Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic synthesis – Preparing nonmetal element
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-13
2004-04-06
Phasge, Arun S. (Department: 1753)
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic synthesis
Preparing nonmetal element
C205S701000, C205S742000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06716335
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the production of electrolyzed water having cleansing and sterilizing effects.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Attention has recently been drawn to electrolyzed water as cleansing water. For example, the production apparatus according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 317414/2000 is such that a cathode plate having a large number of openings and an anode plate having no opening face each other, and water is caused to flow along the two electrode plates. As a result, there is produced electrolyzed water having a cleansing effect.
On the other hand, the apparatus according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 277385/1994 is such that the anode and cathode form therebetween a long labyrinthine flow passage along which water is caused to flow. As a result, there is produced electrolyzed water having a sterilizing effect, as ozone is generated when electrolyzed water is produced.
According to these prior arts, however, it is difficult to raise the concentration of ozone, since ozone is generated only accidentally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a method of producing electrolyzed water having a cleansing effect and a high ozone concentration.
The object is attained by a method in which an apparatus for producing electrolyzed water from a liquid is used for producing electrolyzed water containing ozone, the apparatus having a flow passage formed between and along two plate electrodes located close to each other, a D.C. (direct current) power source for applying a D.C. voltage between the two plate electrodes and a control circuit for changing the polarity of the plate electrodes alternately, the intervals of time T for changing their polarity being set within the range of time as defined by a formula (10) below:
0.5 (
sec
)≦
T
≦(1/3)×(
L/V
) (10)
where V: the velocity (cm/sec) of flow of a liquid in the flow passage;
L: the length (cm) of the plate electrodes in the direction of flow of the liquid.
A preferred embodiment of apparatus used for carrying out this invention is an apparatus for producing electrolyzed water from a liquid, which has an electrolytic cell, an inlet means for allowing a liquid forced into the electrolytic cell to flow through, a first electrode plate placed in the electrolytic cell, a second electrode plate placed in the electrolytic cell and facing the first electrode plate, a D.C. power source for applying a D.C. voltage to the first and second electrode plates so as to produce a potential difference therebetween, a control circuit for changing the polarity of the plate electrodes alternately, and an outlet pipe through which electrolyzed water produced in the electrolytic cell is let out of the cell. This apparatus is characterized in that the first electrode plate close to the second electrode plate allows a flow passage to be formed between and along the electrode plates, and that the intervals of time T for changing their polarity can be set between 0.5 and 60 seconds.
For the purpose of this invention, the “plate electrode” means not only a non-perforated (non-apertured) electrode plate not having any through opening allowing a liquid to flow therethrough, or a perforated (apertured) electrode plate having a large number of (for example, 10 or more) through openings allowing a liquid to flow therethrough, but also a metal net, or the like.
It is said that water molecules form a cluster (aggregation of molecules formed by aggregating molecules) by hydrogen bonding which behaves like a macromolecule. The electrolysis of water, however, forms oxygen gas, hydrogen gas and new water molecules as a result of chemical reactions shown by formulas (1) to (3) below.
H
2
O→H
+
+OH
−
(1)
2H
+
+2
e
−
→H
2
(2)
4OH
−
→4
e
−
+O
2
+2H
2
O (3)
These chemical changes destroy the clusters. As a result, water decreases its surface tension and increases its surface activity and thereby its diffusion through contaminant substances. Electrolyzed water contains a large number of fine bubbles, as of hydrogen and oxygen gases, etc. and owing to cavitation (an infinite number of fine and nearly vacuum cavities formed about the bubbles and producing an impact force when they are broken), the water facilitates the separation of contaminant substances from the material to be washed.
It has been confirmed that the electrolysis of city water lowers its surface tension from 0.0722 N/m to about 0.0716 N/m.
According to this invention, water or an aqueous solution is used as raw water (liquid). As raw water is required to be electrically conductive and contain ions in order to realize the chemical reactions according to formulas (1) to (3), city or well water is usually used as “water”, though pure (or distilled) water or ion exchange water can also be used. An aqueous solution may contain salt, or citric acid.
The amount of water which can be electrolyzed is proportional to the amount of an electric current flowing to the electrodes. It is, therefore, necessary to raise the amount of the current as far as possible to perform electrolysis powerfully. According to this invention, the electrodes have a reduced distance therebetween to receive an increased current without relying upon the application of a very high voltage. The distance between the electrodes is usually required not to exceed 3.0 mm and is preferably from about 0.5 to 2.0 mm. In this connection, it is desirable to employ a plurality of electrode units to obtain a large total electrode surface area.
The first electrode plate and second electrode plate are so disposed as to extend substantially in parallel to each other and face each other to thereby have a substantially uniform distance therebetween, so that the surface of each electrode plates may contribute to electrolysis uniformly.
The “facing” each other of the electrode plates means that there is no diaphragm therebetween.
The reduced distance between the electrodes makes it difficult for water to flow into the space therebetween. According to this invention, therefore, one of the electrode plates has a multiplicity of through holes which make it easy for water to flow into the passage between the electrodes. Moreover, deflecting means is provided for directing raw water toward the holes of the perforated electrode plate so that it may flow into the passage between the electrodes. The deflecting means is preferably defined by a multiplicity of nozzles formed in the inlet pipe.
Water entering the flow passage between the two electrode plates flows therethrough with bubbles and flows out through other holes and the top clearance between the two electrode plates. Therefore, the two electrode plates are preferably disposed not horizontally, but along a vertical or inclined plane to facilitate the flow of the water containing bubbles therebetween.
The electrolysis of water produces fine bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen gases. These bubbles serve as nuclei for an infinite number of fine and nearly vacuum cavities which produce an impact force when they are broken. This phenomenon is called cavitation, and the energy which is produced when the bubbles are broken exhibits an effective washing action.
It is sufficient for water to have an ozone concentration of about 1 mg per liter for sterilization. It is generally said that Escherichia coli, virus or spore bearing bacterium are 99% inactivated in about a minute in water having an ozone concentration of 0.01 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg, respectively per liter. At such a level of concentration in water, ozone has only a very low oxidizing power and does not present any problem of rusting the apparatus for producing electrolyzed water, piping, etc.
It is presumed that if water is electrolyzed by using a non-perforated electrode plate and a perforated electrode plate and reversing the polarity of the electrode plates, the generation of ozone gas is facilitated by the
Oyokota Shigeru
Takesako Kiyoyuki
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Phasge Arun S,.
Tominaga MFG. Co.
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