METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A TREATMENT SOLUTION AND FOR PROVIDING SAID TREATMENT SOLUTION TO A BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM

Abstract

An apparatus and method for obtaining a treatment solution containing reactive oxygen species includes generating an ozone water solution and feeding it into a first of two apertures of a container at a predetermined pressure. The container including a passage body comprising a plurality of passageways having a predetermined passage-section size, so that the ozone water solution flows through the passage body generating the treatment solution in which the ozone is converted to reactive oxygen, and so that the treatment solution then flows through a nebulizer device and is released in the form of small droplets immediately after it has been generated, in which, the reactive oxygen species interact with the biological system before they can decay, or can incorporated into a gel. The traversing body may be a bundle of fibers, a porous body with a percolable open-cell lattice, or a bed of a loose mineral particulate material.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining a treatment solution containing reactive oxygen species capable of treating a biological system, said method comprising: prearranging a container with a first opening and a second opening, and a passage body within said container, between said first opening and said second opening; wherein said passage body includes a plurality of passageways having a predetermined passage-section size; prearranging a nebulizer device in hydraulic connection with said second opening; generating an ozone water solution; feeding said ozone water solution into said first opening of said container at a predetermined first pressure, such that said ozone water solution is caused to flow through said plurality of passageways of said passage body, wherein said predetermined passage-section size is selected to convert said ozone of said ozone water solution into reactive oxygen species, generating a treatment solution at a second pressure lower than said first pressure; said treatment solution is immediately thereafter caused to flow through said nebulizer device and is then nebulized into submillimetric particles which can be; directly deposited on said biological system and said ROS can interact with said biological system without decaying into molecular oxygen O.sub.2 or which can be preserved; wherein said passage body is configured to cause said pressure to drop from said first pressure of said ozone water solution to said second pressure of said treatment solution passing therethrough, and is selected from the group consisting of: a bundle of hollow fibers, and said passageways for said ozone water solution and for said treatment solution are defined within said hollow fibers; a bundle of full fibers, and said passageways include empty spaces among said full fibers; a porous body, wherein said passageways are defined by a percolable open-cell lattice having a predetermined cell size; a body comprising a loose mineral particulate material; and a combination of the above-mentioned passage bodies.

2. (canceled)

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said loose mineral particulate material is a sand or an ultrafiltration aid, said loose mineral particulate material having a grain size selected in such a way to form a percolable open-cell lattice having a predetermined cell size.

4. (canceled)

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said passage-section size of said passageways in said passage body is selected between 0.001 m and 0.2 m.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of generating an ozone water solution comprises the steps of: generating ozone from oxygen, obtaining an ozone-containing gas stream; contacting said ozone-containing gas stream with water in a mixer device and dissolving said ozone into said water, so as to form said ozone O.sub.3 water solution; wherein said water includes a predetermined amount of hydrogen peroxide, and said step of contacting and dissolving ozone into water takes place in the presence of said hydrogen peroxide.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said amount of hydrogen peroxide is equivalent to a 35% hydrogen peroxide water solution amount set between 1/500 and 1/5000 of an amount of said water.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said water contains ions selected from the group consisting of: Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Mg.sup.2+, Fe.sup.2+, Cl.sup., SO.sub.4.sup., HCO.sub.3.sup., F.sup., and NO.sub.3.sup., each present at a concentration set between 50 and 500 mg/liter.

9. A method for stabilizing reactive oxygen species including superoxide anion O.sub.2.sup. of a treatment solution manufactured according to claim 1, said method further comprising incorporating said submillimetric particles of said treatment solution into a gel.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein incorporating said submillimetric particles into a gel comprises: prearranging an amount of said gel in a gel-forming turbomixer; maintaining said gel under agitation in said gel-forming turbomixer; supplying said treatment solution as released by said nebulizer device into said gel-forming turbomixer during said step of maintaining said gel under agitation.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein prearranging an amount of said gel comprises: prearranging an amount of a gelling agent in said gel-forming turbomixer; supplying a predetermined amount of water to said gel-forming turbomixer; and preliminary maintaining said gelling agent and said water under agitation in said gel-forming turbomixer.

