Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A composition for the bactericidal treatment of a stream of water comprising: a. a particulate silver yielding material comprising: i. a carrier which has a particle size of between approximately 4 and 20 mesh, a surface area of greater than approximately 150 square inches per gram, and a Mohs scale hardness of greater than 2.5 and which is substantially insoluble in water having a pH of between 5 and 9; ii. a layer of elemental silver on the surfaces of said carrier, said silver being between approximately 1% and 10% by weight of said silver yielding material; and iii. the mechanical interaction between adjacent particles of said silver yielding material causing a release of elemental silver into said stream when it is passed therethrough; b. a particulate filler material intermixed with said silver yielding material, said filler material being substantially insoluble in water having a pH of between 5 and 9, said filler material having a particle size of between approximately 4 and 20 mesh and a Mohs scale hardness of less than 2.5, the volumetric ratio of said filler material to said silver yielding material being between approximately 1:1 and 5:1; and c. said filler material reducing the rate at which elemental silver is released from said composition to produce a controlled release of said elemental silver when said stream is passed therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A composition for the bactericidal treatment of a stream of water comprising: a. a particulate silver yielding material comprising: i. a carrier which has a particle size of between approximately 4 and 20 mesh, a surface area of greater than approximately 150 square inches per gram, and a Mohs scale hardness of greater than 2.5 and which is substantially insoluble in water having a pH of between 5 and 9; ii. a layer of elemental silver on the surfaces of said carrier, said silver being between approximately 1% and 10% by weight of said silver yielding material; and iii. the mechanical interaction between adjacent particles of said silver yielding material causing a release of elemental silver into said stream when it is passed therethrough; b. a particulate filler material intermixed with said silver yielding material, said filler material being substantially insoluble in water having a pH of between 5 and 9, said filler material having a particle size of between approximately 4 and 20 mesh and a Mohs scale hardness of less than 2.5, the volumetric ratio of said filler material to said silver yielding material being between approximately 1:1 and 5:1; and c. said filler material reducing the rate at which elemental silver is released from said composition to produce a controlled release of said elemental silver when said stream is passed therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
In the composition of claim 1, said carrier further characterized as being activated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
In the composition of claim 2, said carrier comprising alumina.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
In the composition of claim 1, said carrier comprising alumina.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
In the composition of claim 4, said filler material comprising charcoal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the composition of claim 1, said silver yielding material and said filler material being of substantially the same particle size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composition of claim 1 further characterized as being substantially free from silver salts.