JP2003145144A - Water improver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water improver that improves water in a manner that there is no risk of decomposing useful organic matter and only dirt can be decomposed. SOLUTION: The water improver is prepared by combining an EM ceramic 1 prepared by firing in the state containing a group of useful microbes or in the state containing an EMX based on an antioxidant enzyme extracted from a group of the useful microbes with a photocatalyst-carrying support 2 prepared by allowing the surface of a support to carry a photocatalyst.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a modifier used for modifying water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, photocatalysts represented by titanium oxide have been used in many fields for the purpose of deodorizing, antibacterial, antifouling, etc. because of their excellent decomposition and hydrophilic functions. In order to easily use this photocatalyst, what is called a titanium ball in which the surface of a sphere made of metal or ceramics is coated with titanium oxide is provided (for example, see JP-A-2000-61314). This titanium ball can be used, for example, in garbage collection containers, toilets, inside cars,
It is widely used for deodorizing, antibacterial, and antifouling in bathrooms, as well as for improving water purification and maintaining the freshness of fresh foods. Since it can be easily dropped, it is used for laundry and indoor cleaning.

On the other hand, as a microorganism exhibiting deodorant, antibacterial and antifouling effects similar to those of the photocatalyst, EM bacteria (Effective Mic)
A group of useful microorganisms called ro Organism) is known.
This EM bacterium is a resuscitating group of bacteria in which aerobic and anaerobic bacteria coexist, and exerts each effect such as deodorization due to its excellent antioxidant power. Such EM bacterium is usually provided as a solution, but recently, clay called EM bacterium or EM ceramics obtained by firing clay containing EMX extracted from EM bacterium is also provided. It has been confirmed that this EM ceramic exhibits the same effect as EM bacteria even after firing.

[0004]

However, when the water modified with the titanium balls is used for washing or cleaning the room, it is necessary to maintain the texture of the fibers as well as the oxidized ones such as dirt. Since useful (normal) organic substances such as various oils and pigments are also decomposed, there has been a problem that fibers such as clothes and carpets are discolored or deteriorated. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water modifier capable of obtaining reformed water capable of decomposing only dirt.

[0005]

The water modifier of the present invention for achieving the above object is characterized by combining EM ceramics with a photocatalyst carrier having a photocatalyst carried on the surface of a carrier. (Claim 1). The photocatalyst is preferably titanium oxide (Claim 2), and the EM ceramics are preferably fired in a state containing EMX containing antioxidant enzymes as a main component extracted from useful microorganisms. (Claim 3). The water modifier having such a structure can modify the water by immersing it in water, and the modified water decomposes only dirt without decomposing useful organic substances. It will be done. That is, the inventors of the present application, as a result of diligent research, have obtained the finding that the water modified by using the EM ceramics and the photocatalyst carrier does not decompose useful organic substances other than stains. The present invention has been completed based on this.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a water modifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water modifier A is an EM ceramics 1 and a photocatalyst carrier 2 in which a photocatalyst 2b is carried on the surface of a carrier 2a (see FIG. 2).
(Refer to FIG. 4), and in the figure, a plurality of these are mixed and housed in the metal net basket 3.

The EM ceramics 1 is a clay containing useful microorganisms (EM bacteria) or clay containing EMX extracted from EM bacteria, which is fired at a temperature of 300 to 1200 ° C. Although not limited, for example, it is formed in a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, a ring shape, a pipe shape, or the like. The EM bacteria is a resuscitation-type bacterial group in which aerobic and anaerobic bacteria coexist. This EM bacterium is mainly composed of Gram-positive actinomycetes, mainly composed of photosynthetic bacteria, mainly composed of lactic acid bacteria and yeast, and a mixture of these bacteria. Also, the above E
MX contains, as a main component, an antioxidative enzyme extracted by producing (oxidizing) the EM bacterium with ozone, for example, and EM ceramics having a viscosity of EMX which is burned is particularly preferably used.

The photocatalyst carrier 2 is formed by coating the surface of a carrier 2a made of metal, ceramics or the like with a photocatalyst 2b. The photocatalyst carrier 2 is, for example, a titanium oxide film formed by spraying a powder of titanium or a titanium alloy onto the surface of the carrier 2a to diffuse and oxidize the titanium component on the surface of the carrier 2a. Yes,
It is a so-called titanium ball. As the photocatalyst 2b, in addition to the titanium oxide, zinc oxide,
Iron oxide, strontium titanate, tungsten oxide,
Silicon carbide or the like can also be used. The photocatalyst 2
b can also be generated on the surface of the carrier 2a by anodic oxidation.

The water modified with the modifier A having the above-mentioned constitution decomposes dirt as an oxide, but is useful or normal organic substances such as oil and pigment necessary for maintaining the texture of the fiber. It will not be decomposed at all. Therefore, even if the laundry is washed or the interior is washed with the water, there is no possibility that the pigment of the fiber is decomposed or the fiber is deteriorated. The modifier A may be the one in which the EM ceramics 1 and the photocatalyst carrier 2 are separately housed in a net cage or the like.

[Example] As an example, 3 wt% EMX
The added viscosity is fired at 800 ° C. to produce EM ceramics, which is combined with a photocatalyst carrier carrying titanium oxide as a photocatalyst, and EM ceramics 150 g,
A modifier consisting of 200 g of the photocatalyst carrier was obtained. This modifier was immersed in tap water contained in a container for 24 hours to modify the tap water. When this modified water was injected into methylene blue, its color did not change at all, and it was confirmed that normal organic substances were not decomposed. Further, for comparison, the same photocatalyst carrier used in the examples was immersed in tap water to modify it, and the modified water was injected into the reagent. It was confirmed that it changed to transparent and decomposed normal organic matter.

When the soiled wool and cashmere were washed with water modified by the modifier of the above-mentioned example,
The oil necessary to maintain the texture of wool and cashmere was not decomposed, and only dirt was decomposed and removed. It was also confirmed that the pigment of the fiber was not decomposed and the color did not easily fade.
For comparison, when the soiled wool and cashmere were washed with water modified by the same photocatalyst carrier used in the examples, not only the soil but also the oil content of the wool and cashmere was decomposed and removed. Was done. For this reason, the texture peculiar to wool and cashmere deteriorated. Also, the pigment of the fiber was decomposed and discolored. These washings were carried out by adding a pinch of salt without using a detergent, but the stains could be decomposed and removed in the same way as when the detergent was used. Therefore, it was confirmed that it is suitable as a washing method with a low environmental load.

[0012]

As described above, according to the water modifier of the present invention, it is possible to modify the water so that only dirt can be decomposed without the risk of decomposing useful organic substances. Even when washing or washing is performed using, it is possible to prevent the pigment of the fiber from decomposing and fading, or the chemical fiber from deteriorating.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a water modifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view showing a photocatalyst carrier.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 EM ceramics 2 Photocatalyst support 2a carrier 2b photocatalyst A modifier

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) C02F 1/50 560 C02F 1/50 560C 1/72 101 1/72 101 C04B 33/13 C04B 33/13 P

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water modifier comprising a combination of EM ceramics and a photocatalyst carrier carrying a photocatalyst on the surface of a carrier. 2. The water modifier according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is titanium oxide. 3. The inorganic composite according to claim 1, wherein the EM ceramics is fired in a state containing EMX whose main component is an antioxidant enzyme extracted from a group of useful microorganisms.