JP2005006925A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner wherein an air-cleaning function is kept and which can be installed at a desired place. <P>SOLUTION: This air cleaner 1 for removing organic materials in the air is provided with an air-permeable container 3 and a moisture absorbing/releasing material 10 held in this container 3. Photocatalyst material is given to the outer surface of the container 3. Since the air cleaner 1 is formed to be the container 3, various kinds of sizes and shapes can be selected, and the air cleaner 1 can be installed at a desired place. The photocatalyst material and the moisture absorbing/releasing material 10 repeating moisture absorbing and moisture release are of a material which can be used for a long period. Consequently, the continuity of an air-cleaning function is satisfactory. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air purifier that sterilizes and deodorizes air, and particularly relates to an air purifier used indoors.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, molds, fungi, microorganisms, and volatile organic substances such as formaldehyde in the living environment are harmful to health and cause allergic symptoms in particular. As an air purification method for removing these substances from the air, there is a method of installing an adsorbent that adsorbs these components in the air. Specifically, there are various porous charcoal such as Bincho charcoal and porous ceramic. There is also a method of chemically decomposing these substances by ultraviolet irradiation using a so-called germicidal lamp.
Note that these techniques have been found in the market by the present inventors regardless of the literature.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For these air purification functions, sustainability is important, but the adsorbent must saturate and must be replaced. In addition, UV irradiation requires equipment such as a UV lamp, and if it is exposed to a predetermined amount or more, it is harmful to humans. Therefore, it is used in a space where humans work on a daily basis such as a general home or office. It is difficult.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an air purifier that can maintain an air purifying function and can be installed at a desired location.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, an air purifier for removing organic substances in the air, comprising a container having air permeability and a moisture absorbing / releasing material accommodated in the container, and a photocatalyst on the outer surface of the container Provided is an air purification body to which a material is applied. Since this air purification body is formed in a container, it can be selected in various sizes and shapes, and can be installed in a desired location. Moreover, the photocatalyst material which this air purification body has, and the moisture absorption / release material which repeats moisture absorption / release are materials that can be used for a long period of time. Therefore, it is an air purifier having a good sustainability of the air purifying function.
More specifically, the photocatalyst material is applied to the surface of the container so that it can come into contact with more air and can easily receive light, and can efficiently decompose organic matter. Moreover, since the moisture absorbing / releasing material is housed in a container having air permeability, an air flow is easily generated due to a change in humidity inside and outside the container, and it is easy to contact more air. Furthermore, since appropriate moisture is always supplied by the moisture absorbing / releasing material, the decomposition reaction by the photocatalytic material is favorably promoted. On the other hand, moisture-absorbing / releasing material adjusts the humidity of the air by repeating moisture-absorbing and moisture-releasing so that the air always has an appropriate humidity, and provides a more comfortable space, or bacteria, microorganisms, etc. It is possible to provide a condition in which the breeding of the fish is suppressed.
In this air purifying body, when pulverized coal is further applied to the outer surface of the container, the air can be purified by adsorbing organic matter with the pulverized coal regardless of the presence or absence of light. Moreover, the organic substance adsorb | sucked by pulverized coal can be decomposed | disassembled by making photocatalyst material exist in the vicinity of pulverized coal. If it does in this way, the organic substance adsorbed by the pulverized coal by the photocatalytic material can be decomposed, so that the adsorption ability of the pulverized coal can be maintained and the air purification ability can be maintained.
Further, when the container of the air purification body is a clay fired body, the entire wall surface of the container can be configured to have a large number of minute holes and air permeability, and the surface is rough and has a large specific surface area. More photocatalytic material can be provided in a state where it can easily come into contact with air. Moreover, since the clay fired body is inactive to the reaction catalyzed by the photocatalyst material, deterioration of the container due to the photocatalyst material is prevented.
In addition, when the photocatalytic material contains titanium oxide coated with apatite, the organic substance can be adsorbed by the apatite and a large amount of organic substance can be located near the titanium oxide, so that the organic substance can be efficiently decomposed.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 and 2 show an embodiment of an air purifier according to the present invention. The air purifier 1 is a figurine and includes an egg-shaped container 3 and a moisture absorbing / releasing material 10 accommodated therein.
The container 3 is a member in which the wall portion of the container has air permeability between the inside of the container and the outside of the container. In this embodiment, it is formed in an egg shape, and is provided with an opening 3a for introducing the moisture absorbing / releasing material 10 into the container 3 at the bottom. The opening 3a is sealed by a sheet-like seal member 5. The sealing member 5 is preferably made of air-permeable paper or woven cloth, but various shapes and materials that can seal the opening 3a can be used. An air-tight sheet or a plastic pedestal can be used. It may be.
[0006]
The air permeability of the container 3 may be achieved by forming the container 3 from an airtight material and forming a through hole at a desired site. Preferably, the container wall itself is made of an air permeable material. To do. The portion made of the breathable material is preferably the whole of the container 3, but may be a portion.
