AU781497B2 - Porous formed article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes as well as its fabrication methodology - Google Patents

Description

S&FRef: 507122D1

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Yenkuen Hsiao 2F-3, No. 7, Alley 80, Section 4, Ming-shen E. Road Taipei Taiwan Yenkuen Hsiao Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Porous Formed Article Capabale of Killing or Inhibiting the Harmful Microbes as well as its Fabrication Methodology The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c POROUS FORMED ARTICLE CAPABLE OF KILLING OR INHIBITING THE HARMFUL MICROBES AS WELL AS ITS FABRICATION METHODOLOGY Field of the Invention This invention is concerning about a porous formed article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes as well as its fabrication methodology.

Background of the Invention 1o Along with the progression of the social environment and the scientific development, as well as the people's closer contact, which have been resulting in more dangerousness of the environment to be full of the harmful microbes.

Public locations, especially watering area such as swimming pools, public bathhouses, are the most conventional places to spread virus of diseases, if the sanitary conditions of such places are not well maintained, people could be easily infected with skin disease, eyes disease or even the pneumonia. To prevent over thrive of the harmful microbes in such watering areas, the usual way is to add chlorine etc. as the disinfectant to reach disinfection and sterilisation purpose.

To add sterilising and disinfecting agents in water is also seen in the treatment plant of the fountain water, the sauna bath or the aquatic tank etc where provide people or animals with drinking water and places for activity. Traditionally, it is to add directly the antimicrobes component such as chlorine, disinfecting agent, algae-killing agent, etc into the watering area to reach the sterilising and disinfecting effect. However, due to water flows away, such content of antimicrobes components will be reduced accordingly, thus, in order to maintain the concentration of antimicrobes components in such watering areas, it has to add the antimicrobes components into such watering areas frequently. This, of course, will increase cost. Furthermore, environment pollution may also be created by the components flown away with the water. In addition, owing to such antimicrobes components may get into human bodies by means of drinking water or foods, or directly attached to human skins after a period of time. This would have influence badly on health after a period of time.

Additionally, many poisoned events happened in Japan were the cases of microbes infection discovered in the 24-hour circulating hot water bathroom. The root cause of it is because that the said circulating type of bathroom is mainly for personal use in a family, for considering the potential inadequate influence on human health by the antimicrobes components, and since it is only for personal use; most of the users are reluctant or neglecting to add the antimicrobes components into the water; and therefore, unconscious [I:\DAYLIB\LBHO I 574.doc:ael 8. APR. 20C5 10:28 SPRUSON FERGUSON NO. 1885 P. 11 2 of the growth of the harmful microbes incurred in circulation water and therefore, caused infection.

Additionally, the diseases infected through air are getting more and more, for example, the Legionella pneumophila grows in the cooling tower of the central controlled air conditioning system, then gets away from the air conditioning system. As to virus of the Streptococcus pneumonia, the Corynebacterium diphtheria etc. are spread in the air directly. To prevent infection of such virus, an article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes is required for being able to be equipped at the outlet of cool air of an air conditioning system or the safety system of a laboratory for protecting from the microbes.

Based upon the aforesaid reasons, through aggressive research, the inventor has discovered some antimicrobes components such as: the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and the Quaternary Ammonium Salt which can be carried on a vehicle body and to produce an antimicrobes function effectively for a long period, among them 15s the inhibiting function of the Quaternary Ammonium Salt to virus (such as Bacillus coli, Salmonella typhimurium etc.) Saccharomycetes (such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans), Algae groups (such as Blue Green Algae, Brown Algae and Green Algae) and Bacteria (such as Chaetomium globosum, Penicillium funiculosum etc) that have been put forth before and the Alkoxysilane Quaternary Ammonium Salt used in this invention is a known material (Reference can be made to U.S. Patent Nos. 3,817,739; 3,865,728); however, it has not been reported and recorded that to effectively carry the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and the Quaternary Ammonium on a vehicle body having high surface area such as a substrate. Based upon the aforesaid reasons, through an in-depth research, the inventor has discovered a methodology to 25 effectively carry such antimicrobes components on a vehicle body to produce an article having the excellent antimicrobes effect. The article produced by.means of this invention can easily resolve the above-mentioned problems. The invention is, subsequently, accomplished.

