JP2011200818A - Filter for cleaning and cleaning method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter for cleaning water and a cleaning method of water which collect microorganisms like virus or bacteria unexceptionally negatively charged in air or in water by a Coulomb force, by using aluminum hydroxide as a filter medium.SOLUTION: The filter includes: a filter medium 7 comprising powder of aluminum hydroxide; casings 1, 2 having an inflow port 1a and an outflow port 2a of water W respectively, and sealing the filter medium 7 between the inflow port 1a and outflow port 2a; and filter medium flow-out preventive materials 5, 6 preventing flow out of the powder from the casing 1, 2. The water W of pH of 4-8 is made to flow in from the inflow port 1a and to pass through the filter medium 7 and is discharged from the outflow port 2a of the casing 1, 2, consequently microorganisms are collected by the filter medium 7.

Description

  The present invention relates to a purification filter for purifying water and air by removing the microorganisms from water or air containing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria, and a purification method thereof.

Conventional technologies for removing microorganisms from water containing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria include adding chlorine-based disinfectants, ozone aeration, ultraviolet irradiation, electrolytic treatment, antibacterial metal containers such as silver and copper, and activated carbon. A charging method has been proposed.
As conventional techniques for removing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria floating in the air, ultraviolet radiation, discharge of ozone gas by discharge, oriented polarized stone nonwoven fabric filters, and the like have been proposed.

JP 2001-269523 (abstract)

Prior art and problems for purifying water containing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria:
Sodium hypochlorite is generally used as a chlorine-based disinfectant, but general bacteria have a bactericidal effect, but have no effect on hepatitis B virus, spore bacteria, tuberculosis bacteria, etc. That's not true.

  In addition, sterilization treatment with chemical substances such as glutaraldehyde and formalin is highly effective but has a problem that it is highly toxic to the human body.

There is also a method of electrolytic treatment of water, but electricity flows due to the presence of various ions like tap water, hydrogen gas is generated from the negative electrode side, oxygen gas and a small amount of chlorine gas are generated from the positive electrode appear. The generated chlorine gas reacts with water (H ₂ O) and hydroxide ions (OH ⁻ ) to become hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions. This hypochlorite ion brings about a bactericidal effect as a chlorine-based bactericidal agent. This effect is effective only when a chlorine-based disinfectant is introduced at the time of treatment at a water purification plant, such as tap water, and does not have a bactericidal effect in well water that does not have chlorine ions. . Furthermore, since pure water that does not contain impurities does not flow in the first place, electrolytic treatment is impossible.

  There is a method in which strong acidic water and strong alkaline water are separately generated by electrolysis of water and the strong acidic water is used as sterilizing water. Strongly acidic water has a high bactericidal effect against microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. However, this method has a problem that strong alkaline water that is simultaneously generated during electrolysis cannot be used and is discarded.

The water treatment method by ozone aeration has a high sterilization effect at the time of treatment, but there is a problem that the sterilization effect disappears with the passage of time after the aeration treatment.
The ultraviolet irradiation method is effective for sterilizing general bacteria. However, a considerably strong irradiation amount is required for spore bacteria. In addition, there is a problem that there is no sterilizing effect at all in the shaded area where the ultraviolet rays do not directly hit.

  Although there is a sterilization method by making the container into an antibacterial metal such as silver or copper, there is a problem that there is no sterilization effect unless the bacteria directly touch these metal surfaces.

A conventional technique has been proposed in which activated carbon is brought into contact with a positive electrode plate and positively charged with activated carbon to attract and capture negatively charged microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria by Coulomb force (the aforementioned patent). Reference 1).
However, there is a problem that calcium ions and magnesium ions contained in water are not adsorbed by the positively charged activated carbon but are adsorbed on the negative electrode plate and adhered as calcium or magnesium.

Conventional technology for purifying air in which microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria are suspended and its challenges:
There is a method of purifying air by releasing ozone by air discharge. However, since ozone itself is harmful to the human body, the actual situation is that it is released at a low concentration. For this reason, the sterilizing ability is low, and the fact is that there is almost no sterilizing effect.

