Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Process disinfecting – preserving – deodorizing – or sterilizing – Deodorizing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-03-27
Warden, Sr., Robert J (Department: 1744)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Process disinfecting, preserving, deodorizing, or sterilizing
Deodorizing
C423S230000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06207106
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a deodorizing method based on a polymerization reaction, an oxidization reaction, and adsorption, a deodorizer composed primarily of a metal oxide which performs a catalytic action, a method of manufacturing such a deodorizer, and a deodorizing apparatus which incorporates such a deodorizer.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventional deodorizing methods include a masking process, an adsorption process, an ozone deodorizing process, and a catalytic process which uses a metal oxide.
The masking process vaporizes and disperses an aromatic liquid or solid for people to lose a sense of odors. The adsorption process employs an adsorbent such as activated carbon or the like to adsorb odor components. The ozone deodorizing process serves to decompose odor components with ozone. According to the catalytic process, odor components are oxidized and modified by the oxidizing capability of a metal oxide which is used.
In the masking process, since the aromatic material is eliminated in a short period of time, it has to be replaced periodically and frequently. The adsorption process needs periodic replacement of the adsorbent because the adsorption capacity thereof is limited.
The ozone deodorizing process is capable of producing a deodorizing effect for a long period of time. However, the ozone deodorizing process is expensive to carry out as it requires an apparatus for generating ozone and a catalyst for decomposing excessive ozone. The catalyst needs to be regenerated by heating or the like. Furthermore, if ozone is generated at a concentration higher than a designed level thereby deactivating the catalyst, then the ozone harmful to human beings is likely to leak out of the deodorizing apparatus. When a sulfur-based odor is to be deodorized by the ozone deodorizing process, a trace amount of toxic gas of SO
3
is discharged.
The catalytic process which uses a metal oxide can maintain a deodorizing effect for a long period of time and does not produce hazardous substances. However, the catalytic process may produce other odor components. Specifically, when hydrogen sulfide (H
2
S) and methyl mercaptan (CH
3
SH), which are major components of a fecal odor, are brought into contact with a metal oxide such as MnO
2
or CuO, the methyl mercaptan is dehydrogenated and dimerized into methyl disulfide (CH
3
—S—S—CH
3
) which has a lower odor intensity. However, if methyl disulfide is brought into contact with a metal oxide when both hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan are present, then a polymerization reaction occurs which generates methyl trisulfide (CH
3
—S—S—S—CH
3
) and methyl tetrasulfide (CH
3
—S—S—S—S—CH
3
). These generated substances are as malodorous as methyl mercaptan, and cannot effectively be deodorized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, a deodorizing method according to the present invention, carries out a polymerization reaction for polymerizing malodor components with each other, an oxidization reaction for oxidizing malodor components, and an adsorption reaction for adsorbing malodor components to an adsorbent, simultaneously or stepwise at normal temperature.
Specifically, for deodorizing hydrogen sulfide (H
2
S), it is dehydrogenated, for example, to generate an HS group and an S group. The HS group is further oxidized to generate sulfuric acid (H
2
SO
4
), which is bonded to a metal. The S group, obtained through dehydrogenation of methyl mercaptan as discussed below is polymerized with a CH
3
S group to generate methyl trisulfide (CH
3
—S—S—S—CH
3
) or methyl tetrasulfide (CH
3
—S—S—S—S—CH
3
), which is adsorbed to an adsorbent.
For deodorizing methyl mercaptan (CH
3
SH) simultaneously with the deodorization of hydrogen sulfide (H
2
S), it is dehydrogenated, for example, to generate a CH
3
S group. A portion of the CH
3
S group is oxidized to generate methanesulfonic acid (CH
3
SO
3
H), which is bonded to a metal. Another portion of the CH
3
S group is polymerized with the CH
3
S group itself to generate methyl disulfide (CH
3
—S—S—CH
3
), at least a portion of which is adsorbed to an adsorbent. Still another portion of the CH
3
S group is polymerized with the S group is discussed above to generate methyl trisulfide (CH
3
—S—S—S—CH
3
) or methyl tetrasulfide (CH
3
—S—S—S—S—CH
3
), which is physically adsorbed to an adsorbent.
A deodorizer according to the present invention includes a first metal oxide for removing malodor components at normal temperature by being bonded to the malodor components, a second metal oxide for assisting the first metal oxide in its deodorizing action, and an adsorbent for adsorbing the malodor components or products from the malodor components.
The first metal oxide should preferably comprise MnO
2
particles of an amorphous nature having a specific surface area of 200 m
2
/g or higher. The large specific surface area increases the reaction capability of the first metal oxide. It has been found that CuO is an excellent material for use as the second metal oxide.
Specifically, the deodorizer comprises MnO
2
(manganese oxide) particles which have a large specific surface area and are highly active, and CuO (copper oxide) particles which are carried on a surface of powdery or fibrous activated carbon.
Activated carbon such as coconut shell activated carbon or the like is excellent for use as a carrier for carrying the MnO
2
particles and also the CuO particles, because the large specific surface area increases the adsorbing capability.
In order to maintain the removal percentage of original odors at a high level, the MnO
2
particles and the CuO particles preferably are used in a weight ratio ranging from 8:2 to 4:6.
In order to satisfy the conditions of a high removal percentage of original odors and a low concentration of reaction products, the proportion of the total amount of MnO
2
particles and CuO particles to activated carbon is preferably in the range from 4:6 to 6:4 in terms of weight ratios.
A method of manufacturing a deodorizer according to the present invention comprises the steps of reacting a bivalent Mn compound and a septivalent Mn compound with each other, thereafter washing a reaction product with water and filtering the reaction product to produce amorphous MnO
2
, dispersing the amorphous MnO
2
and activated carbon in an aqueous solution of a high concentration of copper salt, neutralizing the aqueous solution with an alkali, filtering and washing a resulting precipitate with water, and then drying the precipitate.
Preferably, the copper salt comprises CuSO
4
or Cu(NO
3
)
2
, and the alkali comprises NaOH or an aqueous solution of NaOH.
A deodorizing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a case having an air inlet and an air outlet, a fan housed in the case and rotatable by a motor for discharging air drawn from the air inlet out of the air outlet, and a deodorizer layer disposed on a surface of the fan, the deodorizer layer containing a deodorizer comprising MnO
2
(manganese oxide) particles which have a large specific surface area and are highly active, and CuO (copper oxide) particles which are carried on a surface of powdery or fibrous activated carbon. The deodorizing apparatus of the above structure may be incorporated in a toilet bowl.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3773044 (1973-11-01), Wallace
patent: 4572178 (1986-02-01), Takase et al.
patent: 5292479 (1994-03-01), Haraga et al.
patent: 5447551 (1995-09-01), Huestis et al.
patent: 5568230 (1996-10-01), Reddy et al.
patent: 5948355 (1999-09-01), Fujishima et al.
patent: 5989497 (1999-11-01), Labonte
patent: 60179125 (1985-09-01), None
patent: 4422173 (1969-09-01), None
patent: 4998763 (1974-09-01), None
patent: 1304232 (1989-07-01), None
patent: 4156854 (1992-05-01), None
patent: 5317392 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 7016465 (1995-01-01), None
Kobayashi Chihiro
Kurokawa Tetsuya
Tokumoto Tomonori
Tsuchida Takashi
Yamamoto Masahiro
Blackman William D.
Carrier Joseph P.
Carrier Blackman & Associates P.C.
Chorbaji Monzer R.
Toto Ltd.
LandOfFree
Room temperature deodorizing method based on a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Room temperature deodorizing method based on a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Room temperature deodorizing method based on a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2463019