Summary of the Invention One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a novel method for killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria, algae or fungi in aqueous media without leaving germicide behind to harm other living beings and contaminating the environment.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a filter for killing or inhibiting microbes in a fluid contacted by the filtcr, the filter comprising a siliceous substrate treated with an anti-microbial silyl quaternary ammonium salt which forms a COMS ID No: SBMI-01196826 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:35 Date 2005-04-08 8. APR. 2005 10:28 SPRUSON FERGUSON mO. 1885 P. 12 3 covalent -Si-O- bond to the surface of said substrate, wherein said siliceous substrate is a porous formed article which can be fitted inside a fluid cleaning system.

In one embodiment the substrate is composed of earthenware or porcelain.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a fluid cleaning system comprising a pump and a filter according to the first aspect of the invention, the pump being arranged in use to pump fluid through the filter.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of treating air or water to inhibit growth of microbes, comprising pumping the air or water through a filter according the first aspect of the invention.

In one embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the preliminary step of subjecting the filter to ultrasonic agitation.

This invention relates to a method for killing or retarding the growth of bacteria, algae or the like by passing such microorganisms in water or air through or contacting with the surface of a porous siliceous substrate which has been modified and coated with the antimicrobes components of a Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material having the wave length of 0.7 micro-meter above or the Quaternary Ammoniumrn Salt having an organic silicon compound of the unit formula: an n 1 *I I Y, 3-Sri-(CH) (CHn-CH3 X" 1. wherein m+n is 16to 19, mis 1 to6, andnis 13 to 17; or m+n is 20 to 23, m is 4to 11 and n is 9 to 17; X is halogen; and Y is a hydrolysable radical or hydroxy group.

Specifically surface of the porous substrate having been treated with the silyl Quaternary j ammonium salts, e.g. 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride 2 kills E.eoli, Legionella pneumophila, Salmonella typhosa.

Also disclosed herein is a porous formed article (substrate) capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes. The said article carries the antimicrobes component Also disclosed herein is a porous formed article (substrate) capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes, the said article carries the antimicrobes component, which is selected from the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and/or the Quaternary Ammonium Salt.

COMS ID No: SBMI-01196826 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:35 Date 2005-04-08 8. APR. 2005 10:29 SPRUSON FERGUSON NO. 1885 P. 13 3a Also disclosed herein is the fabrication methodology of a porous formed article (substrate) capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes, including that to mix some special calcining aids and bonding agent together with the antimicrobes components mentioned in this invention, after forming a soaking gelatin or solution, to put the porous s formed vehicle body carrying the said antimicrobes component into the aforesaid soaking fluid, and to further proceed calcining to accomplish it.

Also disclosed herein is a porous formed article (substrate) capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes. The said article carries the antimicrobes component.

Also disclosed herein is a porous formed article (substrate) capable of killing or inhibiting to the harmful microbes, the said article carries the antimicrobes component, which is selected from the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and/or the Quaternary Ammonium Salt.

Also disclosed herein is the fabrication methodology of the porous formed article S. (substrate) capable of killing or inhibiting harmful microbes, by means of blending the .l 1 antimicrobes components mentioned herein together with some special calcining aids or bonding agents to form a gelatin or solution, in which a porous vehicle body for carrying the said antimicrobes component is soaked in, and then calcine to complete it.

The "porous" mentioned in this invention means high ratio of surface area (high ratio of surface area/cubic volume), such as a beehive type, honeycomb, a sponge type 20 etc. Once it allows the fluid or air to flow through and to produce its effectiveness, the hole size is no limitation. The "formed article" mentioned in this invention means various shapes such as *4 COMS ID No: SBMI-01196826 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:35 Date 2005-04-08 I

I

4 a square shape, a polygon shape, a disc shape or a ball shape. Once the intended purpose can be reached, there is no limitation to the size.

The porous formed article of this invention includes a porous vehicle body and the antimicrobes component on it. Since the article of this invention is a porous type with high ratio of surface area, which enables to enhance the content of antimicrobes component being distributed onto the porous formed article of this invention, and; therefore, to enhance the effectiveness of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes by the article of this invention.

The porous vehicle body used in this invention can be various materials including a substrate, a plastic, steel etc which resists variation incurred with temperature, pressure, preferably be the substrate.

The antimicrobes component being carried on the porous formed article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes mentioned in this invention means that combination being selected from the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and/or the Quaternary Ammonium Salt, among them the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material means the material which can emit far infrared ray under having the effect to kill microbes and with following regular Spinelle structure:

AB

2 0 4 in which A is Magnesium, Ferrite, Zinc; and B is Aluminium, Iron, Chromium.