[0007]
Examples of the breathable material that can form the container 3 include known porous materials such as foamed plastic, clay fired body, foamed clay fired body, and porous ceramic. For example, an unglazed pottery, a clay fired body provided with a base without a so-called glassy glaze, is suitable because it has good air permeability and a large specific surface area. In addition, an inorganic material such as clay is preferable because the activity of the reaction catalyzed by the photocatalytic material is small, so that deterioration of the container 3 can be suppressed.
[0008]
As the moisture absorbing / releasing material 10, a known material having functions of both moisture absorption and moisture releasing can be selected. For example, diatomaceous earth, charcoal, zeolite, wool, wood and the like can be used. The shape and size of the moisture-absorbing / releasing material 10 are not particularly limited, but are typically a collection of microscopic bodies such as particles and powders. The moisture absorbing / releasing material 10 is accommodated in the container 3 by putting the opening 3 a into the container 3 and then closing the opening 3 a with the seal member 5.
The amount of the moisture absorbing / releasing material 10 accommodated in the container 3 is not particularly limited, but when the filling rate is 30 to 70%, preferably 30 to 60% of the volume of the container 3, the inside of the container 3 and It is preferable because air is easily circulated inside and outside and the contact efficiency with air is high. When the filling rate is less than 30%, the amount of the moisture absorbing / releasing material 10 is small and it is difficult to obtain the effect of moisture absorbing / releasing. When the filling rate exceeds 70%, air circulation inside and outside and inside the container 3 is difficult to occur, and the contact efficiency with air is lowered.
[0009]
FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the container 3. In FIG. 2, the photocatalyst material 21 and the pulverized coal 23 are given to the outer surface of the container 3 made of the base of the calcined clay body.
The photocatalytic material 21 is a known material that catalyzes a reaction due to light energy, and is a material that catalyzes a reaction that decomposes an organic substance mainly by hydrolysis reaction. Photocatalyst materials include organometallic complexes and metal oxides such as lead oxide, tin oxide, and tungsten oxide. Titanium oxide is preferable because of its high degree of activation. As the photocatalyst material 21, it is possible to use a material that is itself shaped into particles or a material in which a film of a photocatalyst material is formed on the surface of a particle nucleus. The particulate core preferably has a large surface area. For example, activated carbon, activated alumina, silica gel, zeolite, clay fired body, glass, foam metal, foam plastic, foam ceramic, or the like can be used. The titanium oxide film can be obtained, for example, by applying a titania sol in which fine particles of titanium oxide are suspended in water or a titania sol obtained by hydrolyzing a titanium alkoxide to a core material in the form of a film, followed by heating and baking. It is done.
[0010]
The photocatalyst material 21 is preferably a photocatalyst material provided on the surface with an adsorbent capable of holding an organic substance to be decomposed. For example, titanium dioxide particles including apatite (apatite) crystals (also referred to as apatite-coated titanium dioxide) can be used. This is a particle obtained by growing apatite crystals using a particulate matter having a titanium dioxide surface as a nucleus. Titanium dioxide has a surface that is not partially coated with apatite and emits light. It can be received. Here, the apatite is not limited to pure calcium phosphate, and may contain various auxiliary materials. For _example, a A x _{(BO y)} a compound represented by _z X or a compound represented by _{A x (BO y) z X} , A is Ca, Co, Ni, Cu, Al, La, Cr, Fe One or more atoms are selected from the group consisting of Mg, B, one or more atoms are selected from the group consisting of P and S, and X is one or more groups selected from the group consisting of OH, CO ₃ and halogen atoms Compound.
[0011]
The pulverized charcoal 23 is a known charcoal that is attached to the outer surface of the container 3, and is preferably a porous charcoal having excellent adsorptivity. For example, Bincho charcoal, bamboo charcoal, charcoal fired at a high temperature such as 800 ° C., or the like can be used. If the powdered carbon 23 is applied in a large amount, there is a possibility that the photocatalyst material 21 may be prevented from receiving light or aeration. Therefore, it is preferable to apply the powdered carbon 23 partially or at a low concentration. Moreover, you may give designs, such as a desired pattern, a character, and a figure, to the outer surface of the container 3 using the pulverized charcoal 23. Thereby, since message property and design property can be added to the air purification body 1, it is preferable.
[0012]
The method for applying the photocatalytic material 21 and the pulverized charcoal 23 to the outer surface of the container 3 is not particularly limited, and there are various methods that can be stably fixed to the outer surface of the container 3. For example, when the container 3 is a clay fired body, it may be fixed by using a glass component of a clay base melted by firing by applying a photocatalyst material 21 or pulverized charcoal with a water-based paint or the like to the unglazed fired material. Is possible. Typically, the photocatalyst material 21 and the pulverized charcoal 23 are prepared in a dispersion and applied by a known method such as spraying, brushing, or roller. Preferably, spray is preferable because the photocatalyst material 21 and the pulverized charcoal 23 can be imparted to the container 3 uniformly and with sufficient air permeability. In addition, although the photocatalyst material 21 and the pulverized charcoal 23 may be mixed to prepare one coating liquid, preferably, the photocatalyst material 21 and the pulverized charcoal 23 are separately prepared and applied to desired portions.
