DE202004020459U1 - Treating aqueous liquids to reduce toxin levels comprises sonicating the liquid to generate hydroxyl radicals - Google Patents

Abstract

Treating aqueous liquids to reduce toxin levels comprises sonicating the liquid to generate hydroxyl radicals, allowing the radicals to cleave the toxins to form inactive residues and hydrogen peroxide, and exposing the hydrogen peroxide to UV radiation to form more hydroxyl radicals for additional toxin cleavage. An independent claim is also included for treating a fluid, aqueous solution or liquid in a reaction chamber to reduce toxin levels by introducing a hydrogen peroxide and/or peracetic acid aerosol into the reaction chamber, forming an aerosol of hydroxyl radicals by UV irradiation in the reaction chamber, allowing the radicals to cleave the toxins to form inactive residues and hydrogen peroxide, and exposing the hydrogen peroxide to UV radiation to form more hydroxyl radicals for additional toxin cleavage.

Description

The The invention relates to a device for the treatment of aqueous Liquids for Reduction of the proportion of such components that are undesirable or even in the human body dangerous are (especially endotoxins).

To these fluids should include: In agriculture and in the food and beverage industry accumulating liquids, dialysis fluids as well as liquids, the highest requirements to be virtually free of interfering residual constituents in their purity have to.

Under Such components are in this application u. a. germs, Spores, herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, residual fertilizers, residual medicines, Toxins and especially endotoxins understood.

It It is known to use ultrasound to disinfect liquids. Although here influences are also to be expected on endotoxins, so it has in trials demonstrated that with the help of ultrasound itself in biological fluids the proportion of endotoxins can not be lowered sufficiently not at all so that one can speak of endotoxin freedom, i.e. remain below 0.4 EU / ml of endotoxins in the fluid.

It is also known, hydrogen peroxide for the sterilization of liquids although its reaction with organic substrates is sluggish. A Exposure to endotoxins would only be then possible when proceeding with relatively high concentrations. This then leads inevitably to that in the treated liquid residual hydrogen peroxide remains that in turn attacks the cell walls in the human body, so that trying to endotoxininwirkung in this way too inevitably leads to an intolerable risk.

It is also known to carry germs in liquids Inactivate help of UV radiation. Try in this direction however, have no reduction in the level of endotoxin in fluids shown.

Under Endotoxins are generally understood to be toxins of microorganisms that are from the outer cell membranes Gram-negative bacteria are derived and essentially from thermostable Lipopolysaccharides exist. The toxic component of endotoxins is the lipid A, a phospholipid from a glucosamine disaccharide, that at the hydroxyl and Amino groups esterified with fatty acids is. Big amount of of endotoxins are released upon the death of Gram-negative bacteria and can lead to shock symptoms in the affected persons.

The However, the present invention is not intended to treat liquids be limited in terms of Endotoxinfreiheit, but also in general be usable when it comes to those constituents from hydrous liquids to remove.

For the present Invention is the combination of features essential, significant however, are also the resulting interactions that previously not used or described in this context have been.

It goes first in the invention once around, cavitation phenomena in a liquid to generate the action of an ultrasonic source. cavitation be in pouring liquids at speed changes observed, with acceleration resulting in pressure decreases can, to steam bubbles to lead, where pressure surges up to 10,000 bar and local temperature increases in the range of 10,000 K, which may be adjacent bodies ie e.g. on wheels of water turbines or propellers make destructive.

at However, the present invention is about cavitation phenomena in the liquid itself and therefore an essential feature is that the ultrasound source, the cause of the cavitation phenomena is within itself the liquid to be treated located. As a result, they form near the ultrasonic source all hydroxyl radicals. The hydroxyl radicals act on the endotoxins and there are processes instead of water, carbon dioxide and an ineffective endotoxin residue results.

cavitation and UV radiation act in a kind of energetic coupling at least in a certain space and at the same time in the to be treated liquid together. The individual physical processes are still alive not enough been examined. However, it has been shown that with the Invention achieved efficiency (eg Endotoxinfreiheit) significantly elevated can be when the pressure in the reactor is increased. Already some 100 bar have confirmed this, though Some 1000 bar lead to share in residual components that metrologically can no longer be detected.

Now Experiments have shown that not all hydroxyl radicals affect endotoxins but also quite react with other hydroxyl radicals can and this produces hydrogen peroxide.

According to the invention has now been further recognized that hydrogen peroxide in the Treatment of biological fluids not desired is, but that a precaution must be taken to the hydrogen molecules to eliminate in their effect or even better in the context of the invention conducive use. This is achieved by the additional use of a UV source possible which in turn causes hydrogen peroxide molecules to become desirable hydroxyl radicals be transformed in the manner already described act on endotoxins.

With Help the device according to the invention could liquids not only endotoxin-free as defined, but to be freed from effective endotoxins so far that the Content of remaining endotoxins below the detection limit (0.06 EU / ml).

following some complementary Explanations to the features of the invention:

influence on the liquid by means of such an ultrasonic source located inside the liquid, through the over cavitation in the liquid Hydroxyl radicals from the aqueous fraction the liquid be formed.