And the said Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material can also contain at least one of the compound selected from ferric oxide, ferric sulfide, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, titanium oxide, nickel oxide, cupric oxide, aluminium oxide, aluminium sulfide, strontium oxide and tantalum oxide.

In fabricating the porous formed article using the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material as the antimicrobes component, it can have the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material blended with an appropriate bonding agent to form a soaking solution, into which dip the porous vehicle body of this invention, then put it for calcining to complete it. Additionally, the article of this invention, using the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material as the antimicrobes component, can also be made by blending the said Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material together with the original material (such as powder for substrate) for forming the porous formed article of this invention, then mold it to shape intended, calcine it to accomplish it. The former one is preferred to fabricate the article of this invention.

In the above mentioned methodology, when the low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material is blended with bonding agent to form the solution for dipping, the bonding agent used can be alkali metal group of silicates, such as sodium silicate. In the said methodology, usage of the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material can be [I:\DAYLB\LBH0 I574.doc:ael 10-75% of the total weight of the blended material comprising of the said far infrared material and the bonding agent used, preferably approximate 25-50% of weight.

When the article of this invention adopts dipping the porous vehicle body into the soaking solution formed by the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and the bonding agent and then calcining to complete it, the calcining temperature can be 700- 1100C, preferably be 800-1000 0 C. The calcining time required is no limitation, while based upon size of the porous vehicle body.

In case to blend the aforementioned Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material directly with the original material for forming the porous formed article, then mold it to the shape intended and calcinate it to produce the porous formed article, the usage of the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material is approximately 10-85% of the total weight of the blended materials forming by the said far infrared material and the original material for forming the porous formed article, preferably be 25-75% of the weight. The calcining temperature used is approximately 900-1100 0 C. Calcining time required is no limitation, while dependent upon the article size to be produced.

Another antimicrobes component used in this invention is the Quaternary Ammonium Salt.

The structure of the Quaternary Ammonium Salt used in this invention contains Silicon, which is dissolved when blends with water to form the compound with the structure of -Si(OH) 3 after it is covering on the surface of an article (such as a substrate) containing component of Si0 2 it can form a chemical bond with the Si0 2 of the said article, and therefore, closely attached to surface of the said article. 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride is representative of a group of silyl quaternary ammonium compounds that can be used in the instant application. When the silyl quaternary ammonium compounds are treated with acidic water, the alkoxysilane group is hydrolysed to form silanal which then is reacted with the siliceous surface of the substrate to form chemical covalent bond as shown on Fig. 1.

The porous formed article capable of' killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes produced from the methodology described in this invention, owing to the tight link and/or bond between the article and the antimicrobes component on it, the active component would not be flown away even after a long period of use and thus, it can maintain the effectiveness of antimicrobes for a long period of time.

The porous formed article, capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes of this invention is still possible to recover its antimicrobes activity by means of some specific treatment. For example: for the invented article having the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material on it, if it is blocked by big molecule material in the environment, which can be washed out by the clean water or vibrated by the supersonic wave to remove the big molecule material, in order to recover its antimicrobes activity.

[I:\DAYLIB\LIBH]0I 574.doc:ael As to the invented article having the Quaternary Ammonium Salt on it, which is possible to be washed by the alkaline such as salt water in order to recover its antimicrobes activity. This has made the invented article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes not only having the excellent effectiveness of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes, but also having the effectiveness of long period utilisation.

The invented porous formed article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes can be used in the flowing water area and the air conditioning system to remove the harmful microbes in which, the flowing water area means which provides human or animal with place for activity or drinking, such as a swimming pool, a public bathhouse, a 24-hour hot water circulation bathroom, a fishery breeding place, a water filter device or a drinking tap etc. The invented article can also be used for the filtering device of medical or laboratory use, the air cleaner or the safety system for protecting from microbes in a laboratory. When the water area to be treated is a small area such as an aquatic tank, though the inside water standing still, to use the porous formed article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes of this invention is still able to reach the effectiveness of retarding the harmful microbes from growing.

