DE10002400B4 - Method and device for deodorizing room air, in particular for refrigerators - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for the deodorization of room air, in particular for refrigerators, in which Al ^III salt (s) is (are) used, characterized in that one (several) Al ^III salt (s) with low molecular weight (low molecular weight) anion (s) as stable (stable) solid (s) of the room air to be deodorized is exposed, the Al ^III salt (s) being present as a macrocrystalline (macrocrystalline) crystal aggregate (s).

Description

The Invention relates to a method for deodorizing room air, the process being particularly suitable for deodorising Has refrigerators. The invention also relates to a device for deodorization of room air, which in different embodiments special suitability for the Used in refrigerators.

issues with unpleasant smelling room air are in industry and technology as well as in the daily Life is widespread. Pleasantly breathing, from annoying smells free, air belongs to basic human needs.

For the prevention or reduction of unwanted olfactory impressions Various means and methods have been proposed over time and applied.

So are for Living and working spaces, but also for Toilets, changing rooms and the like, preparations containing synthetic or natural essential oils in commerce, the sprayed or evaporated to less pleasing odor impressions to cover a pleasant scent.

To perfumed detergents are also offered for the same purpose. These are primarily the sources of unpleasant odor, most of them are degrading organic matter, remove when cleaning. For reinforcement they often have this effect microbicidal properties. This should be bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms, produce the malodorous compounds in the degradation of organic substances, are killed. About that step out or suggest common ones Detergents give the impression of pleasant freshness through their perfuming, the on the cleaned surfaces and more items or less persistently transmitted becomes.

In commercial enterprises, the air pollutants with odor nuisance Cause is a considerable effort to keep clean in the atmosphere discharged air and the protection of workers from bad indoor air required. Luftumwälzende Filter systems for air purification are the rule. In these will be the evil-smelling Components from the contaminated air, for example through adsorbents, For example, activated carbon with small particle size or other solids with a large surface, removed by adhesion. Activated carbon filter, also with additives such as sodium bicarbonate (soda,) are also produced in smaller dimensions and about the Luftdeodorierung used in the household.

to disposal also wet-chemical oxidation processes in industry, the combustion of pollutants in the exhaust air, or more recently Time also biotechnological procedures.

All Previously known in the art procedures and products However, they have disadvantages, depending on the field of application more or less come to fruition.

So is when using air filters, as they are also in domestic Area associated with air conditioners and kitchen hoods are known, the purchase price not insignificant. In addition, the air circulation causes running Energy costs and is often associated with noise pollution. air filter In addition, most are not maintenance-free. Filter change and filter disposal have to in longer or shorter intervals be made and cause in addition to running costs and disposal problems.

The Size conventional Air filter systems also prohibit their use where only small space to disposal stands, about in a cool box or in a smaller fridge.

Frequently repeated Cleaning with water and detergents with or without disinfecting effect mean labor costs that are in the commercial sector in personnel costs precipitates and therefore, if possible is avoided.

So is with refrigerators any Cleaning with prolonged opening and thus associated with a loss of energy through warming.

Also in terms of water consumption and environmental impact will in many cases also a minimization of the frequency sought by wet cleaning. Although everywhere is one of odor nuisance desired free environment, the use of detergents with or without Desin fektionswirkung and / or perfuming but not everywhere only positive aspects.

there plays on the one hand the problematic odor of many disinfectants and detergents matter. Where food is not quite hermetic Lock must be stored, they can influenced by the smell of the disinfectant or cleaning agent become. This means depreciation due to aroma change.

On the other hand, in some cases, the maintenance of an intact microflora in the Luftdeodorierung is essential. The use of microbicidal agents is problematic in such cases. As an example may serve refrigerated rooms in which cheese is brought to maturity; the variety specific the stock of microbes must be preserved there; Nevertheless, the air in such ripening rooms should allow the employees to breathe comfortably even without filter masks.

The cover an unpleasant smell of perfume-based odor improvers, be it as a room, toilet or refrigerator spray, as a perfume oil for evaporators or as an additional ingredient in detergents also has disadvantages.

That perfumes, also those with so-called fresh scent, in connection with food and Luxury foods (pantries, Refrigerators) not are optimal, because of the risk of undesirable influence of the respective Product flavor understandable.