  The ultraviolet irradiation method is effective in sterilizing general bacteria as in water. However, a considerably strong irradiation amount is required for spore bacteria. In addition, there is a problem that there is no sterilizing effect at all in the shaded area where the ultraviolet rays do not directly hit.

  Since the oriented polarized tourmaline nonwoven fabric has positive and negative surface charges, it can collect airborne bacteria by Coulomb force. However, when the humidity exceeds a predetermined amount, there is a problem that the surface charge disappears and the effect of collecting bacteria is almost lost.

  As described above, there are various methods as conventional techniques. However, all have some problems and problems, and the fact is that there is nothing that can safely and easily remove microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria contained in water and air.

  Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a purification filter and a purification method for removing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria present in the air and water.

  In order to achieve the above object, a water purifying filter of the present invention has a filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder, a water inlet portion and an outlet portion, and the inlet portion and the outlet portion. And a filter medium outflow prevention material for preventing the powder from flowing out of the case, and water of pH 4 to pH 8 is supplied from the inlet of the case to the filter medium. The microorganisms are captured by the filter medium by flowing out from the outlet portion.

Here, when aluminum hydroxide Al (OH) ₃ comes into contact with water H ₂ O, the water becomes positive when it is acidic, shows negative amphoteric when it is alkaline, and reaches an equipotential point near pH 8. It has been known. Therefore, in the vicinity of pH 7 indicated by general tap water or pure water, it is slightly positively charged. FIG. 8 is cited from Table 1 of JP-A-11-153288, and supports the above description.

On the other hand, it is known that microorganisms are negatively charged (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2000-42355 (paragraph 0011) and 2006-262825 (paragraph 0042)).
Accordingly, when water containing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria flows in from the inlet, the filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder is positively charged. Therefore, microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria having a negative charge are captured by the filter medium by Coulomb force, and aseptic water can be obtained from the outlet.
The Coulomb force is a force acting between charged particles, and an attractive force acts between particles having different charges.

  Viruses and bacteria trapped on the filter medium cannot move because they cannot move, and die over time.

  As usage of the water purified by using the filter for purification of main water, in addition to drinking water, it can be used for drinking water of animals and hydroponics.

It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the filter for water purification concerning Example 1 of this invention. It is a decomposition | disassembly longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same filter. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the filter for water purification concerning Example 2 of this invention. It is a decomposition | disassembly longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same filter. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the disinfection filter of the filter for purification | cleaning of the air concerning Example 3 of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a filter medium part. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the filter for purification | cleaning of air incorporating the sanitization filter. It is a graph which shows the relationship of the electric charge of aluminum hydroxide and water.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the average particle size of the aluminum hydroxide powder is 1.0 μm to 100 μm.
According to this aspect, by using the aluminum hydroxide powder having an average particle diameter that does not flow out of the filter medium outflow prevention material, it is possible to prevent the aluminum hydroxide powder from flowing out from the outlet portion.
If the average particle size of the aluminum hydroxide powder exceeds 100 μm, the voids between the particles may become too large to adsorb microorganisms.
On the other hand, when the average particle size of the powder is 1.0 μm or less, handling of the powder becomes difficult and clogging is likely to occur.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filter medium outflow prevention material comprises porous ceramics, a porous film, or microfiber.
According to this aspect, the use of porous ceramics, porous film, or microfiber as the filter medium outflow prevention material can prevent the aluminum hydroxide powder from flowing out from the outflow port.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, by providing a protrusion or step that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the water flow direction of the case, water entering from the inflow port is allowed to flow by the protrusion or step. The inside of the filter medium at the center is easier to flow than the inner wall of the case.
According to this aspect, by providing the projecting portion or the stepped portion, it becomes difficult for water to flow along the inner wall of the case, and the filter medium is easily contacted. That is, the water that flows along the inner wall surface of the case does not flow along the case and enters the inside of the filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder, so that microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria are easily captured by the filter medium.

