Technology Description

The core technology is an innovative and patented iodine infusion method (US Patent# 7,329,385) that reduces microbial counts within a fluid, an air stream, and vessel using iodine vapor infusion. It has been proven in independent studies to inactivate waterborne and surface microbes and may disrupt microbial adhesion preventing or retarding biofouling in plate HXs. The microbes chosen for testing were active biofilm producers, pseudomonas a being the most active. i2BI technology utilizes the effectiveness of iodine disinfection but without high level biocide use, residue, or long dwell time. Unlike current iodine resin fluid disinfection, water does not enter the i2 cartridge so there is no concern for fouling of the resin bed. Additionally, the i2 resin is unaffected by water pH and turbidity. Compressed air is directed through a cartridge containing iodinated resin beads where iodine vapor is eluted into the airstream. Air containing iodine vapor is imparted into a fluid as a perfusion of bubbles. The interaction between the iodinated bubble and microbes is what accounts for the rapid inactivation.

There are two parts to the technology - the i2 cleaning protocol (i2CP) and the i2 maintenance protocol (i2MP) that uses the i2 bubble infusion process. The i2CP is a cleaning method that uses iodinated air and eco-safe cleaners as part of an in situ method to eliminate existing foul within HXs. The i2CP method eliminates the need to break down the exchanger. Although cleaning-in-place methods have been developed, they merely recirculate the cleaner throughout the exchanger requiring considerable exposure time. The i2MP method uses a timed infusion of iodinated air bubbles into the water stream entering a HX to prevent or reduce foul formation. It does not require system disassembly and, unlike current methodology, treats HX systems chronically rather than acutely.