Problematic is also that people on perfumes react differently. A consistently positive assessment to cover selected Fragrance by the people confronted with it can not be guaranteed become. Especially in higher Concentration becomes air freshening perfumes by many people declined. The possibility the formation of particularly repulsive felt mixed odors from the perfume used and to be covered Air smell may play a role.

• – ohne apparativen Aufwand auskommt,
• – auf kleinem Raum realisiert werden kann,
• – keine laufenden Kosten verursacht und
• – weder Geräusch- noch Entsorgungsprobleme aufwirft.

In view of this state of the art, the present invention is based on the object to provide a method for deodorizing room air, in particular refrigerators, which does not have the disadvantages of the known prior art and in addition to its efficiency as an air freshener above all

• - does not require any equipment,
• - can be realized in a small space,
• - no running costs caused and
• - poses no noise or disposal problems.

• – Kosten günstig herstell- und betreibbar, nicht störanfällig,
• – auch mit geringen Abmessungen realisierbar und
• – in Herstellung, Anwendung und Entsorgung weitestgehend Umwelt neutral

ist. Die genannten Aspekte der Aufgabe werden durch das Verfahren gemäß der Ansprüche 1 bis 5 und die Vorrichtungen gemäß der Ansprüche 6 bis 8 gelöst. Die Unteransprüche 3, 4, 5 und 8 geben zweckmäßige Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung wieder.Accordingly, the invention presented here is equally based on the object to provide a suitable device for deodorizing room air, in particular for refrigerators, available

• - Costs can be produced and operated inexpensively, not susceptible to faults,
• - Realizable with small dimensions and
• - In production, use and disposal as far as possible environment neutral

is. The above-mentioned aspects of the object are achieved by the method according to claims 1 to 5 and the devices according to claims 6 to 8. The subclaims 3, 4, 5 and 8 represent expedient embodiments of the invention.

It is crucial for the process according to the invention that the room air to be deodorized is exposed to a low molecular weight anion or a mixture of several Al ^III salts with low molecular weight anions.

This surprised the technical effect of the invention. Al ^III salts have long played a role in cosmetic deodorants. Their effect as a body deodorant but is attributed to the inhibition of microbial decomposition of the proteins contained in the sweat by Al ^III ions. This inhibits the formation of odor-intensive volatile, unpleasant smelling compounds. In addition, the tanning action of the Al ^III salts should reduce the sweat secretion. This mechanism requires direct contact of the Al ^III ions with the potential source of the compounds responsible for the foul odor impression.

at The process claimed here is a combination of Al salts and odor sources (food residues in refrigerators, deposits in toilet channels) locked out.

Also known are deodorants containing Al ^III salts for deodorizing room air (eg. DE 41 05 633 A1 ). The aluminum salts may, for. B. adsorbed in solid form to a substrate ( JP 4104835 A ) or in liquid form ( JP 63134054 A ) are present. Out JP 4016234 A In addition, the use of alum or aluminum sulfate is known as adsorbent for basic gases in combination with other adsorbents.

Also in view of the known adhesion effect of finely divided matter on (foul-smelling) volatile compounds, the success of the inventive method is surprising, because the respectively used Al ^III salts act in coarsely crystalline form or as glassy coatings.

The respective Al ^III salt or salt mixture can be exposed statically to the room air to be deodorized, for example by being introduced into a refrigerator and remaining there. From the Al ^III salt or salt mixture no volatile chemical compounds are released into the room air. The Al ^III salt or salt mixture remains active for a long time. In the trial phase of the invention, no decrease in the effect was found in all cases over a 6-month life.

The Disposal - if it becomes necessary - can soluble in water Salts by dissolution, dilution and Add to composting respectively.

Non-water soluble Al ^III salts are not an environmental problem anyway.

at Static operation consumes the invention according to Luftdeodorierung no additional energy.

For reasons of safety and efficiency, it is the invention of the invention to use the Al ^III salt or the corresponding salt mixture as a solid. To be used as Al ^III salts, which are stable under the usual room conditions, ie have no hygroscopic properties or are decomposable. A variety of suitable salts are commercially available to the person skilled in the art.

