ES2426016B1 - Device for the production of disinfectant and disinfected water by electrochemical activation of aqueous solutions - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the production of disinfectant and disinfected water by electrochemical activation of aqueous solutions. It comprises an electrochemical cell (1) for treating an aqueous solution of sadistic chloride, which enters through an inlet (2) and is subjected to the action of an electric field, and is separated into a flow of catholyte (C), containing positive ions, and leaving a catholytic chamber (3) of the cell (1), by a catholyte outlet (4); and a flow of disinfectant anolyte (A), with negative ions, leaving the anolytic chamber (5) through an anolyte outlet (6). # The catholytic (3) and anolytic chambers (5) are separated by a semipermeable membrane (7), but permeable to ions. One of the cells (1) has an external recolculation pipe (8) of catholyte (C) to an inlet of the anolytic chamber (5), for the recirculation of a fraction of the catholyte (C).

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Device for the production of disinfectant and disinfected water

by electrochemical activation of aqueous solutions "

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Technical sector of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for the production of disinfectants.

te and disinfected water, by electrochemical activation of aqueous solutions

sas, which comprises at least one electrochemical cell for an aqueous solution

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of NaCI in water without disinfection, in which the aqueous solution enters through a mouth

input and is subjected to the action of an electric field, and is separated into:

-a catholyte flow, containing positive ions, and leaving a chamber

catalytic of the cell, by an exit of catholyte; Y

-a disinfectant anolyte flow, with negative ions, leaving the chamber-

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analytical cell, by an anolyte output.

The catalytic and analytical chambers are separated by a semi-permeable membrane.

meable, but permeable to ions. The disinfectant claimed is constituted

by the resulting anolyte itself and the claimed disinfected water is produced by

Anolyte addiction to water without disinfecting.

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Background of the invention

The electrochemical activation of solutions (ECAS, acronym for expression in

English "Eiectrochemical Activation of Solutions") is based on the electrolytic process to

through a porous membrane of ceramic material, during which the solution

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of water in metallic salt (especially NaCI), subjected to an electric field, is

stops in two flows. An electric current between two poles of inert metal acts at

through the aqueous solution. The result of treatment in the anode chamber is

the analytical fraction, or anolyte, which is a highly effective oxidant at low concentrations

tractions at the same time that, due to its effectiveness at low concentration, did not result

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Toxic to human health, that of animals or plants. Your scope of

action focuses on microbiological disinfection, by degrading by oxidation the

membranes of bacteria, viruses, fungi and fungal spores. Fraction

catalytic (the flow separated by the negative pole), or catholyte, possesses properties

ducts, being a good catalyst for chemical reactions, crystal formation

them, etc., therefore with detergent properties.

At the molecular level, what happens is that the electric field created between the two po-

it is greater than the energy of the hydrogen bridge bonds of the water,

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ceasing the forces of Van der Waals, and attracting their respective elements to the

opposite electric pole. Sodium chloride, which acts as an electrolyte, increasing the

water electrolysis performance, also breaks its bonds and dissociates in

Na + and cr. The diaphragm allows the passage of the ions to the corresponding side

of the membrane, concentrating the Na + and H + ions in the negative pole and the ions

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0 2-y Cr and its compounds in the positive. At the exit of the electrolytic cells and

Due to the barrier of the porous membrane, the two effluents are

completely separated. The catholyte contains hydrogen and sodium compounds while

After it is anolyte it is a mixture of unstable compounds of oxygen and chlorine.

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An important point is that the effect of ECAS solutions is temporary. After a

period of time (between several hours and several weeks) the products of the solutions

ECAS actions deactivate and dissociate in the initial products. This explains

that ECAS products are environmentally friendly.