In case to use the invented porous formed article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes in the aforementioned flowing water, it is preferred to locate the article at the water inlet/outlet or inside the water circulation device to enable the invented article to produce as much effectiveness of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes. For example: when used for 24-hour circulating bathroom, the invented article can be fitted inside the circulation pump enabling water flows continuously through it to inhibit the harmful microbes from growing in the water. When used for the air conditioning system, the air cleaner, the filtering device for medical or laboratory use or the safety system for protecting from the microbes in a laboratory, the invented article must be located in the front of air or fluid outlet, in order to make the invented article to produce the function of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes to a possible extent as much.

This invention will be further explained by taking the below-mentioned examples of device, examples of comparison and examples of application. But the coverage of this invention will not be restricted by these examples of device, examples of comparison and examples of application.

Below shown are the further explanations of the relative drawings and the examples of applications and the examples of experiments to this invention: Brief Description of Drawings Fig. I shows the chemical bonding formed between the Quaternary Ammonium Salt and the vehicle body (substrate) in water.

Fig. 2 shows the correlation between the dissolving rate of the antimicrobes component carried by the porous article of this invention in the water and time.

[I:\DAYLIB\LIBH]0 I 574.doc:ael Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the porous formed article of this invention under experiment.

Fig. 4 shows the comparison of the antimicrobes effect between the porous formed articles with and without carrying the Quaternary Ammonium Salt.

Fig. 5 shows the relationship of the survival count of the harmful microbes and function time of the Quaternary Ammonium Salt carried on the porous formed article of this invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Embodiment 1 Device of the invented porous formed article using the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material as antimicrobes component To evenly mix 25 amount of weight of the aforementioned Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and 75 amount of weight of 35% wt of Sodium Silicate to form a uniform solution, to dip into which the beehive-shaped substrate to be used as the vehicle body, then to take it out and to blow away the surplus solution, and then to calcine it under the temperature of 800-900 0 C to solidify it to produce the invented article.

Embodiment 2 Device of the invented porous formed article using the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material as antimicrobes component Taking the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and the powder for substrate with 3:1 ratio of weight to mix with an appropriate amount of water, forming a beehive-shape by a mold making machine, and then calcining it under the temperature of 900-1100°C, to produce the invented article.

Embodiment 3 Device of the invented porous formed article using the Quaternary Ammonium Salt as antimicrobes component To dilute the Quaternary Ammonium Salt in water to form 100ml solution, in which to dip in 50g of substrate (Honeycomb) having high surface area for soaking in the solution to a saturated status, for which at least 50% of the solution must be soaked, then to dry it under 100°C around 30min to have chemical bonding formed and subsequently to produce the porous formed article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes, which is firmly coated with the Quaternary Ammonium Salt of this invention.

The Quaternary Ammonium Salt mentioned in this embodiment can be the 3- (Trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride or any other Quaternary Ammonium Salt which can form the chemical covalent bond with SiO 2 [I:\DAYLIB\LIBH]01574.doc:ael 8 Example of Experiment 1 Experiment of Bonding strength 1-1. To evenly blend 25 amount of weight of the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material together with 75 amount of weight of Sodium Silicates to form a uniform soaking solution. To take 10 pieces of substrates in same cubic being produced under same conditions, to number them with 1, 2, 9 and 10 and to weigh dry weight A, of each substrate, and then to dip the aforesaid substrates into the abovementioned soaking solution, to proceed calcining under same conditions as described in the Examples of Device 1, then to weigh each substrate after coating (A 2 the value of 0o A2-A1 is the attaching quantity.

To put the coated substrate, to be used as the vehicle body, into the supersonic wave washing tank to vibrate for one minute under 75W, then to take it out for drying and to weigh the weight the attaching rate can be calculated by the formula as shown below: Attaching rate (Attaching quantity remained Total attaching quantity) X 100% B-Al )X100% A2-A1 The calculation result is shown as below table 1-1: Table 1-1 Serial No. Attaching Rate 1 97 2 98 3 99 4 99 99 6 98 7 99 8 100 9 99 98 Average 98.6 1-2. For comparison purpose of this experiment, to establish the standard-coloured solution by adding fixed amount of Bromophenol Blue into several sample solution of the Quaternary Ammonium Salt in different concentration. To blend the Quaternary Ammonium Salt and water to form a soaking solution, to dip 10 pieces of substrate in [l:\DAYLIB\LIBH]01 574.doc:ael 9 same cubic being produced under same conditions and numbered with 1, 2, 9 and into the above-mentioned solution, and then to dry them in a proper oven to complete the samples for the experiment.