Suitable anions for carrying out this embodiment of the claimed method, for example sulfate ions in question. The corresponding Al ^III salts are easy to obtain as synthetic substances or from natural sources. In part, they can be used as minerals without treatment.

In all respects, the testing of the invention for the deodorizing of room air has proven that Al ^III salts with sulfate anions are particularly favorable. In addition to the actual aluminum sulphate Al ₂ (SO ₄ ) ₃ , mainly potassium alum and ammonium alum are used here. These sulfates are not only very effective; they form substances containing water of crystallization and also aesthetically very attractive, colorless, macrocrystalline crystal aggregates; placed in the space to be deodorized, such as a toilet room, a pantry or a refrigerator, they combine technical functionality with effect as a decorative element.

Likewise, Al ^III salts can be exposed as a glassy layer without or with this layer carrying adhesive body made of plastic, wood, stone and the like more of the room air to be deodorized. In this latter case, the surface available for air contact is particularly small. Nevertheless, excellent results are achieved, especially with Al ^III sulfates. According to the experience in the trial phase, a surface of the Al ^III salt layer of 2.5 cm ² per liter of room air introduced into a food-grade refrigerator is sufficient to keep the refrigerator free of the otherwise typical refrigerator odor for more than half a year.

The Device according to the here presented invention will become apparent with reference to the accompanying, sketchy drawings explained.

1 shows an aesthetically pleasing embodiment with a crystal aggregate as an effective salt layer in side view. 1a and 1b make cross sections of the in 1 illustrated device type.

3 and 3a represent cross-sectional sketches of devices with glassy salt layers.

All of these embodiments, given only as examples from a wealth of embodiments of the technical teaching of the invention in the form of devices ( 1 ), the presence of a layer ( 5 ) of Al ^III salt or a mixture of a plurality of Al ^III salts together, wherein impurities may also be present to a lesser extent in the layer.

The device according to 1 According to current knowledge, it is best to use ammonium alum or potassium alum as the material for the crystal aggregate ( 8th ) produce. The crystallization process is expediently carried out using an adhesive body ( 6 ), like in 1b can be removed or, as in 1a shown remains in the finished device.

To increase the stability, the crystal aggregate ( 5 . 8th ) on a support ( 2 ) mounted, for example glued. The carrier ( 2 ) can be made of any stable material. Conventional plastics, approved for use in refrigerators best food law, fulfill this purpose.

To protect the crystal aggregate ( 5 . 8th ) to prevent damage, but also to prevent contact of food or hands with the (or the) Al ^III salt (s) and at the same time to ensure access to the air to be deodorized, is a shell ( 3 ) with passages ( 4 ), which, together with the institution ( 2 ) the macrocrystalline crystal aggregate ( 5 . 8th ) encloses. This case ( 3 ) is in the embodiment sketched here expediently of transparent material to the view of the aesthetically pleasing crystal aggregate ( 5 . 8th ) to release.

3 and 3a show embodiments with amorphous, glassy or at least glassy-looking layer ( 5 . 10 ) of an Al ^III salt or more Al ^III salts. Here, too, without disturbing the deodorizing effect, foreign substances may be present in a minor amount.

The layer ( 5 . 10 ) is expediently located on a with open to the outside cavities ( 7 ) adhesive body ( 6 ), the layer ( 5 . 8th ) penetrates into the cavities and anchored in it. The adhesive body ( 6 ) may consist of a natural material, such as a lava rock, as in 3a indicated. Here are the cavities ( 7 ) as pores ( 7b ) naturally present.

The adhesive body ( 6 ) but can also represent a suitably designed plastic object, as in 3 outlined. The cavities ( 7 ) in which the glassy layer are anchored here depressions ( 7a ). The shape of the depressions ( 7a ) can be chosen largely arbitrarily.

Carrier ( 2 ) and shell ( 3 ) form in the embodiment 3 an integral, grid-like container ( 12 ), which can also be made of flexible material.

Overall, the embodiment is corresponding 3 and 3a mechanically less sensitive than the one in 1 is shown. Nevertheless, it is aesthetically quite appealing, especially if it is formed from optically glassy-like acting Al ^III sulfates such as potassium alum, ammonium alum, the actual aluminum sulfate or mixtures thereof.