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For a better understanding of this technology, see the article of CAVES,

Antonio; VINOGRADOV, Dimitri; VINOGRADOV, Vladimir, "Electrochemical Activation

aqueous solutions ca (ECAS) ", Rev. Chemical Engineering, No. 498, Ed. Reed Bu-

siness lnformation, Madrid, Spain -October 2011, p. 44 to 48

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Documents W02006043853A 1, (RU20040130697}, of Vinogradov, discloses

close a module of the type mentioned with an axial cylindrical anode and a cathode that is

arranged in a coaxial position with respect to the anode. A working camera

formed between the cathode and the anode is divided into cathode chambers and the anode

by the same semi-permeable coaxial membrane. A supply pipe of

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working reagent is fixed to a base and the anode is provided with a cavity

axial which is incorporated therein and connected to said super work reagent

ministering tube and anode chamber through channels. The anode chamber

is connected to an anolyte discharge pipe and the cathode chamber is

  connected to a catholyte discharge pipe.

EP1961706A1 (priority RU2297981) describes a module such as that of the

previous document, in which the inner electrode compartment communicates directly

also with the water or solution inlet duct and the inner electrode adopted

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ta the shape of a solid wall

Document W02009070056A1 (priority RU2367616) describes a variant of

the previous modules, of oblong cylindrical general conformation, in which the elec-

internal trodo is a solid internal cylinder and is screwed to a lid, the electrode

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external is a coaxial cylinder that acts as an external wall, and the semi-permeable diaphragm

Meable is also a coaxial cylinder to the previous two intermediate. Between

diaphragm and the inner electrode is defined a common internal annular cavity

each fluidly with inlet and outlet ducts of water or aqueous solution.

An outer annular cavity is defined between the diaphragm and the outer electrode

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na, provided with inlet and outlet pipe connections perpendicular to the shaft.

Finally, document W020091 05046A 1 (priority SK50172008) describes a

environmentally friendly disinfectant product, which is the result of the

electrophysical decomposition of a solution of sodium chloride in water, containing

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0.01 to 0.1% of active chlorine, 0.0001 to 0.0003% of chlorine dioxide, 0.1 to 0.2%

of sodium chloride, and the rest being water, its oxidation-reduction potential is

between 600 and 1200 mV and the pH between 2 and 11. Source of active chlorine is the

hypochlorous acid, sodium hypochlorite or molecular chlorine either individually or

In the compounds. This disinfectant may contain traces of oxidizing agents.

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such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen.

Even with correct functionality, the previous devices are not

completely exempt from inconvenience. Normally, currently the electrical consumption

approximately to obtain a solution of one liter of anolytic fraction at 500

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ppm of active Chlorine is 10 Wh and the consumption of NaCl is between 3 and 8g. It

normally requires large equipment and low portability for produc-

High volume of disinfectant anolyte, so currently

its use is very restricted to hospital uses, in laboratories, in the

  agri-food industry and in swimming pools. It would be desirable to have a team that had a

portability and performance in significantly higher anolyte production.

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The present invention aims to provide a device for the disinfection of water that may have little weight to be easily transported to places of difficult access, with an anolyte richer in cr, to be used in areas with a shortage of water, and with low electricity consumption, for use in locations with limited electricity production resources, all for example to be used in humanitarian actions,

1 or 15

Explanation of the invention For this purpose, the object of the present invention is a portable device for the production of disinfectant and disinfected water, of the type indicated, which is essentially characterized, according to the characterizing part of claim 1, because At least one of the cells has an external catholyte recirculation pipe at an inlet of the analytical chamber, for the recirculation of a fraction of the catholyte. In this way, it is possible to lower electricity consumption and obtain a calcium-rich anolyte at the same time.

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Preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in claims 2 and following.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the device according to the present invention will be described below, for the best understanding of which is accompanied by drawings, given merely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

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FIG. 1 is a schematic view in elevation and partial section showing a variant of a chemical electroactivation cell to be used in the device of the present invention;

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention incorporating the cell of FIG. 1 and which takes the form of a backpack, seen from the side;

FIG: 3 is a schematic front view of the backpack of FIG. 2, in that, by

reasons for clarity, the cell in FIG. 1 is displayed in a different position with

with respect to the cell of FIG. 2; Y

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FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the operating mode of the realization

preferred zation of the device of the present invention.

Description of a preferred embodiment

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The constitution and the operating mode of the device can be seen in the attached drawings

tivo 100 for the production of disinfectant A and disinfected water D, potable,

by electrochemical activation of aqueous solutions 15, which comprises

mo central functional element an electrochemical cell 1 for an aqueous solution

15 of Nael in water without disinfecting 14.