12. An apparatus for making a treatment solution containing reactive oxygen species, and for treating a biological system with said treatment solution, said apparatus comprising: an ozone water solution generator device; a treatment solution generator device, wherein said treatment solution generator device is arranged in hydraulic connection with said ozone water solution generator device, wherein said treatment solution generator device comprises: a container with a first opening and a second opening, and a passage body arranged within said container between said first opening and said second opening, wherein said passage body includes a plurality of passageways having a predetermined passage-section size; a nebulizer device in hydraulic connection with said second opening of said container, said nebulizer device arranged to release said treatment solution outside of said generating device in the form of submillimetric particles; a supply pump arranged to supply said ozone water solution into said first opening of said container at a predetermined first pressure, such that said ozone water solution flows through said passage body, forming said treatment solution at a second pressure lower than said first pressure; said treatment solution at said second pressure subsequently flows through said nebulizer device and is released outside of said treatment solution generator device; wherein said plurality of passageways of said passage body, present said predetermined passage-section size selected to convert said ozone of said ozone water solution into said treatment solution, such that reactive oxygen species are dissolved in said treatment solution and can be directly sprinkled by said nebulizer device without decaying into molecular oxygen O.sub.2; wherein said passage body is configured to cause said pressure to drop from said first pressure of said ozone water solution to said second pressure of said treatment solution passing therethrough, and is selected from the group consisting of: a bundle of hollow fibers, and said passageways for said ozone water solution and for said treatment solution are defined within said hollow fibers; a bundle of full fibers, and said passageways are defined by empty spaces among said full fibers; a porous body, wherein said passageways are defined by a percolable open-cell lattice having a predetermined cell size; and a combination of the above-mentioned passage bodies.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said hollow fibers are made of a material selected from the group consisting of: a polysulphone, cellulose triacetate and polyvinyl chloride.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said porous body is selected from the group consisting of: a ceramic or metal sintered body; and an open-cell sponge.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said loose mineral particulate material is a sand or an ultrafiltration aid, said loose mineral particulate material having a grain size selected such as to form a percolable open-cell lattice having a predetermined cell size.

16. (canceled)

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said passage-section size of said passageways in said passage body is selected between 0.001 m and 0.2 m.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said supply pump is arranged to supply said ozone water solution into said first opening of said container at said predetermined first pressure set between 7 bar g and 15 bar g.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said passage body is arranged to release said treatment solution to said nebulizer device at said second pressure set between 4 bar g and 7 bar g.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said container has an elongated shape and said first opening and said second opening serving as an inlet opening of said ozone water solution and as an outlet opening of said treatment solution, respectively, are arranged at opposite end portions of said container.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said ozone water solution device generator comprises: a water and ozone mixer device; an ozone generator pneumatically connected to said mixer device and arranged to receive an atmospheric air stream and to change said atmospheric air stream into an ozone-containing gas stream; an ozone supply unit for supplying said ozone into said mixer device, said ozone supply unit arranged to bring said ozone-containing gas stream into contact with said water contained in said mixer device, so that said ozone dissolves into said water forming said ozone water solution O.sub.3; wherein said water and ozone mixer device is selected from the group consisting of: a mixer device comprising a reservoir configured to contain a predetermined amount of water, and said ozone supply unit and said reservoir are arranged to supply said ozone-containing gas stream below a level corresponding to said amount of water in said reservoir; and a mixer comprising a mixing duct within which a static mixer is arranged.

22. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a gel-forming turbomixer configured for containing an amount of a gel and for maintaining said gel under agitation, wherein said gel-forming turbomixer is hydraulically connected to an output mouth of said nebulizer device so as to be supplied by said treatment solution as released by said nebulizer device.

23. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said gel-forming turbomixer is associated with: a gelling agent supply means; a water supply means; so as to prepare said gel within said gel-forming turbomixer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0079] Further features and/or advantages of the present invention will become clearer with the following description of variants and forms of embodiment, made by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

[0080] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an apparatus for making a treatment solution containing reactive oxygen species according to the present invention;

[0081] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal cross section view of a treatment solution generator device in which the passage body is made of full fibres;

[0082] FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal cross section view of a treatment solution generator device in which the passage body is made of hollow fibres;

[0083] FIG. 4 is a detail of the fibres of passage body of FIG. 4, in a modification in which microporous fibres are used;

[0084] FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal cross section view of a treatment solution generating device in which the passage body has a porous structure;

[0085] FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of a rolled porous membrane, e.g., for use in haemodialysis;

[0086] FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal cross section view of a treatment solution generator device in which the passage body is made of the rolled porous membrane of FIG. 5;

[0087] FIG. 8 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal cross section view of a treatment solution generating device in which the passage body has a granular structure and is formed from a loose mineral particulate material;

[0088] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how the pressure of the ozone/ROS water solution changes along a path between the ozone water solution generator device and the nebulizer of FIG. 1;

[0089] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the mixer device comprises a reservoir;

[0090] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of an apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 10, in which a hydrogen peroxide supply device is provided to supply H.sub.2O.sub.2 to the water-ozone mixer device;

[0091] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which mixer device comprises a mixing duct enclosing a static mixer;

[0092] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 11, in which a hydrogen peroxide supply device is provided to supply H.sub.2O.sub.2 to the water-ozone mixer device;

[0093] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of an apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 10, wherein a compensation and/or recycle duct is provided between the treatment solution generator device according to one embodiment and the reservoir of the ozone water solution generator device;

[0094] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of an apparatus for making a treatment solution containing reactive oxygen species and for stabilizing the reactive oxygen species by incorporation of the solution into a gel.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0095] With reference to FIG. 1, an apparatus 100 is described for obtaining a treatment solution 6 containing reactive oxygen species (ROS), in particular superoxide anions O.sub.2.sup..

[0096] Apparatus 100 comprises an ozone water solution generator device 10, described more in detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 2-8, and a treatment solution generator device 70 arranged in hydraulic connection with the ozone water solution generator device 10. Treatment solution generator device 70 is configured to turn an ozone water solution 5 obtained by ozone water solution generator device 10 into treatment solution 6 containing reactive oxygen species.

[0097] In the treatment solution generator device 70, a container 71 has a first opening 73 and a second opening 74, and encloses a passage body 72. First opening 73 is arranged in hydraulic connection with an outlet of ozone water solution generator device 10, so that ozone water solution 5 generated by ozone water solution generator device 10 can be supplied to first opening 73 of treatment solution generator device 70. As described in more detail below, a supply pump 60 can be provided to supply ozone water solution 5 to generating treatment solution generator device 70.

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 2-8, passage body 72 includes a plurality of passageways 77 having a predetermined passage-section size, in which ozone water solution 5 is turned into treatment solution 6 while flowing therethrough, i.e., in which ozone is converted into ROS as ozone water solution 5 advances within passage body 72.

[0099] The passage-section size of passageways 77 is set between 0.001 m and 0.2 m, preferably between 0.005 m and 0.015 m, in order to allow and possibly ozone conversion to ROS, in particular to O.sub.2.sup. and O.sup.+ ions, as described hereinafter.

[0100] In particular, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-8, container 71 has an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis 71. Advantageously, but not exclusively, container 71 can have a cylindrical shape. In these embodiments, first opening 73, i.e., the inlet opening of ozone water solution 5 and second opening 74, i.e. the outlet opening of treatment solution 6 are located at opposite end portions of elongated container 71.

[0101] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, passage body 72 comprises a bundle 75 of full fibres 76 arranged in the direction of longitudinal axis 71 of container 71. Full fibres 76 are packed together in such a way as to define, between one solid fibre 76 and the other, passageways 77 for ozone water solution 5 and for treatment solution 6 being formed. An empty space 73 is advantageously provided between first opening 73 and fibre bundle 75 to obtain a uniform distribution of incoming ozone water solution 5 over the cross section of fibre bundle 75.

