Progress 09/15/03 to 09/14/05
Outputs
A unique electrolytic technology has been successfully developed and tested for producing cleanser solutions for cleaning and disinfecting filtration membranes and equipment used in dairy processing. The system produces acid, caustic and hydrogen peroxide solutions on-site and on-demand at the necessary concentrations and be easily appended to a clean in place system. Consumables are only water, electricity, and oxygen in air, in the presence of small amounts of supporting electrolytes. The primary benefit this technology provides is a substantial cost savings in producing the cleansing chemicals. This technology also eliminates the need to handle and store large quantities of strong chemical concentrates (acids, caustics, bleach or hydrogen peroxide) as well as eliminate the use and discharge of chlorine or chlorinated byproducts. The cleansers produced by this technology are effective without surfactants and are safe to use in filter plants and clean in place
systems. Cleansers produced by this technology were superior in mitigating membrane fouling in comparative tests with commercial cleansers. These cleanser solutions were also successful in eliminating bacterial species purposely inoculated into a small filtration apparatus including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis and indigenous background organisms. Corrosive strength of cleanser solutions was determined. The electrolytic cell-produced cleansers are similar in corrosive strength to standard commercial cleansers, which is minimal in stainless steel dairy equipment and filter plants. A unique electrolytic cell is the core technology of the cleaning system. Performance of the electrolytic cell was studied under carefully controlled conditions to parameterize the optimization of electrolytic cell performance, especially production efficiency and rate. Electrolytic cell fouling and cleaning was explored to determine methods of field
maintenance. Water quality requirements for hydrogen peroxide production were also determined. The electrolytic cell was redesigned for scale up and produced on a pilot production scale. The technology output performance was defined by testing it in a large prototype system and was re-packaged into a demonstration unit for marketing. The results of work conducted were completely successful in demonstrating the viability of the technology for the targeted application. A number of potential customers for several other applications in water treatment have also shown significant interest, and field demonstrations are being negotiated. A trademark for the hydrogen peroxide generation technology was created, PeroxEgenTM, and application for several patents will be made.
Impacts
The electrolytic cleanser production technology provides a number of benefits. The financial benefit is an estimated 75-85% cost savings in purchased cleanser products. The economic use of hydrogen peroxide-based cleansers is enabled by this technology. The safety benefits are cleanser solutions can be produced on site and on demand at the necessary concentrations thereby eliminating the need to transport, handle and store significant quantities of harmful chemicals and strong oxidizers in concentrated form. The environmental benefits are the elimination of chlorine and chlorinated byproduct discharge and the reduction of surfactant use and discharge.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/15/03 to 09/15/04
Outputs
A unique electrolytic technology has been successfully developed and tested for producing cleanser solutions for cleaning and disinfecting filtration membranes and equipment used in dairy processing. The system produces acid, caustic and hydrogen peroxide solutions on-site and on-demand at the necessary concentrations and be easily appended to a clean in place system. Consumables are only water, electricity, and oxygen in air, in the presence of small amounts of supporting electrolytes. The primary benefit this technology provides is a substantial cost savings in producing the cleansing chemicals. This technology also eliminates the need to handle and store large quantities of strong chemical concentrates (acids, caustics, bleach or hydrogen peroxide) as well as eliminate the use and discharge of chlorine or chlorinated byproducts. The cleansers produced by this technology are effective without surfactants and are safe to use in filter plants and clean in place
systems. Cleansers produced by this technology were superior in mitigating membrane fouling in comparative tests with commercial cleansers. These cleanser solutions were also successful in eliminating bacterial species purposely inoculated into a small filtration apparatus including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis and indigenous background organisms. Corrosive strength of cleanser solutions was determined. The electrolytic cell-produced cleansers are similar in corrosive strength to standard commercial cleansers, which is minimal in stainless steel dairy equipment and filter plants. A unique electrolytic cell is the core technology of the cleaning system. Performance of the electrolytic cell was studied under carefully controlled conditions to parameterize the optimization of electrolytic cell performance, especially production efficiency and rate. Electrolytic cell fouling and cleaning was explored to determine methods of field
maintenance. Water quality requirements for hydrogen peroxide production were also determined. The electrolytic cell was redesigned for scale up and produced on a pilot production scale. The technology output performance was defined by testing it in a large prototype system and is now in the process of being re-packaged into a demonstration unit for marketing. The results of work conducted thus far are completely successful in demonstrating the viability of the technology for the targeted application. The remainder of the program will be primarily spent on improving system packaging and performance, automating system operation, demonstration, and marketing.
Impacts
The electrolytic cleanser production technology provides a number of benefits. The financial benefit is an estimated 75-85% cost savings in purchased cleanser products. The economic use of hydrogen peroxide-based cleansers is enabled by this technology. The safety benefits are cleanser solutions can be produced on site and on demand at the necessary concentrations thereby eliminating the need to transport, handle and store significant quantities of harmful chemicals and strong oxidizers in concentrated form. The environmental benefits are the elimination of chlorine and chlorinated byproduct discharge and the reduction of surfactant use and discharge.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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