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In FIG. 1 it can be seen that the single electrochemical cell 1 has a general shape

elongated cylindrical rail, with four connections, two input 2 and 23, and two output

gives 4 and 6, and comprises a cylindrical outer cathode 20, a cylindrical inner anode 21

coaxial co and a semipermeable membrane 7. Between cathode 20 and membrane 7

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a catholic chamber 3 is defined and between the membrane "1 and the anode 21 is

defined an anolytic chamber 5. The cathode 20 is a cylindrical wall, covered by

a surface of Titanium, which exerts the function of negative pole or cathode.

A solution 15 of eiNa in water without disinfecting 14 (between 2 and 5 g / 1 of eiNa) enters

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through an inlet 2 to the catholic chamber 3, in which an electric field of

low voltage, but enough to break the Van der Wals bonds of the molecules

culas, dissociates water and salt13 into the negative and positive ions Na +, el-, H + and 0 2,

in addition to other ionic species. A flow of catholyte e is thus generated, containing

positive ions, which comes out of the catholyte 4 outlet and a flow of anolyte A, which con-

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It has negative ions, and it comes out of the anolyte 6 outlet.

The anolyte A is oxidizing and has the characteristic of degrading the membranes of the

bacteria, viruses, fungi and fungal spores. The anolyte A produced is the disinfectant

  The device 1 whose production is claimed. The catholyte e has properties

oxidizers and can be used as a detergent product.

The catholyte e (containing Na + and H +), crosses membrane 7 and leaves the chamber

catalytic 3 of cell 1 through said catholyte exit 4, towards a re-

5

circulation 8 to the analytical chamber 5. This recirculation of the catholyte is carried out,

according to the invention, to reduce electricity consumption and increase the capacity of

generation of anolyte A per unit volume of device 100, thus allowing

devices with lower consumption and more portable. In the recirculation pipe 8

there is a three-way valve 9 that derives part of the catholyte flow e towards the outside

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rior, for its extraction as a product of tails, and part for its recirculation to the

analytical chamber 5. The recirculated portion of catholyte e · may be comprised

between 2/5 and 4/5 of the total produced catholyte, and enters the analytical chamber 5 by

an outside entrance 23. A second electrochemical reaction is thus obtained in the

that negative oxygen and chlorine ions are concentrated, creating an anolytic flux

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to a more concentrated, since oxygen and chlorine ions had already been obtained in the

analytical chamber 5.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 it can be seen that cell 1 is incorporated in a backpack 19

with handles 27 hanging on the back or drag (it could also be a suitcase or

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equivalent) determining the device 100 of the invention. The device 100 is

thus transportable by a single person with ease. To increase portability

However, the device 100 could be complemented with wheels (not shown).

The device 100 comprises, among other additional elements, a pump

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mergeable 1 O, a hose 20, dosage means 11 of salt 13 from a

tank 12 of salt 13 to the water stream without disinfecting 14, filters 16 prior to

water filtration without disinfecting 14 before entering the electro- cell

chemical 1, an electrical power source for the generation of the electric field

trico of the electrochemical cell 1 and the rest of electrical or electronic devices

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of the device, solar panels 17 and a battery 18. In FIG. 4 an equi-

control po 22 of the solar panels 17, constituted, for example, by an "inverter".

Uninfected water 14 that is used for the generation of anolyte flow A

  Oxidizer will be water from any effluent: well, river, pond, rainwater, etc.

So the device 100 can work in any place where there is the possibility of accessing water.

Uninfected water 14 is captured by the 12V submersible pump 10, compatible with 24V power and connected to battery 18. This battery 18 will be charged by solar collection by solar panels 17 (photovoltaic panels), although It can be connected to a power grid by means of a power supply-transformer 26 (FIG. 4) that converts the existing voltage to 12V. The 220V to AC to 12V DC converter is supplied with the machine by default.

The pump 10 discharges the uninfected water 14 captured to a collapsible hose 20 and once the water has been collected without disinfecting 14, a proportion of between 10 and 20% of the collected flow rate (between 5 to 1 O liters / hour), adjustable by means of a volumetric rotometer 24 (FIG. 3), it is diverted from the flow of the pump 1 O to a filtration process before mixing the uninfected water 14 with the sodium chloride, forcing the solution 15, and pass to electrochemical cell 1 and generate the oxidant flow

or anolyte A.