The production of devices ( 1 for the deodorizing of room air, in which the Al ^III salt (s) as glassy layer ( 5 ) is present under conditions of little or no technical production in Thailand as follows: in an enamelled metal container with reflux device (high domed lid or metal cap), the available Al Heat ^III sulfate (s) over an open flame with occasional stirring until a homogeneous melt has formed.

For the devices ( 1 ) without adhesive body ( 6 ) is the melt in portions, each for a device ( 1 ), in the draft of fans on a cold metal sheet given. The melt solidifies immediately glassy, but remains viscoplastic for several hours after the shock-cooling. In this state, the portions are removed with a spatula from the metal sheet and brought by hand into the desired shape (ball, Ovoid, plate ... and the like).

For the devices ( 1 ) with adhesive body ( 6 ) are several pins or plates made of pumice or high-melting plastic (usually polypropylene is used) releasably attached to a metal frame, immersed in the melt, immediately pulled out and exposed to the cold air flow of fans. Multiple immersion with shock-cooling of each newly formed ( 5 ) leads to the desired layer thickness. The initially in the form of a drop adherent glassy layer (s) ( 5 ) are pressed by hand into the desired shape if necessary.

The devices ( 1 ) according to the invention explained and claimed here - especially if plastics for carriers ( 2 ), Shell ( 3 ) and adhesive body ( 6 ) - suitable for wet rooms.

All devices ( 1 ) according to the here explained and claimed invention is also common that they can be used in a small space. However, they can easily be combined to form larger batteries with a large volume of deodorized or heavy odor.

1

contraption for deodorizing room air

2

carrier

3

shell

4

Passage opening for the deodorizing room air

5

Layer of Al ^III salt (s)

6

adhesive body

7

cavity

7a

deepening

7b

pore

8th

macrocrystalline crystal aggregate

10

amorphous, glassy salt layer

12

lattice-like network container

Claims (8)

Method for the deodorization of room air, in particular for refrigerators, in which Al ^III salt (s) is (are) used, characterized in that one (several) Al ^III salt (s) with low molecular weight (low molecular weight) anion (s) as stable (stable) solid (s) of the room air to be deodorized is exposed, the Al ^III salt (s) being present as a macrocrystalline (macrocrystalline) crystal aggregate (s). Method for the deodorization of room air, in particular for refrigerators, in which Al ^III salt (s) is (are) used, characterized in that one (several) Al ^III salt (s) with low molecular weight (low molecular weight) anion (s) as stable (stable) solid (s) of the room air to be deodorized is exposed, the Al ^III salt (s) being present in the form of a (more) vitreous (glassy) salt layer (s). A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the salt layer (s) one (more) adhesive body ( 6 ) completely or partially covers (coat). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that as Al ^III salt (e) potassium alum and / or ammonium alum and / or Alumi sulfate or alum stone (alunite). Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the (the) Al ^III salt (s) is arranged statically with respect to the room air to be deodorized, wherein expedient per liter of room air to be deodorized a surface of the (the ) Al ^III salt (salts) of more than 2.5 cm ² is provided. Contraption ( 1 ) for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a carrier ( 2 ), on which a macrocrystalline crystal aggregate ( 8th ) which consists wholly or for the most part of a (several) Al ^III salt (s) with low molecular weight (low molecular weight) anion (s), wherein the macrocrystalline crystal aggregate ( 8th ) is designed as a hollow cylinder and one with passages ( 4 ) for the room air to be deodorized ( 3 ) together with the carrier ( 2 ) encloses the Al ^III salt (s). Contraption ( 1 ) for carrying out the method according to claim 2, characterized in that on a support ( 2 ) one (several) layer (s) ( 5 ) of (a plurality of) Al ^III salt (s) is (are), wherein the layer (s) ( 5 ) is (are) formed as a glassy salt layer (s) and one with passage openings ( 4 ) for the room air to be deodorized ( 3 ) together with the carrier ( 2 ) encloses the Al ^III salt (s). Device according to one of Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the Al ^III salt (s) consist of potassium alum and / or aluminum alum and / or aluminum sulphate.