Methods of making dual-action decontamination media
AssigneeAbTech Industries, Inc.
InventorRodolfo B. Manzone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hydrophobic polymer particles (e.g., granules or fragments) employed as filter media, e.g., for filtering runoff water, include an antimicrobial compound on exterior surfaces and can reduce proliferation of microbial organisms as well as sorb chemical contaminants from the water. By employing this dual decontamination action, filter systems employing such particles can improve the quality of runoff water (or other contaminated water streams) and reduce the risk presented by potentially harmful organisms.
Claims20
A method for fabricating media having contaminant-sorbent and antimicrobial properties, the method comprising:
- (a) irrigating a multitude of contaminant-sorbent polymer particles with a solution containing an antimicrobial compound;
- (b) wherein the antimicrobial compound and the polymer of the particles are reactive together so as to cause the antimicrobial compound to graft onto the polymer particles;
- and
- (c) wherein the polymer is substantially phobic to water and to the solution;
- whereby, upon contact with water, the polymer particles sorb contaminants from the water and reduce proliferation of microbial organisms.
A method for fabricating media having contaminant-sorbent and antimicrobial properties, the method comprising:
- (a) irrigating a multitude of particles, comprised of a contaminant-sorbent, hydrophobic copolymer embedded in a compliant, hydrophobic, olefinic polymer, with a solution containing an antimicrobial compound;
- (b) wherein the antimicrobial compound, on the one hand, and the polymer and copolymer of the particles, on the other hand, are reactive together;
- and
- (c) wherein the particles are substantially phobic to water and to the solution;
- whereby the antimicrobial compound grafts onto the particles and, upon contact with water, the particles sorb contaminants from the water and reduce proliferation of microbial organisms.
A method for making a filter module capable of both removing contaminants and reducing proliferation of microbial organisms, the method comprising:
- (a) irrigating a multitude of contaminant-sorbent polymer particles with a solution containing an antimicrobial compound;
- (b) wherein the antimicrobial compound and the polymer of the particles are reactive together so as to cause the antimicrobial compound to graft onto the polymer particles;
- (c) wherein the polymer is substantially phobic to water and to the solution;
- and
- (d) arranging the particles about an open recess within a filter module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.