The water purification method of the present invention includes a filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder, a water inlet part and an outlet part, and the filter medium is sealed between the inlet part and the outlet part. And a filter for purifying water having a filter medium outflow prevention material for preventing the powder from flowing out of the case, and water of pH 4 to pH 8 is supplied from the inlet of the case to the filter medium. The microorganisms charged to a negative charge are captured by the filter medium charged to a positive charge by flowing out from the outlet portion.
The water flowing in from the inflow port is preferably pH 4 to pH 8, more preferably pH 6 to pH 8, so that aluminum hydroxide does not dissolve and ionize in water.

  The filter for purifying air according to the present invention has a filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder, an air inlet portion and an outlet portion, and the gap between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. A case for enclosing the filter medium; and a humidifier for humidifying the air upstream of the inflow port, wherein the air containing the moisture of pH 4 to pH 8 is supplied from the inflow port of the case to the filter medium. The microorganisms are captured by the filter medium by being discharged from the outflow port through the filter.

  The filter for purifying the air reacts with moisture in the humidified air and aluminum hydroxide, so that the aluminum hydroxide is charged and the microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria in the air are converted into aluminum by the aluminum hydroxide. By capturing, air can be sterilized.

  The air purification method according to the present invention includes a filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder, an air inlet part and an outlet part, and encloses the filter medium between the inlet part and the outlet part. And an air purifying filter provided with a humidifier for humidifying air upstream of the inlet portion, and the humidified air containing water having a pH of 4 to 8 is contained in the case. By discharging from the inflow port through the filter medium from the outflow port, the negatively charged microorganisms are captured by the positively charged filter medium.

Example 1:
Water purification filter;
1 and 2 show Example 1. FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a water purification filter for producing water W from which microorganisms are removed from water W contaminated with microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the water purifying filter of the present embodiment includes first and second outer cylinder cases 1 and 2, a pair of O-rings 9 and 10, and a filter cartridge 8.

  The first outer cylinder case 1 has an inlet 1a for water W (FIG. 1) and a female screw 1b. The 2nd outer cylinder case 2 has the outflow part 2a of the water W (FIG. 1), and the external thread 2b screwed together with the said internal thread 1b. As shown in FIG. 1, the first and second outer cylinder cases 1 and 2 are set so as to be able to be screwed together by the female screw 1b and the male screw 2b.

The cartridge 8 shown in FIG. 2 includes first and second inner cylinder cases 3, 4, a filter medium outflow prevention material 5, 6 and a filter medium 7.
A number of inlet portions 3a are formed in the first inner cylinder case 3 on the side where the water W is introduced. A number of outlet portions 4a are formed in the second inner cylinder case 4 on the side from which the water W flows out. The first and second inner cylindrical cases 3 and 4 are joined by the first inner cylindrical case 3 and the second inner cylindrical case 4 and are joined to each other by bonding, welding, or the like. Is formed.

The first filter medium outflow prevention material 5 is provided on the downstream side of the multiple inlet portions 3a of the first inner cylinder case 3 so as to be in close contact with the downstream surface of the multiple inlet portions 3a. On the other hand, on the upstream side of the multiple outlet portions 4 a of the second inner cylinder case 4, the second filter medium outflow prevention material 6 is provided so as to be in close contact with the upstream surface of the second inner cylinder case 4. .
The first and second filter medium outflow prevention materials 5 and 6 are made of, for example, porous ceramics, porous films, microfibers, or the like that do not allow fine substances to pass through.

  As shown in FIG. 1, aluminum filter is put between the first and second filter medium outflow prevention materials 5 and 6, and the first and second inner cylindrical cases 3 and 4 are sealed with each other, whereby the filter medium is sealed. A cartridge 8 in which the filter medium 7 is enclosed between the outflow prevention materials 5 and 6 is formed.

The cartridge 8 is assembled in advance and shipped as a filter cartridge 8 that can be replaced by the user.
The cartridge 8 is periodically replaced with a new cartridge 8 when a predetermined time elapses or when a predetermined amount of water has passed.

  O-rings 9 and 10 are arranged between both ends of the filter cartridge 8 and the inner surfaces of the outer casings 1 and 2, and the water W entered from the inflow port 1 a is always filtered by the filter medium 8. 7 is assembled so as to exit from the outlet 21a.

