MOLD REMOVER AND SEALER WITH OPTIONAL TRACER AND METHOD

Abstract

The present invention provides a formula and a method for treating mold residue on surfaces. A liquid mold remover comprises a first formula and a second formula, wherein the first formula comprises water, a surfactant, and one or more alcohols, and wherein the second formula comprises water and sodium hypochlorite. The liquid mold remover is evenly applied to the surface affected with mold, and after drying, a liquid mold sealer is evenly applied to the treated surface. The liquid mold sealer comprising water, a surfactant, a suspension of metal particles and an optical tracer.

Claims

1. A liquid mold remover and sealer comprising water, a surfactant, sodium hypochlorite and one or more alcohols.

2. The liquid mold remover and sealer of claim 1, further comprising a suspension of metal particles.

3. The liquid mold remover and sealer of claim 1 further comprising an optical tracer.

4. The liquid mold remover and sealer of claim 1, further comprising a suspension of metal particles and an optical tracer.

5. The liquid mold remover and sealer of claim 1, wherein said alcohols include an ethyl alcohol and a propyl alcohol.

6. A liquid mold remover and sealer comprising water, a surfactant, a suspension of metal particles, and an optical tracer.

7. A liquid mold remover and sealer comprising two parts, a first part and a second part; said first part comprising water, a surfactant, sodium hypochlorite and one or more alcohols; and said second part comprising water, a surfactant, a suspension of metal particles and an optical tracer.

8. The liquid mold remover and sealer of claim 7, wherein said alcohols include at least one ethyl alcohol and at least one a propyl alcohol.

9. A method for treating mold residue on surfaces comprising: applying a liquid mold remover to the surface affected with mold, said liquid mold remover comprising water, a surfactant, sodium hypochlorite and one or more alcohols; allowing the liquid mold remover to dry; and applying a liquid mold sealer to the surface affected with mold, said liquid mold sealer comprising water, a surfactant, a suspension of metal particles and an optical tracer.

10. A method for treating mold residue on surfaces comprising: creating a liquid mold remover by blending a first formula with a second formula, wherein said first formula comprises water, a surfactant, and one or more alcohols, and wherein said second formula comprises water and sodium hypochlorite; applying said liquid mold remover to the surface affected with mold; allowing said liquid mold remover to dry; and applying a liquid mold sealer to the surface affected with mold, said liquid mold sealer comprising water, a surfactant, a suspension of metal particles and an optical tracer.

11. A method for sealing against mold growth comprising applying a liquid mold sealer to the material to be sealed, said liquid mold sealer comprising water, a surfactant, a suspension of metal particles and an optical tracer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A mold remover and sealing formula, as shown in Table 1, comprises water, as the primary solvent, typically between 65%-70%, blended with a surfactant, antimold agents, and an optical brightening “tracer” ingredient.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Concentrate Mold Remover and Sealer CAS No. (%) Water 7732-18-5 67.8 Demox CSG-30 ECO by DeForest Proprietary 16.8 (Modified amine oxide) Sec-Propyl Alcohol  67-63-0 6.4 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy) ethanol  112-34-5 4.8 Sodium Hypochlorite 7681-52-9 2.2 Tinopal CSB-X (Optical Brightener) See Table 3a 0.5 Ionized Silver Solution NA 1.5

[0012] A Surfactant is added to act as an emulsifying agent for the mixture, as well as contribute to the mold removal, typically between 15-20%. It is known in the field that the use of a surfactant is effective in cleaning surface mold, and also assists bleach in penetrating and killing mold in porous surfaces, such as wood. The surfactant reduces the surface tension of the water, allowing the bleach solution to penetrate deeper and more effectively into a porous surface, such as wood.

[0013] Additionally, the surfactant increases adhesiveness of the formula, which applicant has found to further assist in the targeted mold removal and sealing process, by assuring that the formula adheres to the surface at the point of application, and does not drip or run to other areas, maintaining an even application during the mold removal, drying and sealing processes. Lastly, after drying the surfactant residue left behind maintains its detergent properties and can further assist in sealing against future mold growth. The increased adhesiveness aids this function as well, by holding the mixture evenly in place during the drying process. The mixture does not run, and dries as applied, such that the residue left behind remains evenly dispersed, maximizing its sealing benefits. A modified Amine Oxide, trade name Demox CSG-30, is the surfactant used in the preferred embodiment, but it should be understood that a variety of surfactants can be employed.