To put each of the aforesaid sample into a beaker containing 500cc of water, which is then put in the supersonic wave washing machine for vibrating for 0.5-20 hours under power. Then, to take out each of them and add in fixed quantity of Bromophenol Blue to determine the dissolved quantity of the Quaternary Ammonium Salt in water. The correlation between the dissolving rate of the Quaternary Ammonium Salt in water and the dissolving time is as shown in Table 1-2 of next page and Fig. 2 attached.

Time Dis- (hr) 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 Solvin rate Number 1 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 3 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 6 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 8 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 9 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 Average 0.65 0.5 0.75 0.35 0.0 0.0 0.0 From above Table 1-1, Table 1-2 and Fig. 2, it is seen that the methodology disclosed in this invention has firmly enhanced as much the attaching rate of the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and the Quaternary Ammonium Salt onto the beehive-shaped substrate and proves the invented methodology can truly promote the bonding strength of the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material and the Quaternary Ammonium Salt to the vehicle body. The experiments also reveal that the antimicrobes component on the porous formed article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes, being produced by the invented methodology cannot be easily stripped off or flown away under the influence by the external environmental effect. This proves the invented article has firm resistance to the variation of external environment.

[I:\DAYLIB\LIBH]01574.doc:ael Example of Experiment 2 Inhibiting function to algae of the invented porous formed article using the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material as antimicrobes component Taking water sample from the fishery raising place which is with high visibility and clear to see the bottom, but grows algae at the bottom partially. Filtering the water sample with gauze, putting it into 4 aquatic tanks, each of which is with 20cm2 X and numbered with A, B, C and D respectively, about Litres of water in each tank.

For tank number A and C, putting in the invented article having the Low Temperature Irradiating Far Infrared Material as disclosed in the above Examples of Device 1 and 2 respectively, while tanks B and D putting in nothing. Locating A, B, C and D four tanks at outdoor place under full sunlight, the top of tanks is covered by a sheet of transparent glass, to prevent outside articles getting in, while allowing air passing through.

Every other day using a 30-cm ruler (the smallest scale: Imm) to observe the variation of visibility. Result is shown on Table 2: Table 2

DAY

READ

G(cm) 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 TAN cm

T

(no.) A 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 B 20 20 16-18 12-15 8-9 4-5 full of full of full of little moss moss moss moss on glass wall C 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 D 20 20 15-18 12-14 7-8 4 full of full of full of little moss moss moss moss moss grew on on glass, glass but not wall codere fully [I:\DAYLIB\LIBH0I 574.doc:ael 11 Note: The no. of cm on the above table means the visible depth of the ruler counting from the surface of water level.

To observe further the property of water in tank A and C, it is iscodere that A, C two tanks all show clear status after 3 months, there is not any algae and moss being found. Further research has iscodere that the indente porous formed article being coated with the Far Infrared Irradiating Material on it truly has the effectiveness to inhibit growing of many kinds of algae, even has the ability to destroy the cell wall of some low grade single cell organism. This effect of inhibiting growth of algae will inhibit growth of the microbes and subsequently reduce the nutritious substance in the food chain for the harmful microbes.

Example of Experiment 3 Killing or inhibiting function to harmful microbes the indente porous formed article using the Quaternary Ammonium Salt as antimicrobes component.

Before experiment, incubating the bacterium of Legionella pneumophila at 35 0 C for 24 hr and enumerating the cell count of the bacterium of Legionella pneumophila. For the experiment, the porous formed articles (Honeycombs) of this invention was sterilised in an oven (100 0 C, 3hr) prior to experiment. See Fig.3 as attached, a porous formed article (Honeycomb) of this invention was then hung in a sterile 500-ml beaker, of which a magnetic rod was placed on the bottom. A 500 ml of water- dilute cell suspension (around 2.0 x 10 7 CFU/ml) of the above-mentioned bacterium was poured into the beaker. The suspension was then stirred to create a swirl on the top of the liquid. Cell counts of the suspension were made at 0, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min during the experiment were enumerate. The experiment was duplicated. The result of the surdidal curde of Legionella pneumophila suspended in water after functioning by the porous formed articles (Honeycombs), which carries the Quaternary Ammonium Salt as the antimicrobes component are shown on Fig.4 attached.

In Fig.3: 1 is a cup; 2 represents a Quaternary Ammonium Salt porous object; and 3 is a magnetic agitating device.