With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, when water W containing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria flows in from the inflow port 1a, the water W becomes a large number of inflow ports of the cartridge 8 shown in FIG. It is sent to the filter medium 7 evenly by 3a. The aluminum hydroxide filter medium 7 that has reacted with the water W has a positive charge, and therefore, negatively charged microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria are captured by the filter medium 7 by Coulomb force.
Thereafter, the water W from which the viruses and bacteria are captured and removed by the filter medium 7 passes through a large number of outlets 4a and flows through the second outer casing 2 of the purification filter as indicated by arrows in FIG. Aseptic water W flows out from the outlet 2a.

Example 2:
3 and 4 show a second embodiment.
For example, as shown by the arrow 11 in FIG. 1 described above, when the water W flows along the inner wall surface of the filter cartridge 8, microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria are not captured by the filter medium and exit from the filter cartridge 8. It cannot be said that there is no possibility. In the second embodiment described below, the countermeasure is taken.

  Since the water purifying filter of the second embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment described above, the same functional parts are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and are different from the first embodiment. Is mainly explained.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inner wall surface 3 c of the first inner cylinder case 3 is formed with a smaller diameter than the inner wall surface 4 c of the second inner cylinder case 4. Therefore, a step is formed at the boundary between the inner wall surface 3 c of the first inner cylinder case 3 and the inner wall surface 4 c of the second inner cylinder case 4.
As shown in FIG. 3, the water W that flows along the inner wall surface 3 c of the first inner cylinder case 3 does not flow along the inner wall surface 4 c of the second inner cylinder case 4, as indicated by an arrow 12. Since the aluminum oxide powder enters the filter medium 7, microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria are easily captured by the filter medium 7.

  In the second embodiment, a step is provided on the inner wall surface of the first inner cylinder case 3 and the second inner cylinder case 4, but by providing a projection (not shown) in addition to the step, the water W is formed on the inner wall surface. It is also possible to eliminate the flow path that flows only along the line.

Example 3:
Air purification filter;
5 to 7 show a third embodiment.

  Here, as described above, since the well-known oriented polarized tourmaline non-woven filter has positive and negative surface charges, it can collect microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria in the air by Coulomb force. However, when the humidity exceeds a predetermined amount, the surface charge disappears and the Coulomb force does not act. For this reason, it becomes difficult to collect microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria in the air.

On the other hand, since aluminum hydroxide has a positive charge as long as it has humidity, it is also suitable for application to an air cleaner having a humidifying function.
Therefore, the example which applied the filter for water purification of Example 1 mentioned above to the filter for air purification is shown below.
Since the purifying filter of the third embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, the same functional parts are given the same numbers as those of the first embodiment, and the parts different from the first embodiment are mainly used. explain.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of an air purifier incorporating the sterilization filter 18 shown in FIG. As indicated by arrows in FIG. 7, the indoor air Wa sucked by the blower 16 through the prefilter 15 is humidified by the humidifier 17. The humidified air Wa is returned to the room through the sterilization filter 18.
As the humidifier 17, for example, a known humidifier such as an ultrasonic type or a heating type can be used.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a sterilization filter 18 for an air purifier for generating air Wa from which microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria floating in the air are removed.

  The sterilization filter 18 includes first and second outer cylinder cases 1 and 2. The first outer cylinder case 1 and the second outer cylinder case 2 are fitted to each other, and are fixed to each other by a screw 13 so that there is no air leakage.

  A cartridge 8 is provided in the first and second outer cylinder cases 1 and 2. A filter medium case 14 is provided in the cartridge 8 so as to be sandwiched between the filter medium outflow prevention materials 5 and 6. A filter medium 7 made of aluminum hydroxide is sealed in the filter medium case 14.

As shown in FIG. 6, the filter medium case 14 is formed with a large number of honeycomb-shaped partition walls 14a. A filter medium 7 made of aluminum hydroxide is sealed in each of the plurality of partition walls 14a.
Therefore, the major difference from the first embodiment is that the filter medium 7 made of aluminum hydroxide powder is not simply sealed, but is sealed in the filter medium case 14 having the honeycomb-shaped partition walls 14a. This is to prevent the formation of a large gap in the filter medium 7 due to its own weight or vibration in the cross section of the air flow path by providing the fine partition wall 14a.