Reaction: H ₂ O → H + OH 2H → H ₂ OH + OH → 2OH → H ₂ O ₂

The physicochemical process takes place in pure water. But if in the water biological contaminants -. As endotoxins - are, the physical-chemical process can also proceed as follows: OH + endotoxin → H ₂ O + CO ₂ + N ...- (nitrogen residue) = developmental goal: ineffective endotoxin

Splitting the endotoxins by the hydroxyl radicals into ineffective endotoxin residues, wherein also hydrogen peroxide is formed by the hydroxyl radicals. A hydroxyl radical has a nanosecond (10 ^-9 sec) time to orient and reacts as follows: OH + OH → H ₂ O ₂ or with an endotoxin OH + endotoxin → H ₂ O + CO ₂ + N ...- (nitrogen residue) = developmental goal: ineffective endotoxin

influence on the hydrogen peroxide molecules by means of UV radiation to form further hydroxyl radicals from the hydrogen peroxide, which in turn are additional Splitting of endotoxins.

Because the respective "lifetime" for a hydroxyl radical of a nanosecond is too short and the amount of hydroxyl radicals generated from understandable and above all necessary reasons must be low, will with the UV rays used a mechanism of action that produced a small amount of Keeping hydroxyl radicals effective until they have "found" an endotoxin.

Reaction: H ₂ O ₂ + hv _(UV) → OH + OH

conclusion

Produce as few hydroxyl radicals as possible - but as much as necessary - through sound / cavitation. In order to achieve a good yield, the formation of H ₂ O _{2 is} permanently interrupted by UV, so that the aggressive hydroxyl radicals at some point (residence time or liquid in the reactor field, which is the area where cavitation and UV act simultaneously!), To the endotoxins arrive, so there is a hit. Ideally, the hydroxyl radicals are "consumed" in this way.

These are the following criteria important

For sound

Sound frequency, Energy input by sound and residence time of the liquid in the reactor. Stirring in the molecular range by sound and the sound generated rotation of the molecules.

For UV

Choice of frequency, for example, with a wavelength of 253.7 nm, germicidal and breaking the H ₂ O ₂ bonds.

following enumerated Advantages are on the pressure increase of the water to be watered due:

In the liquid to be treated existing surfactants foam not up and can be eliminated because in foam bubbles no cavitation occur.

The sound generators do not run dry and can not be destroyed, which could occur in the presence of bubbles.

Of the so-called JET from the Kavationsblase is strengthened because he is against a compressed ("harder") waterfront hits.

Because the JET reinforced is, a lower sound energy can be sufficient, the same To achieve cavitation effect. This results in the protection the sound membrane against cavitation and an increase in the Service life of the sound generator.

Attenuation of the Sound membrane takes place, so that there are no superposition vibrations.

at The germ reduction by UV treatment of water is usually only the DNA of microorganisms damaged. The thereby possible Mutations can the microorganisms into new strains convict with unknown qualities, so to fear that resistance formation is. In addition, suspended solids absorb UV rays more than Ultrasonic. Ultrasound smashed Suspended.

The Invention will be explained below with reference to the drawing, for example.

The FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view through a device. FIG according to the invention.

In the middle part of the figure is an elongated container 10 shown, for example, may have cylindrical shape and serves as a pressure reaction chamber and is under elevated pressure.

In the upper area is a middle inlet 11 provided for the liquid to be treated. The introduced liquid reaches a sound generator 12 operating at a frequency of 40 kHz. As a result, the liquid is finely atomized and there are aerosol droplets that are small enough that they can be easily penetrated by UV rays. The UV rays are from UV emitters 13 which are energized from above and outside and are substantially in the longitudinal direction of the container 10 extend.

In the upper part is an inlet 14 shown to a separate reaction room 15 leads. In this reaction space 15 there is an ultrasonic generator 16 , In the reaction room 15 Free radical generators are generated. This is accomplished by placing in the reaction space 15 Hydrogen peroxide is introduced and by the energy of the sound generator 16 the corresponding OH aerosols are generated. The aerosols get over the supply line 14 in the actual reaction space 10 ,

In the reaction room 10 the aerosol formers act on the introduced liquid and the unwanted components in the liquid to be treated, in particular endotoxins, are converted into ineffective residues.

First, it collects in the lower part of the reaction space 10 the liquid so treated. The mirror then rises until the overflow 17 is reached, so that there can escape the treated liquid. Located in the lower part of the case 10 Collecting liquid is also used by UV burners 13 achieved, so that also here sterility can be ensured.

Claims (1)

Device for the treatment of aqueous liquids, in particular for reducing the proportion of such components (especially endotoxins) that are unwanted or even dangerous in the human body, characterized by an ultrasonic source located within the fluid for acting on the liquid in a pressure reaction chamber through the cavitation processes in the liquid Hydroxyl radicals from the aqueous Proportion of the liquid are formed, wherein the reaction space under elevated pressure (4000 bar) and components or endotoxins by Hydroxyl radicals in inactive ingredients or endotoxin residues and hydrogen peroxide are split off and by an ultrasonic source for Acting on the hydrogen peroxide by means of a wavelength preferably of 253.7 nm, to form further hydroxyl radicals from the hydrogen peroxide, in turn, for additional splitting lead from endotoxins.