[0014] One or more alcohols and bleach (sodium hypochlorite) are added to act together as the primary mold removal agents to eliminate the existing mold. In the preferred embodiment a propyl alcohol, typically between 6-7%, and an ethyl alcohol, typically between 4-5%, are used in conjunction with sodium hypochlorite, typically between 2-3%. Alcohol, not only increases the mold killing properties of the bleach, it also speeds up drying times due to the rapid evaporation of the alcohols.

[0015] An ionized or colloidal metal with biocidal properties, typically between 1-2%, such as ionic silver, zinc, or copper is added to act as an additional mold removal agent, and more importantly, to seal against future mold growth. The Chlorine in the bleach breaks down rapidly, and the alcohol evaporates, however the metal particles and surfactant residue are left behind as a thin layer after drying. As noted above, the adhesiveness from the surfactant will help maintain an even distribution of the metal and surfactant residue during and after drying.

[0016] Lastly, the mixture is provided with a tracer ingredient, such as a Disodium salt (for example, Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate), typically below 1%, that can be detected by UV light after application to confirm that an area has been treated and sealed. The tracer ingredient can be any fluorescent compound that is invisible under normal light, but visible under UV light, provided it does not evaporate, and remains as residue on the surface after drying.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment, the formula is divided into two separate mixtures, a mold remover (see Table 2) to be applied during the mold removal process, and a mold sealer (See Table 3) to be applied after the mold removal is complete.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Concentrate Mold Remover CAS No. (%) Water 7732-18-5 69.8 Demox CSG-30 ECO by DeForest Proprietary 16.8 (Modified amine oxide) Sec-Propyl Alcohol  67-63-0 6.4 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy) ethanol  112-34-5 4.8 Sodium Hypochlorite 7681-52-9 2.2

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Concentrate Mold Sealer with Tracer CAS No. (%) Water 7732-18-5 96 Demox CSG-30 ECO by DeForest Proprietary 2 (Modified amine oxide) Blend Tinopal CSB-X (Optical Brightener) See Table 3a 0.5 Ionized Silver Solution NA 1.5

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 3a Concentrate Tinopal CSB-X by BASF (From MSDS) CAS No. (%) Benzenesulfonic acid, 2,2.(1,1′biphenyl)-4,4′- 27344-41-8 80-100% diyldi-2,1-ethenediuyl)bis-,disodium salt N,N-Dimethylformamide   68-12-2 0.1-0.2%

[0018] The mold remover formula comprises the same primary antimold agents (bleach, alcohols, and a surfactant) discussed above and shown in Table 1 and Table 2. The mold sealer comprises the antimold and sealing agents (metal and surfactant) that leave residue behind as well as the tracer (Disodium salt) discussed above and shown in Table 1 and Table 3.

[0019] In the preferred method, for cost and time efficiency, the formulas showed in Table 2 and Table 3 are applied separately in two distinct steps. The mold remover (Table 2) formula is applied evenly over the affected surface and allowed to dry. The mold remover application can be repeated as need, until the mold had been effectively removed. After drying the mold sealer with tracer (Table 3) is applied evenly over the area that has been treated with the mold remover.

[0020] In one embodiment, the mold remover (Table 2) is provided in two separate mixtures, as shown in Tables 4a and 4b, to be combined prior to use, by the end-user. When combined, the end result is the same formula shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 4a Concentrate Mold Remover PART A (4 parts) CAS No. (%) Water 7732-18-5  65 Demox CSG-30 ECO by DeForest Proprietary 21 (Modified amine oxide) Sec-Propyl Alcohol  67-63-0 8 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy) ethanol 112-34-5 6

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 4b Concentrate Mold Remover Part B (1 part) CAS No. (%) Sodium Hypochlorite 7681-52-9 11 Water 7732-18-5 89