[0102] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, passage body 72 comprises a bundle 75 of hollow fibres 78 also arranged in the direction of longitudinal axis 71. Hollow fibres 78 define within themselves respective passageways 77 for ozone water solution 5 and for treatment solution 6 being formed. In this case, the passage-section size corresponds to the internal cross section of hollow fibres 78. Also in this case, empty space 73 is preferably provided between first opening 73 and fibre bundle 75 to promote uniform distribution of ozone water solution 5 in passage body 72. Hollow fibres 78 are tightly packed to maximise the number of passageways 77 of passage body 72. Preferably, fibre bundle 75 of hollow fibres 78 is mounted between two end plates, in the same manner as the tubes of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger.

[0103] FIG. 4 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 3, in which the wall of hollow fibres 78 has submicrometric porosities 77 that place the inner lumen of hollow fibres 78 into hydraulic communication with the outside of hollow fibres 78 themselves, within container 71, similar to the shell-side of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. In this case, passageways 77, through which water solution 5,6 containing ozone and the ROS being formed flows, can include or be the porosities 77 of the wall of hollow fibres 78.

[0104] In this arrangement, first and second openings 73,74 are preferably arranged such that ozone water solution 5 turning into treatment solution 6 flows from shell side 79 into the tube-side of bundle 75 through porosities 77, i.e, first opening 73 is made through a wall of the shell portion of container 71, whereas second opening 74 is made through the wall of the bonnet portion of container 71.

[0105] In particular, hollow fibres 78 of passage body 72 can be of the same type used in a dialyzer.

[0106] In particular hollow fibres 78 of passage body 72 can be of the same type used to perform an ultrafiltration of a liquid flowing therethrough, i.e., through the porosities of the wall of hollow fibres 78, typically from outside to inside hollow fibres 78.

[0107] Passage bodies 72 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, i.e., full fibres 76 and hollow fibres 78, can be made of various materials. In particular, polysulfone, cellulose triacetate and polyvinyl chloride are preferred, as well as polypropylene, polyethersulfone, well known to a person skilled in the art of ultrafiltration.

[0108] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, passage body 72 is a porous compact body, not including a tube or tube bundle structure. In this case, passageways 77 for ozone water solution 5 being turned into ROS-containing treatment solution 6 are defined by a percolable open-cell lattice, and the passage-section size corresponds to the cell size of the lattice. For instance, porous compact passage body 72 can be obtained in a known manner by sintering metal or ceramic powders. In a modification of this embodiment, passage body 72 with porous structure may be an open-cell sponge.

[0109] FIGS. 6 and 7 relates to an embodiment in which passage body 72 is a porous body consisting of a rolled porous membrane 78, folded about an axis 78 thereby forming a substantially cylindric structure suitable for insertion into container 71 having a cylinder shape.

[0110] Also in this case, in particular, porous membrane 78 of passage body 72 can be of the same type as used in a dialyzer.

[0111] Also in this case, in particular porous membrane 78 of passage body 72 can be of the same type as used to perform an ultrafiltration of a liquid flowing therethrough, i.e., through porosities 77 of membrane 78, typically towards axis 78.

[0112] Passage bodies 72 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, i.e., porous membrane 78 can be made of various materials. In particular, polysulphone, cellulose triacetate, polylactic acid and polyvinyl chloride are preferred, as well known to a person skilled in the art of ultrafiltration.

[0113] In the embodiments of FIG. 8, passage body 72 is formed of a loose mineral particulate material 72 whose grain size is selected in such a way to form also in this case a percolable open-cell lattice in which the cells have a predetermined size, as provided by the method. For instance, loose mineral particulate material 72 can be a sand of a controlled grain size, i.e. a screened sand appropriately to obtain the desired passage-section size. As an alternative, the loose mineral particulate material may be a mineral known in the technique as an ultrafiltration aid.

[0114] A plurality of preferably serially arranged passage bodies 72 can be provided along the flowpath of ozone water solution 5 of the types described above.

[0115] Advantageously, before or after passing through passageways 77, ozone water solution 5, or ROS-containing treatment solution 6, respectively, can flow through duct portions 77 (FIG. 4) that are provided in the passage body 72. Duct portions 77 can have a section size set between 10 m and 1 mm, preferably between 50 m and 500 m, more preferably between 100 m and 300 m.