Fig. 4 shows the comparison of the antimicrobes effect between the porous formed articles with and without carrying the Quaternary Ammonium Salt.

Example of Experiment 4 Experiment of the effectiveness for killing or inhibiting function to harmful microbes of the invented porous formed article using the Quaternary Ammonium Salt as antimicrobes component Steps of Experiment [I:\DAYLIB\LIBH]01574.doc:ael 12 1. Incubating the bacteria of Bacillus coli CCRC11634 and Salmonella typhimurium CCRC12947 (35 0 C, 24hr) and enumerating cell count of the original bacteria, respectively.

2. Pouring 5ml cell suspension of the bacteria mentioned in above step 1 into 495ml of sterile water and then mixing uniformly.

3. Putting the porous formed article being coated with the Quaternary Ammonium Salt as the antimicrobes component into the device as shown on Fig.3 and then pouring in 400ml of the fluid of the said cell suspension mentioned in above step 2.

4. Starting to stir the fluid, and enumerating count of the bacteria under experiment once every 10 minutes until 30 minutes.

Taking 0.lml and smearing it on a thin glass sheet and then enumerating count of the bacteria after incubation for 48hr at 35 0

C.

Result of Experiment The result of the survival curve of the tested bacterium suspended in water after functioning by the porous formed articles (Honeycombs), which carries the Quaternary Ammonium Salt as the antimicrobes component are shown on Fig.5 attached. It can be obviously seen that the porous formed articles (Honeycombs) carrying the Quaternary Ammonium Salt as the antimicrobes component of this invention is having an excellent antimicrobes effectiveness, especially for Bacillus coli.

Application in Industry Since the antimicrobes component with function to kill or inhibit microbes of this invention is carried on a porous vehicle body, the antimicrobes component used by this invention will not be spread out into environment (such as not to flow away all over the place along with the water flow for not being added into the water area); therefore, there is no problem with environmental pollution, no harm to human health and no continuous expenses required uneconomically. In view of enhancing the environmental sanitary as well as saving industrial cost, this invention is better than which is achieved by the known technology. Furthermore, since the antimicrobes activity of the antimicrobes components used in this invention is recoverable, such as the invented article having the Quaternary Ammonium Salt on it, which is possible to be washed by the alkaline such as salt water in order to recover its antimicrobes activity. This has made possible to prolong the period of time to use the invented article capable of killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes, especially the invented article can also be used for killing or inhibiting the harmful microbes in air conditioning system or in the air; therefore, it is possible to kill or inhibit some virus being spread by air, such as the Legionella pneumophila, which is still not achievable by the known technology.

[I:\DAYLIB\LIBH]01574.doc:ael

Claims (2)

1. 8. APR. 2005 10:29 SPRUSON FERGUSON NO. 1885 P. 14 13 The claims defining the invention are as follows; 1. A filter for killing or inhibiting microbes in a fluid contacted by the filter, the filter comprising a siliceous substrate treated with an anti-microbial silyl quaternary ammonium salt which forms a covalent -Si-O- bond to the surface of said substrate, wherein said siliceous substrate is a porous formed article which can be fitted inside a fluid cleaning system. 2. A filter according to claim 1, which retains said anti-microbial silyl quaternary ammonium salt thereon when subjected to ultrasonic agitation. 3. A filter according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is composed of earthenware or porcelain. 4. A filter according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said substrate has a honeycomb structure. *sily 5. A filter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said anti-microbial OD.. silyl quaternary ammonium salt is 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyloctadecyldimethyl 15 ammonium chloride. 6. A filter for killing or inhibiting microbes in a fluid contacted by the filter, the filter comprising a siliceous substrate treated with an anti-microbial silyl quaternary :1 ammonium salt which forms a covalent -Si-0- bond to the surface of said substrate, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples. 7. A fluid cleaning system comprising a pump and a filter according to any one Sof claims 1 to 6, the pump being arranged in use to pump fluid through the filter. S I* 8. A method of treating air or water to inhibit growth of microbes, comprising pumping the air or water through a filter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.
2. 9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the preliminary step of subjecting the filter to ultrasonic agitation. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein air is treated to kill or inhibit Legionella pneumophila. Dated 7 April, 2005 Yenkuen Hsiao o Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON ([tVBH)0IUZJ.dot4. k COMS ID No: SBMI-01196826 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:35 Date 2005-04-08