The disinfectant anolyte A can be dosed by means of a "Venturi" dispenser or by hydraulic actuation the disinfectant in the pipe 25 through which the uninfected water 14 captured with the submersible pump 10 passes, or added to a container in the appropriate proportions. A 45 minute contact will kill the microorganisms present in the water.

The electrical consumption of the device 1 00 is low and the total intensity it consumes does not exceed 6 amps (about 72 Watts). In the event that the submersible pump 1 O works at 24 volts, the consumption will be greater and therefore, the batteries will be discharged earlier, but we will have a higher flow during those hours. This means that a larger volume of water 14 can be disinfected in less time but that a greater number of solar panels 17 and accumulation batteries 18 will be required.

The weight of the machine will depend on the weight of the solar panels 17 and the batteries 18. As it is a device 100 designed to work even in hard-to-reach places, it must be transportable by a single person through the mo -pack 19 with handles 27 (or equivalent) and for this it has been thought to incorporate foldable solar panels 17 (of those existing on the market, for example 1.4 kg./unit) and 18 lithium-ion batteries (approximately 960 g. / unit) of 4.6 Ah capacity.

5 The filtration means consist of a filter in the pump 10, and successive or alternating filters 16 of 1 and 5 microns passing and a reverse osmosis (also supports ultrafiltration membrane). And its dry weight does not exceed 2 kg. The equipment in cell 1 weighs about 3 kg. by the hydraulic drive dispenser, main

10 cipalmente. Finally, the pump weighs 2.5 kg. In general, the weights and powers of the preferred embodiment, devised and constructed by the inventors are:

Table 1

Device Characteristics Weight (kg)

Submersible pump 10 Filters 16 Electrochemical cell 1 Solar panels 17 Batteries 18 Pipe, electric cable

and signal stabilizer

30W, 12V

36Wa 12V 62W, 3A 6A, 4.6Ah 2.50 2.00 3.00 2.80 2.90

3.00

TOTAL Consumption 66W 16.20

15 The total of about 16.20 kg makes it suitable for transport in a backpack.

The submersible pump 1 O used is special (Shurflo®) for pumping by solar energy and the signal is stabilized by an electronic device that accompanies it

20 ña. Folding solar panels are specially designed for expeditions, as are the batteries (those used are from the Sunload brand).

As for the dosage of salt 13, once it has left the filtration through membranes 16 and prior to the passage of water without disinfecting 14 through the activation cell

25 electrochemical 1, the brine 13 is dosed from a reservoir 12 in a proportion equivalent to the desired final wealth of the oxidant and taking into account that an excess of salt 13 will increase the conductivity and therefore also increase us the electrical consumption in cell 1. A standard salt dosing device 11 (FIG. 2 and 3) can be used for this purpose.

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Tests have been carried out on samples of the disinfectant obtained as the anolyte of the device 100 performed, following the procedure indicated in the standard UNE-EN 13697 (04/2002), when the sample is at a concentration of 100% (v / v). It had bactericidal activity on surfaces for general purposes, then

10 of 5 minutes of contact and in clean conditions (bovine albumin concentration in the test = 0.3 g / 1), if the test organisms are: Pseudomonas aeru-ginosa CECT 116 (ATCC 15442), Staphylococcus aureus CECT 239 (ATCC 6538), Enterococcus hirae CECT 4081 (ATCC 10541) and Escherichia coli CECT 516 (ATCC 1 0536). The viability reduction could be greater than 4 log1o-

15 In the case of fungal organisms, when the sample was diluted in hard water at a concentration of 100% (v / v), it had fungicidal activity on surfaces for general purposes after 15 minutes of contact and in clean conditions (concentration of bovine albumin in the test = 0.3 g / 1) if the organisms

20 tests are: Aspergillus brasiliensis CECT 2574 (ATCC 16404) and Gandida albi-cans CECT 1394 (ATCC 10231). In this case, the viability reduction is greater than 3 log1o-