[0116] Downstream of treatment solution generator device 70, in hydraulic connection with second opening 74, there is provided a nebulizer 80, preferably configured to split a liquid flow available at a predetermined second pressure P.sub.2 into submillimetric particles, more preferably micron-sized particles, and arranged then to release treatment solution 6 outside of the generating device 70, in such a particle form.

[0117] Supply pump 60 is selected in such a way that ozone water solution 5 reaches container 71 at a predetermined first pressure P.sub.1, preferably set between 7 and 15 bar g, in particular between 10 and 12 bar g. The water solution pressure profile along apparatus 100 is schematically shown in FIG. 9.

[0118] Moreover, passage body 72 is arranged to release treatment solution 6 to nebulizer device 80 at second pressure P.sub.2 set between 4 bar g and 7 bar g.

[0119] This way, ozone water solution 5 can flow through passageways 77 of passage body 72, for example the inner lumen of hollow fibres 78 of FIG. 3 or the porosities 77 of the wall of hollow fibres 78 of FIG. 3, or the percolable lattice of a porous or granular body 72, as in FIGS. 5 to 8. During this passage, the combined effect of the pressure and the interactions with the inner walls of passageways 77 enhances the instability of the ozone molecules O.sub.3 contained in ozone water solution 5, whereby the ozone is at least in part turned into ROS, e.g., an ozone heterolytic cleavage reaction takes place forming anions O.sub.2.sup. and cations O.sup.+:

2O.sub.3.fwdarw.O.sub.2.sup.+O.sup.+.

Second opening 74 then produces treatment solution 6 containing reactive oxygen species.

[0120] Treatment solution 6 generated in passage body 72 then flows through nebulizer 80 and is available for sprinkling a biological system, or for further ROS stabilization, as described hereinafter.

[0121] In the first case, reactive oxygen species from the treatment solution can be deposited directly onto the biological system, with which they can interact before spontaneously decaying to molecular oxygen O.sub.2.

[0122] With reference to FIG. 10, there is described an apparatus 101, according to an embodiment of the invention, for producing and administering a treatment solution 6 containing reactive oxygen species, in particular O.sub.2.sup. anions, from water 1 and an oxygen-containing gas 3, in particular air. For the sake of brevity, reference will be made in the following description to air 3 taken from the environment as an oxygen-containing gas. However, in embodiments not shown in the drawings, the oxygen-containing gas may be a gas distinct from atmospheric air, for example substantially pure oxygen, or compressed air taken from a portable pressure vessel.

[0123] Apparatus 101 is configured to at least in part transform the oxygen contained in air 3 into ozone, from which the superoxide anions of treatment solution 6 are then obtained, as described below.

[0124] Apparatus 101 comprises a conventional ozone generator 40 configured to convert at least one portion of the oxygen contained in air 3 into ozone O.sub.3. Associated with the ozone generator 40 there is a fan 30 arranged to convey a air stream 3 taken from the environment, at a predetermined flow rate, through the generator 40. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, fan 30 is arranged upstream of the ozone generator 40, but in other embodiments it may be arranged downstream of it.

[0125] The ozone generator 40 thus produces a gas 4 containing ozone in addition to nitrogen and any unconverted oxygen, and smaller quantities of other gases normally contained in the air.

[0126] Apparatus 101 further comprises a mixer device 50 configured to bring an amount or a stream of water 1 into contact with ozone-containing gas 4, so as to dissolve the ozone into water 1 and obtain ozone water solution 5.

[0127] In the embodiment of FIG. 10, mixer device 50 comprises a reservoir 51 for receiving a predetermined amount of water 1. For this purpose, mixer device 50 is associated with a water supply means 21, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a supply line 21 from a water supply network. In a modification, not shown, water supply means 21 can comprise a hopper arranged to receive water 1 and to selectively put it into communication with reservoir 51, so as to transfer water 1 into reservoir 51 by gravity.