  When the air Wa humidified by the humidifier 17 in FIG. 7 passes through the sterilization filter 18 shown in FIG. 5, the filter medium 7 made of aluminum hydroxide in the sterilization filter 18 reacts with moisture in the air Wa and has a positive charge. Therefore, living things having a slight negative charge such as viruses and bacteria contained in the sucked air Wa are captured by Coulomb force. Accordingly, the sterilized air can be returned to the room, and the function as an air cleaner can be achieved.

  In addition, if the indoor air Wa has a predetermined humidity, it is not always necessary to operate the humidifier 17. Therefore, a humidity sensor (not shown) in FIG. 7 is provided, and only when the indoor humidity is too low, that is, the amount of water in the indoor air Wa becomes a predetermined amount or less and the filter medium 7 made of aluminum hydroxide is positive. The humidifier 17 may be operated only when it can no longer have a charge.

  If the alkaline water has a pH of 8 or more, the aluminum hydroxide is negatively charged. In this case, the entire filter medium 7 is negatively charged, and the negatively charged microorganisms contained in the water are repelled by Coulomb force and cannot enter the filter if the flow rate is lower than a predetermined flow rate. That is, even in the case of alkaline water, it is possible to remove microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria in the water by controlling the flow rate.

  If water is weakly alkaline at pH 8 and aluminum hydroxide becomes an equipotential point, the pH may be forcibly adjusted to the acidic side by adding carbonic acid or the like.

  The filter for water purification of the present invention can be used for the purpose of purifying water and air by removing microorganisms from water and air containing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria.

1, 2: Outer cylinder case 3, 4: Inner cylinder case 5, 6: Filter medium outflow prevention material 7: Filter medium 8: Filter cartridge 9, 10: O-ring 11, 12: (Arrow indicating water flow path)
13: Screw 14: Filter medium case 15: Pre-filter 16: Blower 17: Humidifier 18: Bacteria filter

Claims (7)

A filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder;
A case having a water inlet portion and an outlet portion, and enclosing the filter medium between the inlet portion and the outlet portion;
A filter medium outflow prevention material for preventing the powder from flowing out of the case,
A filter for purifying water that traps microorganisms with the filter medium by allowing water of pH 4 to pH 8 to flow out of the case from the inlet section through the filter medium and from the outlet section.   2. The filter for purifying water according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum hydroxide powder has an average particle size of 1.0 to 100 [mu] m. In claim 2,
The filter medium outflow prevention material is a filter for purifying water made of porous ceramics, porous film, or microfiber. In claim 3,
By providing a protrusion or step that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the water flow direction of the case,
A filter for purifying water in which water that has entered from the inflow port portion flows more easily through the filter medium at the center than the inner wall of the case by the protrusions or stepped portions. A filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder;
A case having a water inlet portion and an outlet portion, and enclosing the filter medium between the inlet portion and the outlet portion;
Using a filter for purifying water provided with a filter medium outflow prevention material for preventing the powder from flowing out of the case,
Purification of water that captures microorganisms that are negatively charged by the positively charged filter medium by allowing water of pH 4 to pH 8 to flow out of the case through the filter medium through the filter medium. Method. A filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder;
A case having an air inlet portion and an outlet portion, and enclosing the filter medium between the inlet portion and the outlet portion;
A humidifier for humidifying air upstream of the inlet portion,
A filter for purifying air that traps microorganisms with the filter medium by releasing the humidified air containing water of pH 4 to pH 8 from the inlet port of the case through the filter medium and from the outlet port. A filter medium made of aluminum hydroxide powder;
A case having an air inlet portion and an outlet portion, and enclosing the filter medium between the inlet portion and the outlet portion;
Using an air purifying filter provided with a humidifier for humidifying air upstream of the inlet portion,
The humidified air containing water having a pH of 4 to 8 is discharged from the inflow port of the case through the filter medium and from the outflow port, so that the positively charged filter medium is negatively charged. A method for purifying air that traps microorganisms.

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