# US 2016/0353733 A1 · Methods for reducing airborne bacteria and mycetes and apparatus for the same

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- Number: US 2016/0353733 A1
- Document ID: US20160353733A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/990,067
- Filed: 2016-01-07
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2010-02-15
- Assignees: Philadelphia University
- Applicants: Philadelphia University
- Inventors: Diana R. Cundell; Brian R. George
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160353733A1

## CPC

- A01N 31/16: with two or more oxygen or sulfur atoms directly attached to the same aromatic ring system
- A01N 25/34: Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
- A01N 31/14: Ethers
- A61L 9/16: using physical phenomena
- F24F 8/24: using sterilising media
- A61L 2209/14: Filtering means
- F24F 8/175: using biological materials, plants or microorganisms
- F24F 8/20: by sterilisation
- A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)

## Abstract

A method for removing airborne bacteria and airborne mycetes from indoor air comprises imparting microbiocidal and microbiostatic properties to fabric by treating the fabric with one or more naturally occurring biocides, positioning the treated fabric in a sheet-like orientation, and blowing indoor air through the fabric.

## Claims

### Claim 1

1) A method for removing airborne bacteria and airborne mycetes from indoor air comprising the steps of:
a) imparting microbicidal and microbiostatic properties to fabric by treating the fabric with one or more naturally occurring biocides;
b) positioning the treated fabric in an orientation to have air blown therethrough; and
c) blowing indoor air through the fabric.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

2) The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the naturally occurring biocides is eugenol.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

3) The method of claim 1 wherein the fabric is a knit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

4) The method of claim 3 wherein the knit is a circular knit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

5) The method of claim 1 wherein the fabric comprises cotton.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

6) The method of claim 4 wherein the fabric is all cotton.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

7) The method of claim 3 wherein the fabric is cotton.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

8) The method of claim 1 wherein the step of imparting microbicidal and microbiostatic properties to the fabric further comprises:
a) immersing the fabric in a solution of glyoxal, eugenol, polyvinyl alcohol and water;
b) squeezing the solution out of the fabric
c) curing the wetted fabric under heat; and
d) drying the cured fabric.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

9) The method of claim 8 wherein the mass of the solution is about ten times the mass of the fabric.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

10) The method of claim 9 wherein the solution comprises about 10 grams of glyxol per liter of solution, about 1 gram of eugenol per liter of solution and about 1 gram of polyvinyl alcohol per liter of solution.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

11) The method of claim 8 wherein squeezing is performed by wringing the fabric between rolls of a wringer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

12) The method of claim 1 wherein the airborne bacteria include Staphylococci and Bacillus.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

13) The method of claim 1 wherein the airborne mycetes include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium and yeast species.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

14) The method of claim 7 wherein the step of imparting microbicidal and microbiostatic properties to the fabric further comprises:
a) immersing the fabric in an aqueous solution of glyoxal, eugenol, and polyvinyl alcohol;
b) squeezing the solution out of the fabric
c) curing the wetted fabric under heat; and
d) drying the cured fabric.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

15) The method of claim 14 wherein the mass of the solution is ten times the mass of the fabric.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

16) The method of claim 15 wherein the solution comprises about 10 grams of glyxol per liter of solution, about 1 gram of eugenol per liter of solution and about 1 gram of polyvinyl alcohol per liter of solution.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

17) The method of claim 16 wherein squeezing is performed by wringing the fabric between rolls of a wringer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

18) The method of claim 16 wherein the airborne bacteria include Staphylococci and Bacillus and the airborne mycetes include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium and yeast species.

### Claim 19 (depends on 9)

19) The method of claim 9 whereon the solution comprises about 10 grams of glyxol, 1 gram of eugenol, and 1 gram of polyvinyl alcohol per liter of water.