[0128] Apparatus 101 further comprises a supply line 22 of ozone-containing gas stream 4, along which fan 30 and the ozone generator 40 are arranged as described above. Supply line 22 and reservoir 51 are preferably arranged to supply ozone-containing gas stream 4 below the level of the liquid 1,5 contained in reservoir 51, corresponding to the amount of water 1, so as to bring ozone-containing gas 4 into contact with water 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, reservoir 51 is provided with a submerged tube 52 in hydraulic connection with supply line 22 of ozone-containing gas 4. In some modifications of the present embodiment, not shown mixer device 50 comprises a conventional gas-to-liquid diffuser means for finely dispersing ozone-containing gas 4 into water 1 contained in reservoir 51. Such diffuser means can be arranged at the submerged end, i.e., at the outlet of submerged tube 52.

[0129] Apparatus 101 further comprises a discharge duct 23 of ozone water solution 5, along which pump 60 is arranged, thus defining a suction portion 25 and a delivery portion 26 of discharge duct 23. Delivery portion 26 of discharge duct 23 is connected to treatment solution generator device 70.

[0130] FIG. 11 shows an apparatus 102, according to an embodiment of the invention, which differs from apparatus 101 of FIG. 10 in that it comprises a hydrogen peroxide supply device 35 for supplying hydrogen peroxide H.sub.2O.sub.2 2 to reservoir 51 of mixer device 50. Hydrogen peroxide supply device 35 may comprise a feed line 36 and a pump 37, such as a metering pump, arranged to transfer a predetermined amount of hydrogen peroxide 2 from an hydrogen peroxide container 38. Hydrogen peroxide container 38 can be a container of hydrogen peroxide as purchased from a supplier, or a fixed tank 38 of apparatus 102.

[0131] Supply means or devices 21, 22, 35 of water 1, ozone-containing gas 4 and hydrogen peroxide 2 can be equipped with respective mass or flow rate predetermination means fed to supply predetermined amounts of water, ozone and hydrogen peroxide to mixer device 50, in particular to reservoir 51. In the case of water supply lines 1 and hydrogen peroxide 2 as feed means, such predetermination means may be flow meters configured to emit electrical signals upon reaching a predetermined amount of the liquid to be fed to mixer device 50, in order to close a shut-off valve 24 of the water supply line 21 of water 1 or to stop the hydrogen peroxide supply pump 37. In the case of loading hoppers as feed means, the predetermination means may comprise weighing devices or level indicators. The aforementioned predetermination means are of a conventional type and therefore easily implemented by a technician in the branch, hence they are not described in detail, nor are they shown in the drawings.

[0132] FIG. 12 relates to an apparatus 103 according to a further embodiment of the invention, which differs from apparatus 101 of FIG. 10 in that mixer device 50 comprises, instead of the mixing tank 51, a mixing duct 55, in this case a tubular element within which a conventional static mixer 56 is arranged.

[0133] Again, apparatus 103 comprises a water supply means 21 and an ozone-containing gas supply device 22. Water supply means 21 may comprise a feed tank 54, a supply pump 60 and, preferably, a water flow rate control valve 29 for setting the correct flow rate to mixing duct 55. Pump 60 and the regulating valve 29 are selected in such a way to supply water 1 to mixing duct 55 at the pressure required by static mixer 56. As an alternative, shown by a dotted, water 1 can be directly withdrawn from a distribution network in which water 1 is available at a pressure at least equal to the pressure required by static mixer 56, without requiring feed tank 54 and pump 60 to convey water 1 to mixing duct 55.

[0134] FIG. 13 shows an apparatus 104 according to an embodiment of the invention, which differs from apparatus 103 of FIG. 12 in that it comprises hydrogen peroxide supply means 35 for supplying hydrogen peroxide 2 to the mixer tank 54 similarly to apparatus 102 of FIG. 11. In this case, the correct hydrogen peroxide/water proportion is advantageously set in feed tank 54.

[0135] Referring again to FIGS. 9-12, container 71 of treatment solution generator device 70 has first opening 73 hydraulically connected to outlet duct 23 of ozone water solution 5, while second opening 74 of the superoxide anion generator 70 is preferably directly connected to nebulizer 80.

