# US 2013/0156907 A1 · Process for sanitizing objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156907 A1 - Document ID: US20130156907A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/817,114 - Filed: 2011-08-22 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-23 - Assignees: BioSafe Systems LLC - Inventors: Robert Larose - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156907A1 ## CPC - A23B 7/144: in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor - A23B 2/53: with ultraviolet light - A23B 2/729: Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes - A23B 2/742: Organic compounds containing oxygen - A23B 2/746: with singly-bound oxygen - A23B 2/762: Organic compounds containing nitrogen - A23B 2/788: Inorganic compounds - A23B 7/015: Preserving by irradiation or electric treatment without heating effect - A23B 7/154: Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes - A23B 7/157: Inorganic compounds - A23B 9/18: in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES ## Abstract A process for sanitizing objects is comprised of the steps of: (1) contacting the object with a dry fog in an enclosed sanitization zone wherein the dry fog is comprised of droplets having a diameter of 4-5 microns and wherein the droplets comprise an aqueous solution of a sanitizing agent for a time sufficient to produce a substantially dry sanitized object and a residual amount of dry fog; (2) removing the substantially dry, sanitized product from the enclosed zone while simultaneously removing the residual dry fog and passing the residual dry fog through a treatment zone whereby unreacted sanitizing agent is removed from the dry fog. The disclosed process yields substantially dry sanitized objects that do not require rinsing with water. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for sanitizing an object comprising the steps of: (1) contacting an object with a dry fog in an enclosed sanitization zone for a time sufficient to produce a substantially dry sanitized object and a residual amount of dry fog wherein the dry fog is comprised of droplets having a diameter of 4-5 microns and wherein the droplets comprise an aqueous solution of a sanitizing agent; (2) removing the substantially dry, sanitized product from the enclosed zone while simultaneously removing the residual dry fog and passing the residual dry fog through a treatment zone whereby unreacted sanitizing agent is removed from the dry fog. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the sanitizing agent is chlorine, quaternary ammonium compounds, hydrogen peroxide, peroxycarboxylic acids or a combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 3) The process of claim 3 wherein the sanitizing agent is peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the sanitizing agent is peracetic acid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the object is an article of produce. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The process of claim 5 wherein the article of produce is a fruit, a vegetable, a nut or combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The process of claim 5 wherein the article of produce is a vegetable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the vegetable is a tomato. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein the article of produce is a fruit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8 wherein the fruit is a blueberry, a strawberry or combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein UV radiation is present in the sanitization zone. ### Claim 12 A process for sanitizing produce comprising the steps of: (1) contacting an item of produce with a dry fog contained in a stainless steel box-like enclosure mounted over a moving belt that carries the produce into and out of the enclosure through openings in opposite walls of the enclosure wherein the produce is contacted for a time sufficient to produce substantially dry sanitized produce and a residual amount of dry fog wherein the dry fog is comprised of droplets having a diameter of 4-5 microns and wherein the droplets comprise an aqueous solution of a sanitizing agent; (2) removing the substantially dry, sanitized produce from the stainless steel enclosure while simultaneously removing the residual dry fog and passing the residual dry fog through a treatment zone whereby unreacted sanitizing agent is removed from the dry fog. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12 wherein the sanitizing agent is chlorine, quaternary ammonium compounds, hydrogen peroxide, peroxycarboxylic acids or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein the sanitizing agent is peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12 wherein the sanitizing agent is peracetic acid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12 wherein the item of produce is a fruit, a vegetable, a nut or combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16 wherein the article of produce is a vegetable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process of claim 17 wherein the vegetable is a tomato. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The process of claim 16 wherein the article of produce is a fruit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19 wherein the fruit is a blueberry, a strawberry or combinations thereof.