TABLE OF CONTENTS
Environmentally-friendly Silver-ion Sterilization Ball
Cartridge for Humidifiers
1. Overview of sterilization-ball cartridge in humidifiers
2. What is a ‘sterilization ball’?
3. How the sterilization ball sterilizes
Assessment of disinfecting capacity of silver oxide (academic paper)
4. Active-water mechanism of sterilization ball
5. Academic and presentation data for sterilization ball
6. Intellectual property rights of sterilization hall
7. Shape and operation of sterilization ball cartridge
8. Sterilization test on sterilization-ball humidifier
9. Strength of environmentally-friendly sterilization ball cartridge
10. Follow-up procedure
11. Proposal
1. Overview of sterilization-ball cartridge in humidifier
To manage dry indoor air in winter, a humidifier is frequently used in homes and offices. Unless the humidifier is properly maintained, however, it can cause disease. The Korea Consumer Agency has found the presence of microbes that can cause lung disease or allergies in children or the elderly with weak immune systems through the use of humidifiers.
These microbes include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can even cause sepsis, laryngopharyngitis-associated pneumobacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause purulent disease, and allergy/asthma-causing germs.
According to the government agency, more microbes were detected in the transducer than in a bucket of water. The humidifier was cleaned once a week or less.
The environmentally-friendly sterilization ball cartridge addresses this problem once it has been impregnated around the ultrasonic transducer.
With strong sterilization effect, it removes slimly biofilms and scale around the ultrasonic transducer. In terms of indoor air, if it is impregnated around the transducer, AgO- is emitted via a mist and removes harmful microbes and fine particles in the air. As a result, the cleaner air prevents respiratory diseases.
In addition, activated water (small cluster) prevents rust or scales from forming and makes cleaning easy. In addition, it keeps the skin moist and healthy.
Because of these effects, the humidifier can go longer between cleanings and children or the elderly with weak immune systems stay healthy.
Even super-bacteria have been eliminated in the sterilization ball test.
2. What is a ‘silver-ion sterilization ball’?
Special inorganic compounds are coated on the surface of the ceramic, which is then fired at a high temperature. This sterilizes harmful pathogens in the water by 99.9% with no use of toxic chemicals.
With the environmentally-friendly sterilization ball, AgO- erupts in 2.054 angstrom (10 times finer than nano), which makes the sterilizing water more powerful. It is bonded with and hardens the cellular membranes of all germs.
In addition, special energy generated in the sterilization ball activates water and increases dissolved oxygen and negative ion levels. This new environmentally-friendly material manages biofilm, rust and scale problems.
It has passed strict standards such as toxicity tests and has been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a water-treatment product (environmentally-friendly sterilizer).
Currently, it is used in water purifier sterilization filters, cooling tower sterilization systems and industrial humidifier (air washer) sterilization systems as an environmentally-friendly sterilization filter.
3. How the sterilization ball sterilizes
A) Sterilization mechanism
The special ceramic sterilization ball is coated with silver oxide and fired at high temperatures. As a result, a new material (AgO-) with strong sterilization power is continuously produced in water. This material sterilizes germs by bonding with their cellular membranes.
According to a report by the School of Applied Chemistry of Seoul National University, the new material (AgO-) emitted from the sterilization ball is 100-200 times stronger than AgNO3 and Ag2O in terms of sterilization effects. As a result, it can sterilize pathogens (legionella, E. coli, dysentery bacillus, Vibrio, etc.) in water and removes biofilm.
As shown in the figure above, the silver compound is applied to the ball under exact conditions to emit AgO- instead of Ag+. In addition, it is also designed to emit far infra rays with high emissivity.
According to School of Applied Chemistry of Seoul National University, this new material has shown an extremely powerful sterilizing effect with even a tiny amount (0.05ppm) (dissolved oxygen saturation concentration: 0.05ppm). In particular, the environmentally-friendly sterilization ball can continue sterilizing water in a circulating system even with a small amount so that it generates great effects in large amounts such as in cooling-water sterilization.
B) Sterilization capabilities
The sterilization power of the environmentally-friendly sterilization ball has been tested by various institutions, and similar results have been obtained among them. The test results are as follows:
Table 1 Sterilization Effect of Sterilization Ball over Time
(MICROID CO.) (Unit: %)
Time
|
E. coli
(KCTC1682)
|
Vibrio vulnificus
(KCTC2959)
|
Shigella sonnei
(KCTC12002)
|
Legionella pneumophila
(KCTC12009)
|
0 min.
|
0-1
|
0-1
|
0-1
|
18.9
|
30 min.
|
99.7
|
> 99.9
|
86.4
|
37.9
|
3 hr.
|
> 99.9
|
> 99.9
|
> 99.9
|
> 99.9
|
Table 2 Sterilization Effect of Sterilization Ball over Time
(Institute of Microbiology of Seoul National University) (Unit: %)
Time
|
E. coli
|
Vibrio vulnificus
|
Legionella pneumophila
|
0 min.
