Methods for the control of arthropods using near-ideal gas phase hydrogen peroxide
Inventors
Lee, James D. • Bosma, Douglas J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10299482-B2
Publication Date
2019-05-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for controlling arthropods, including insects and arachnids in an environment. The methods generally comprise: generating a near-ideal gas Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) that is substantially non-hydrated (e.g., in the form of water in solution or water in solution or water molecules bonded by covalence, van der Waals forces, or London forces) and substantially free of, e.g., ozone, plasma species, and/or organic species; and directing the gas comprising primarily PHPG into the environment such that the PHPG acts to control arachnids in the environment. In certain aspects, the arachnids may be totally or partially killed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to controlling an arthropod in a food processing facility using Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) that is substantially free of ozone. The PHPG is described as near-ideal and substantially non-hydrated hydrogen peroxide gas, and it is provided at a concentration of at least 0.1 ppm up to about 5.0 ppm in the protected environment of the facility.
The invention further centers on using PHPG that maintains low ozone content, described as 0.015 ppm ozone or less. The disclosed mechanistic effects include tissue damage, death, behavioral disruption, immobility, disorientation, loss of feeding or mating, and repellency, including effects on eggs and larval or nymph forms.
The system and process described generate the PHPG and emphasize a reactor morphology configured for rapid removal of H2O2 before reduction, with embodiments optionally using photocatalytic or photocatalytic plasma pathways. The document describes delivery via facility diffuser or device structures and reports use contexts including food processing settings and treatment-like environments.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 defines a method for controlling arthropods in a food processing facility using PHPG with a minimum and maximum concentration and an ozone threshold (0.015 ppm or less). Dependent claims refine the method by specifying facility types, continuous supply, PHPG concentration sub-ranges, arthropod phylogenetic groupings, and enumerated arthropod taxa including eggs and larval forms.
PHPG at 0.1 to about 5.0 ppm with 0.015 ppm ozone or less
Providing Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) at a concentration of at least 0.1 ppm to about 5.0 ppm and comprising 0.015 ppm ozone or less to a food processing facility.
Food processing facility selected from listed food processing facility types
Carrying out the method at a food processing facility selected from a group that includes a restaurant, food distribution center, food packaging plant, rendering plant, abattoir, fish cannery, and grocery store.
Continuous supply of PHPG
Further providing that the PHPG is supplied continuously.
PHPG concentration between 0.1 ppm and 1.5 ppm
Specifying that the PHPG-containing environment has a PHPG concentration between 0.1 ppm and 1.5 ppm.
Arthropod selected from Insecta, Arachnida, Diplopoda, or Chilopoda
Performing the method using an arthropod that belongs to a specified phylogenetic class selected from Insecta, Arachnida, Diplopoda, and Chilopoda.
Enumerated arthropod taxa including eggs and larval forms
Performing the method using an arthropod selected from a detailed list of specific arthropod taxa, including eggs and larval forms, such as ants, waterbugs, palmetto bugs, bed bugs, hornets and wasps, aphids, caterpillar and cut worm larvae, termites, flies, fruit flies, mosquitoes, lice, scorpions, silverfish, ticks, sowbugs and pillbugs, stink bugs, and others from the enumerated set.
Across the independent claim and its dependents, the core inventive coverage is the use of PHPG supplied to a food processing facility at defined PHPG concentrations while limiting ozone to 0.015 ppm or less, with further narrowing by continuous supply, concentration sub-ranges, specified arthropod phylogenetic classes, and detailed enumerated arthropod taxa including eggs and larval forms.
Stated Advantages
Provides arthropod control in a food processing facility using PHPG while keeping ozone at 0.015 ppm or less.
Causes effects consistent with tissue damage, death, behavioral disruption, immobility, disorientation, loss of feeding or mating, and repellency.
Disrupts arthropod life-cycle stages, including eggs and larval/nymph forms.
Documented Applications
Controlling arthropods in a food processing facility, with facility types including restaurants, food distribution centers, food packaging plants, rendering plants, abattoirs, fish canneries, and grocery stores.
Arthropod control over multiple arthropod species discussed in the document, including bed bugs, ticks/dog tick, ants, cockroaches, cellar spiders, deer ticks, fruit flies, mosquitoes, house flies/pupae, termites, and lice/nits.
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