Silver sanitizing of low environmental impact: "silver water"

• Grant number: 16/15413-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: April 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Jonny Francisco Ros de Almeida
• Grantee: Jonny Francisco Ros de Almeida
• Company: ADP Água de Prata Tecnologia em Soluções Metálicas Ltda
• Principal investigators: Walter Maigon Pontuschka
• Associated researchers: Lígia Ferreira Gomes
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/10435-5 - Silver sanitizing of low environmental impact: silver water, BP.PIPE

Abstract

This project is an incremental Innovative Research based on the production technology of Silver Particulate Stabilized in Aqueous Media (AgPEA) from Khemia company, to develop a new product called Sanitizer of Low Environmental Impact, or Silver Water. This technology-based sanitizer is intended for applications in environments and tools, excluding water and waterwastes treatment, as these require further developments to meet specific standards and features beyond the scope of this proposal. Thus, the trade name "Silver Water" was created as a technology-based alternative to traditional compounds used as sanitizers, which have a high environmental impact and high risk to health. The AgPEA technology was invented, tested and automatized by Mr. Jonny F. Ros de Almeida (PI 1015707-7) in small-scale for scientific demands. The AgPEA production technology generates particulate silver in water without any stabilizing additives. Researches developed by academic partners (DFGE-USP, IPEN, Inst. Butantan and others) proved the efficacy of the product when used as a bactericide and fungicide, thus having achieved technical viability at its own expense and with the support of partners. Therefore, the foundation of the business, which is the AgPEA technology, will be kept under industrial secrecy. Khemia also holds the production technology similar particulates of Au, Zn, Cu, as well as the treatment of effluents with these metals, in other words, its extraction from water. That way the company holds high value expertise. To achieve the status of product, Silver Water still demand research and development in specific points of its production process and equipment, this is the main motivation of this proposition to PIPE FAPESP program in direct phase II. Although particulate silver have many potential applications, the development of this sanitizer have relatively simple legal and regulatory requirements and features acceptable risks to business while enabling its adaptation to a demanding and highly regulated sector, for this reason this application was chosen to start the enterprise. The aims of this project are: i) adequation of available structure for good production practices; ii) implementation of structural characterization protocol on the material produced; iii) development of aggregation and toxicity studies and iv) adequation of specific equipment for the Silver Water sanitizer production process. These objectives imply technical and scientific challenges which will be addressed in partnership with the Microrreology and Molecular Physiology Laboratory from the General Physics Department from Physics Institute of University of São Paulo (LabM2, http://fig.if.usp.br/~labm2/) that has human, technical and scientific resources to do so. These challenges are: i) adjust the automated process of AgPEA production technology to meet the regulatory requirements for this sanitizer; ii) describe the structure, toxicity and biological effect mechanisms of this sanitizer and iii) encourage R&D in the field, in partnership with LabM2 Laboratory. The impacts of science and technology-based initiative will be: promotion of academic applied research, technical and scientific knowledge dissemination in society and contributions to the progress of research in this strategic field at the time when Brazil discusses the regulatory framework for the sector. (AU)