from aluminum ceramic or activated carbon; and [0041] b) a catalytically active component applied to the carrier material by chemical plating and taking the form of nanoparticles formed from silver or silver oxide or a mixture of silver and silver oxide.

[0042] The catalytically active component comprises from 0.05 weight percent to 0.5 weight percent, preferably at 0.1 weight percent, of the carrier material in the at least one catalytic element 21. This at least one catalytic element 21 has a catalytically effective surface area ranging up to 320 m.sup.2 per gram of catalyst material used, being the combination of carrier material plus applied catalytically active component.

[0043] The specific surface area [m.sup.2 per gram] of the catalyst material used, being the combination of carrier material plus applied catalytically active component, is not decreased by the applied nanoparticles in relation to the specific surface area [m.sup.2 per gram] of the carrier material alone, before application of the nanoparticles.

[0044] The catalytic unit 1 is for splitting a decontamination agent which: [0045] a) is present for a decontamination process in a gas stream, passing through the catalytic unit 1 and exiting into an area or a second containment or into the open atmosphere, wherein the exiting gaseous medium has an uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent amounting to less than 0.5 ppm, whereas a concentration above 1.0 ppm is defined as critical, and preferably the attained uncritical concentration of non-degraded decontamination agent is not more than 0.1 ppm; [0046] b) has a sporicidal effect which causes at least a 3-log reduction; [0047] c) preferably passes in aerosol form into the containment; and [0048] d) preferably is hydrogen peroxide [H.sub.2O.sub.2] or nitrogen dioxide [NO.sub.2] or peroxyacetic acid [C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3] or a mixture of hydrogen peroxide [H.sub.2O.sub.2] and peroxyacetic acid [C.sub.2H.sub.4O.sub.3].

[0049] The containment is specifically configured as isolator, lock or restricted access barrier system (RABS), including mobile and stationary kinds, such as means of transport and rooms for treatment, isolation and/or diagnosis of patients, and also production rooms and laboratories.

FIG. 1B

[0050] At least one activated UV light source 3 is directed at the at least one catalytic element 21 during the splitting process for the purpose of intensifying the catalytic effect; here a UV light source 3 is disposed either side of the catalytic unit 1 comprising just the one catalytic element 21. Where the catalytic unit 1 consists of two or more identical mutually spaced apart catalytic elements 21, UV light sources 3 may alternatively or additionally also be provided between adjacent catalytic elements 21.

[0051] To maximize the intensification of the catalytic effect: [0052] a) the at least one UV light source 3 is and/or the UV light sources 3 positioned on both sides are constituted and positioned and/or guide elements are disposed on the UV light source 3 and/or on the catalytic unit 1 such that a maximum of the radiative effect of the UV light sources 3 is attainable on a maximum of the surface area of the one catalytic element 21 and/or all of the catalytic elements 21 in the catalytic unit 1; and/or [0053] b) the wavelength of the at least one UV light source 3 is adjusted according to the constitution of the carrier influenced catalytically active component.

FIGS. 2A to 2C

[0054] The second version catalytic unit 1 consists most simply of a single catalytic element 21, albeit now in the form of a hollow cylinder. The drawn depiction of a catalytic unit 1 having more than one hollow cylindrical catalytic element 21 has been eschewed, nonetheless such an expanded construction is realizable analogously to the alternative referred to in connection with FIG. 1A. However, catalytic unit 1 is similarly provided the optional UV light sources 3, to the max with one UV radiation source 3 disposed both outside and in the center of catalytic unit 1, as apparent in FIG. 2C.

[0055] The cylindrical shaped catalytic unit 1 has a gastight cap 40 at one axial end and a plate-shaped, for example, assembly element 41 at the other end. In one modification, the assembly element 41 is situated on the side of inlet 8, and in that case the outlet 9 is formed by the shell surface of catalytic unit 1 (see FIG. 2A).

[0056] In the other modification, the assembly element 41 is disposed on the side of outlet 9, and in that case the inlet 8 is effected via the shell surface of catalytic unit 1 (see FIG. 2B).