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
30 min.
|
95.1852
|
99.5135
|
60.4167
|
3 hr.
|
99.9716
|
99.9946
|
84.3750
|
6 hr.
|
99.9951
|
99.9997
|
93.5417
|
12 hr.
|
>99.9999
|
>99.9999
|
99.9375
|
24 hr.
|
>99.9999
|
>99.9999
|
-
|
Table 3 Sterilization Effect According to Test on Small Amount (Two Sterilization Balls) (Korea Environment & Water Works Institute)
Time
|
E. coli (cfu/ml)
|
Removal Rate (%)
|
0 min.
|
1.1 × 104
|
-
|
30 min.
|
6.0 × 103
|
45
|
1 hr.
|
4.4 × 103
|
60
|
3 hr.
|
2.2 × 102
|
98
|
Test and removal of super bacteria, dysentery bacillus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Candida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc.
D) Toxicity test
To analyze the materials generated by the environmentally-friendly sterilization ball and determine if they have toxicity that can affect human health, a test was conducted by the Korea Testing & Research Institute for Chemical Industry (KOTRIC) and the Korea Environment & Water Works Institute. Testing investigation included whether or not they met 45 clauses of drinking water quality standards as well as 13 new clauses.
Tested by
|
Description
|
Results
|
KOTRIC
|
Feb.2002, 100g sterilization ball (15mm), 200 RPM, mix for 20 hours, test in 48 hours / Korea Drinking Water Quality Standard Method
|
Meets 45 clauses of drinking water quality standards
|
Korea Environment & Water Works Institute
|
Mar. 2002, 25g sterilization ball (15mm) (5 balls), mix and leave for 24 hours then test / Korea Drinking Water Quality Standard Method
|
Meets 45 clauses of drinking water quality standards and 13 new clauses
|
. Strength of environmentally-friendly sterilization ball cartridge
Perfect covering the weakness of the silver-nano product –
Silver nano is 10 times finer than nano in terms of angstrom. In fact, the former is much stronger than the latter in terms of sterilization (disease prevention and purification by sterilizing bacteria and virus).
Registered with the EPA (the only product in Korea) –
Silver-nano products are governed by the EPA.
Other products that emit Ag2O are positive (+) ions. However, the sterilization ball (EKKO Ball) emits negative (-) ions with far stronger sterilizing power. In addition, a great amount of natural negative ions are produced.
No particular apparatus is required during installation. It is impregnated around the transducer for sterilization.
Because of water-softening functions that decrease water clusters, this product helps keep the skin moist and healthy through superior air sterilization (collection of humidified mist à optimum sterilization is maintained).
When water in a water tank comes into contact with the sterilization ball cartridge impregnated around the transducer, germs are sterilized. The sterilization water-humidified mist then purifies indoor air by sterilizing germs in the air. As a result, it is effective in preventing respiratory diseases.
The part around the transducer is highly vulnerable to pollution. The terms here or in a water container are all sterilized in an environmentally-friendly manner. Slimy biofilm, rust and scale are removed. Thanks to the sterilization of germs and viruses, diseases are prevented and easily controlled – sanitary.
9. Effects of environmentally-friendly sterilization ball-treated water
1) Strong sterilization power
Once water passes through the sterilization ball, it is transformed into sterilizing water, which is very effective in sterilizing pathogens and virus.
2) Water activation
If the sterilization ball is circulation-treated in the water, it decreases the molecular structure of water and activates the water (an increase in dissolved oxygen levels). The activated water increases water solvency and improves absorption. As a result, it keeps the skin moist and healthy. In addition, it accelerates metabolism through smooth circulation. It is also effective when growing plants and caring for animals thanks to the great amount of negative ions.
3) Prevention of biofilm and scale
The sterilization ball-treated water has strong solvency and sterilization power so that it prevents biofilm (organic matter + slimy film) from forming and removes it if it has formed prior to treatment. In addition, strong solvency prevents rust and scale from forming on pipes and removes the existing rust and scale.
4) Sterilization effects
Because the sterilization ball-treated water itself has sterilizing effects, if this water is sprayed into the air, it sterilizes germs and viruses in the air. In addition, it emits a great amount of negative ions, purifies air, deodorizes and modulates humidity. In particular, it is very effective in sterilizing and preventing pathogens and viruses.
(Effective in easing atopic and allergic dermatitis) – keeping the body balanced
5) Environmentally-friendly product
Ag2O was fused to the environment-friendly ceramic ball through high temperatures. No harmful materials were produced. Instead, it produces AgO- ions and activates water with far infrared rays. With the emission of a great amount of natural negative ions, in addition, it creates a refreshing environment.
7) Purification of indoor air and improvement of health
As the water in a water tank flows into the transducer and meets the sterilization ball cartridge, it is transformed into sterilized water. The humidified vapor then sterilizes germs in the air, purifies indoor air and prevents respiratory diseases.
8) Emission of a great amount of negative ions
The human body is always exposed to a great amount of positive ions. The sterilization ball produces a lot of negative ions in a natural manner and keeps plants balanced (An electrical negative ion generator produces ozone and can cause issues with respiratory organs / regulated by EPA).
9) Maximization of water-changing cycle
10) Deodorization effects
11) ‘TOXIN-FREE’ under a toxicity test – No harm to human body
12) Registered with the EPA – the only product in Korea
13) Sterilization ball applications
If used in a child’s or student’s room, it is effective for improving concentration and for sound sleep in addition to the other effects mentioned.
14) Nosocomial infection
Nosocomial infection has been a problem around the world as well as in Korea. The sterilization ball is effective in sterilizing pathogens and viruses and preventing indoor air from being polluted.
15) Available for water purifiers, dishwashers, humidifiers, air purifiers and air scrubbers