[0136] FIG. 14 shows an apparatus 105 which differs from apparatus 101 of FIG. 10 in that container 71 of treatment solution generator device 70, in particular, a space 79 defined between the shell of container 71 and hollow fibres 78, is hydraulically connected with an opening of reservoir 51 via a compensation and recycling duct 57, in order to maintain the pressure within container below a predetermined safety value. As an alternative to the embodiment of FIG. 14, an appropriately set safety valve can be provided on one wall of container.

[0137] FIG. 15 diagrammatically shows an apparatus 106 according to a further embodiment of the invention, comprising such a gel-forming turbomixer 90 hydraulically connected to an output mouth 81 of nebulizer device 80 so as to be supplied by treatment solution 6 as released by nebulizer device 80. Moreover, gel-forming turbomixer 90 can be associated to a gelling agent 7 supply means 82 and to a water 8 further supply means 83 so as to prepare gel 9 within gel-forming turbomixer 90, or to compensate for the viscosity change of a preformed gel 9 due to the addition of the water accompanying the ROS in treatment solution 6.

EXAMPLES

[0138] Production tests of ROS-containing treatment solution 6 were conducted using a prototype apparatus according to the diagram of of apparatus 105 in FIG. 14, in which: [0139] fan 30 is a fan capable of delivering a 0.3 mc/hr air flow rate of at a 2.4 mbar delivery pressure; [0140] ozone generator 40 is an 80 W generator; [0141] tank 51 of mixer device 50 has a capacity of 30 litres; [0142] supply pump 60 is a rotary pump capable of delivering a 20 litres/minute water flow rate at an 1.8 bar delivery pressure; [0143] treatment solution generating device 70 comprises a 3.227 mm container as shown FIG. 4, in which bundle 75 of 200 m diameter hollow polysulphone fibres, more in detail, a Fresenius mod. F5HPs type dialyser was used; [0144] nebulizer 80 is a brass atomiser of one type normally used for irrigation.

[0145] Tests were conducted under the following operating conditions: [0146] ozone water solution throughput: 30 litres; [0147] duration of the ozone water solution generation step (uptime of ozone generator 40): approx. 1 minute; [0148] feed rate to treatment solution generator 70:20 litres/minute;

[0149] In the tests in Examples 2 and 4, an amount of 35% hydrogen peroxide 2 was added to water 1 to prepare ozone water solution 5, set to 0.2 ml/l of of water in reservoir 51;

[0150] An electrical conductivity measurement was performed on the freshly generated treatment solution 6 by a Hanna EDGE instrument capable of converting the measurement to ion concentration values, provided a preliminary calibration is performed to exclude the contribution of ions that are normally present in water.

[0151] The results are shown in the table below, along with a comparison example of a treatment solution obtained with a prior art device described in IT 102018000009939.

TABLE-US-00001 Example Water H.sub.2O.sub.2 in water ROS concentration comparison demineralised 10-20 n. 1 demineralised No 370 n. 2 demineralised yes 402 n. 3 potable no 460 n. 4 potable yes 688

[0152] The above results show a significant reactive oxygen species concentration increase in comparison to what is possible with the prior art device; a significant effect of hydrogen peroxide, which is particularly important in combination with the salts dissolved in the water; and a significant effect of the dissolved salts themselves.

[0153] Tests carried out at various concentrations of the salts dissolved in the water, and with different amounts of hydrogen peroxide, confirmed an increasing effect of these factors, in terms of the concentration of ROS ion in the treatment solutions obtained, starting from values as low as those indicated in the first line of the table, up to values as high as those indicated in the other lines, beyond which a saturation effect tends to occur.

[0154] The above description of certain specific embodiments, as well as the examples provided, are capable of showing the invention from a conceptual point of view in such a way that others, using the known technique, will be able to modify and/or adapt that specific embodiment in various applications without further research and without departing from the inventive concept, and, therefore, it is understood that such adaptations and modifications will be considered as equivalents of the specific embodiment. The means and materials for realising the various functions described may be of various kinds without departing from the scope of the invention. It is understood that the expressions or terminology used are purely descriptive and, therefore, not limiting.