[0013]
The dispersion liquid of the photocatalyst material 21 and the pulverized charcoal 23 can be prepared using various inorganic or organic binders or water-based or solvent-based emulsions. In the photocatalyst material 21 covered with the adsorbent, it is possible to favorably use the same constituent material as that of the paint because these media are satisfactorily suppressed from contacting and decomposing these media. For example, an aqueous emulsion of an acrylic copolymer can be used. It is preferable that the dispersion is a coating composition in which 80% or more is an aqueous dispersion medium or a volatile dispersion medium because the photocatalytic material 21 and the pulverized coal 23 are easily exposed on the surface. From the viewpoint of the working environment, an aqueous dispersion is preferred.
[0014]
Moreover, since it is preferable to provide the pulverized charcoal 23 partially on the outer surface of the container 3, it can be mixed with a vehicle similar to various ink materials and applied by known printing. Any suitable vehicle can be used according to the printing method, and the vehicle is not particularly limited.
[0015]
Since this air purification body 1 is provided with the photocatalyst material 21 and the pulverized coal 23 on the outer surface, both the adsorption of the organic matter by the pulverized coal 23 and the decomposition of the organic matter by the photocatalyst material 21 are performed. Moreover, since the container 3 has air permeability and the moisture absorbing / releasing material is accommodated therein, the humidity changes inside and outside the container 3. Due to the change of the components in the air around the container 3 and inside and outside the container 3, air convection is favorably generated around the inside and outside of the container 3 and around the air purifying body 1, and more air is supplied to the air purifying body. 1 is contacted to efficiently remove and decompose organic substances. Further, since the humidity is also adjusted by the moisture absorbing / releasing material 10, a comfortable humidity space can be provided, and moisture necessary for the decomposition of the organic matter by the photocatalyst material 21 can be well supplied even during drying to suppress the delay of the decomposition. it can.
[0016]
Since this air purification body 1 is small and does not require energy other than light, it can be easily used in various places. The container 3 has an egg shape, and can effectively use the surface area and has a design. Further, since the moisture absorbing / releasing material 10 and the photocatalytic material 21 are substances that can act semipermanently, a stable effect can be expected over a long period of time.
[0017]
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the air purifier according to the present invention. 3 is formed in the shape of a flowerpot and a plant planted in the flowerpot. A flowerpot is the container 33 which concerns on this invention, and can be formed with a solid clay baking body similarly to a normal flowerpot. Although not shown, the photocatalyst material and pulverized coal are applied to the outer surface of the container 33 as in the embodiment of FIG.
The moisture absorbing / releasing material 40 is filled in the container 33, that is, in the flower pot, where the soil is put. The surface of the moisture absorbing / releasing material 40 may be appropriately coated with an airtight or breathable sheet. In this case, moisture absorption / release through the container 33 is promoted to ensure the decomposition reaction of the organic matter by the photocatalytic material. It is expected to be able to.
[0018]
The plant of the air purification body 31 shown in FIG. 3 is an artificial flower formed of plastic, cloth, etc., and is an appreciation part 36. Thus, the air purifying body 31 can be appropriately combined with a known ornamental article. In this case, it is more effective to add an organic adsorbent, a moisture absorbing / releasing material, a photocatalyst material, etc. to the viewing part 36 as appropriate.
[0019]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
The air purification body can be various members including a portion in which the moisture absorbing / releasing material is accommodated and a portion capable of supplying moisture from the moisture absorbing / releasing material and receiving light and being provided with a photocatalytic material. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to ornaments such as figurines and wall hangings, and can be used as decorative parts such as table lamps and furniture. Alternatively, a cylindrical space is further formed on the outer periphery of the flower pot to accommodate the moisture absorbing / releasing material, and a photocatalytic material or the like is applied to the outer surface of the cylindrical space. Or can be provided integrally. Further, since the moisture absorbing / releasing material accommodated in the container can be used for a long time without replacement, the container may be completely sealed, and it is easy to impart strength to the container. For this reason, it can be used as a structural material to which a load is applied. For example, it can be used as an upper surface or a side surface of furniture. For example, the side wall or top plate of a shoe box is formed of a box-shaped breathable container, and a moisture absorbing / releasing material is stored in the container, and a photocatalytic material and powdered charcoal are applied to the outer surface of the shoe box. Can do. In this case, it is expected that the air in the shoebox can be effectively purified, especially moisture absorption and deodorization.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, by providing an air purifying body that can maintain an air purifying function and can be installed at a desired place, air at various places can be easily and comfortably provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken, showing an embodiment of an air purifier according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container of the air purification body of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the air purifier according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,31 Air purification body 3 Container 3a Opening 5 Seal member 10,40 Moisture absorption / release material 21 Photocatalyst material 23 Powdered coal 36 Appreciation part

Claims (4)

An air purifier that removes organic matter in the air,
A breathable container;
With a moisture absorbing / releasing material housed in this container,
An air purifier in which a photocatalytic material is applied to the outer surface of the container. Furthermore, the air purification body of Claim 1 with which powdered coal is provided to the outer surface of the container. The air purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is a clay fired body. The air purification body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the photocatalytic material includes titanium oxide coated with apatite.

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