Method for removing particulate matter in indoor environments

Abstract

Method for removing all types of particulate matter with exclusion of biological multiplying microorganisms in indoor environments characterized by comprising the following two steps:the atomization of compounds that oxidize particulate matter to form complexes and to precipitate them;the atomization of a liquid containing a mixture of spores of Gram-positive aerobic and/or of facultative anaerobic spore formers to act as nuclei for extra precipitation, to cover the precipitated particulate matter; and to metabolize precipitated particles and to take up precipitated particles by the Gram-positive bacteria/thereby preventing the precipitated particles to become airborne again;whereby the drop size in both atomization steps is held between 5 and 50 m to yield a dry nebula.

Claims

1. A method for treatment of an indoor environment by removing precipitated particulate matter consisting of: atomizing a liquid containing a mixture of spores of Gram-positive aerobic spore formers to act as nuclei for extra precipitation, to cover the precipitated particulate matter; and to metabolize the precipitated particulate matter and to take up the precipitated particulate matter by Gram-positive bacteria, thereby preventing the precipitated particulate matter from becoming airborne again; the atomizing thus producing an atomized liquid having a drop size wherein the drop size of the atomized liquid is held between 5 and 50 pm to yield a dry nebula.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Gram-positive aerobic spore formers are members of the Bacillus genus.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the atomizing is carried out at a low temperature between 1 C. and 18 C., and wherein the spore formers are members of a genus selected from the group consisting of: Sporosarcina, Paenisporosarcina and Paenibacillus.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment of the indoor environment is finished within one hour, and makes the indoor environment accessible for unprotected persons after one hour.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the Gram-positive aerobic spore formers are selected from the group consisting of: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus megaterium.

Description

(1) With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, hereafter, as an example without any limitative character, a preferred form of embodiment is described of an improved device, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically represents the first step of the method of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically represents the second step of the method of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 represents the interior space after cleaning;

(5) FIG. 4 represents the drop size distribution of the microdrops generated by the method of this invention.

(6) FIG. 1 represents the first step of treatment of the interior space 1 by the atomization of an oxidizing compound 2, by means of an atomizer 3.

(7) FIG. 2 represents the second step of treatment of the interior space 1 after less than an hour, whereby a benign biological culture 4 of spores of type Gram-positive aerobic spore formers such as Bacillus species and/or spores of Sporosarcina, Paenisporosarcina and Paenibacillus species is also atomized in the same indoor environment.

(8) FIG. 3 shows the cleaned space after the two treatment steps whereby the interior space is again accessible to inhabitants one hour after the treatment has started.

(9) FIG. 4 shows the distribution of the volumetric size of the microdrops generated by the atomization steps in the method of this invention in an indoor environment. Almost all the drops are sized between 5 and 50 micrometers.

(10) The method of this invention works by, in a first step, atomizing a solution of oxidizing compounds of which an atomizer produces small nebula drops sized between 5 to 50 micrometer.

(11) The droplets spread in the air of the interior space and on all surfaces of it, thereby washing the air itself from particulate matter flowing in the air and oxidizing the particulate matter on the surfaces in order to oxidize particulate matter to form complexes and to precipitate them.

(12) In a second step, a solution is atomized containing spores of Gram-positive spore formers 4, such as Bacillus species, and/or spores of Sporosarcina, Paenisporosarcina and Paenibacillus species with the following effect: the reduction of the remaining oxidizing agent from the first step by neutralisation; the homogeneous spreading of the spores of Gram-positive spore formers and/or spores of Sporosarcina, Paenisporosarcina and Paenibacillus through the atomization in the interior space; the spores of Gram-positive bacteria outgrowing the growth of molds thereby preventing an explosive growth of molds, and creating a stable and healthy microflora; the growth of Gram-positive microorganisms will outgrow the growth of Gram-negative bacteria thereby preventing the production of endotoxins and exotoxins within the indoor environment. at low temperature, specific species of Sporosarcina, Painsporosarcina and Paenibacillus species outcompeting biofilm forming microorganisms through high amylase, protease, lipase and nuclease activity and production of antifungal components against molds; the spores of Gram-positive bacteria metabolizing precipitated particles and taking up precipitated particles, thereby preventing the precipitated particles to become airborne again.

(13) The treatment of the indoor environment is finished within one hour, making the interior space accessible to unprotected persons within a short time.

(14) An advantage of the method is therefore that the affected rooms or interior spaces can be released very quickly for reoccupation, without the use of traditional cleaning techniques which are inappropriate and ineffective.

(15) The present invention is in no way limited to the form of embodiment described by way of an example and represented in the figures, however, such an improved invention for treating building interiors after contamination with particulate matter can be realized in various forms without leaving the scope of the invention.