JP2005066586A - Charged particulate water - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide charged particulate water having high adsorbing properties, long life in air though radicals are contained and capable of obtaining adsorbing properties and an action due to the radicals in an extremely effective manner. <P>SOLUTION: This charged particulate water has a nanometer particle size and contains the radicals. Chemically unstable radicals are added to the charged particulate water finely divided into a nanometer size to extend the life of the charged particulate water. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to charged fine particle water generated by an electrostatic atomizer or the like, that is, charged fine particle water that is charged and fine.

  It is known that charged fine particle water generated by applying electric charge to water has high adsorptivity when released into the air, and is easily refined by Rayleigh splitting. Taking advantage of such characteristics of charged fine particle water, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 13-170514 shows an example in which charged fine particle water having a particle size of nanometer size is used as an efficient dust collecting agent.

  On the other hand, radicals, which are active chemical species, are known to be highly chemically reactive and effective in decomposing and deodorizing malodorous components. However, since it is active, it is a very unstable substance, has a short life in the air, and disappears before reacting with the odor component, so that it is difficult to obtain a sufficient effect.

Further, for the purpose of enhancing the effect, those which tried air purification by using fine particle water containing radicals are disclosed in JP-A-53-141167, JP-A-07-24245, and JP-A-13-96190. It is shown in the gazette. However, in these examples, the fine particle water has a micron particle size, and therefore is not sufficiently diffusible into the space, and odorous components attached to indoor walls, clothes, curtains, etc. Could not be sufficiently deodorized.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 13-170514 JP-A-53-141167 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-24245 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 13-96190

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has a high adsorptivity and has a long life in air despite containing radicals, and contains adsorptivity and radicals. It is an object of the present invention to provide charged fine particle water in which the effect of the above can be obtained very effectively.

  In order to solve the above problems, the charged fine particle water according to the present invention is characterized by having a particle size of nanometer size and containing radicals. By incorporating chemically unstable radicals into charged fine particle water that has been refined to nanometer size, the life has been extended. It effectively acts on malodorous components adhering to the wall surface of clothes, clothes, curtains, etc., and can be made non-brominated.

The reason why the particle size is nanometer size is that when the size is larger than the micron order, the mobility is small and the diffusion into the air is difficult. More preferably, the particle size is 3 to 100 nm. (Electric mobility is preferably 0.1 to 0.001 cm ² / vsec). If the particle diameter is less than 3 nm, the life of the charged fine particle water becomes extremely short, and it becomes difficult for the charged fine particle water to reach every corner of the room, especially when there are obstacles. It becomes. On the other hand, when the particle diameter exceeds 100 nm, it becomes difficult to ensure the moisture retention performance of the human skin described later. This is because it becomes difficult for the charged fine particles to penetrate from the gap between the stratum corneum of the skin which is said to be about 100 nm.

  Any radical may be contained, but a hydroxyl radical, a superoxide, a nitric oxide radical, and an oxygen radical are preferable. The reactivity is high, and since it is generated from oxygen or water vapor in the atmosphere, it is not necessary to use a radical raw material, and it is easy to ensure a radical-containing state.

  By the way, when the particle size is of the order of μm, there are almost no active species contained, the amount of charged fine particle water is very low, and when the counter electrode is grounded and a negative voltage is applied to the water Although the negative ion effect can be expected, the effect is low, and it is practically effective only for humidity adjustment.

  When an acidic chemical species is contained in addition to the above radicals, it can more effectively act on alkaline odor components such as amine compounds which are typical malodorous components.

  Any kind of acidic chemical species can be used. However, since nitrogen oxides and organic acids can be generated from nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, acidic chemical species can be used without adding raw materials. It is easy to ensure the contained state.

  It may be nitric acid, nitric acid hydrate, nitrous acid, or nitrous acid hydrate. In these cases, the charged fine particle water can be kept weakly acidic, and not only acts on alkaline odor components, but also has effects on penetration into human skin and moisturizing.

  The charging polarity of the charged fine particle water is not particularly limited, but it can have not only a deodorizing action but also a stress reducing effect known as a so-called negative ion effect by charging it negatively, and it is of nanometer size. Therefore, an effect higher than that of normal negative ions can be obtained.

  The charged fine particle water atomized to a nanometer size particle diameter according to the present invention may be generated by any device, but is composed of an electrostatic atomization device, particularly a porous body that transports water. A high voltage is applied between the transport body, a water application electrode for applying a voltage to the water transported by the transport body, a counter electrode disposed at a position facing the transport body, and the water application electrode and the counter electrode. A device that includes a voltage application unit to be applied and that uses water as charged fine particle water by a high voltage applied between water held by the carrier and the counter electrode can be suitably used.

  In such an electrostatic atomizer, by controlling the material and shape of the porous body, the distance from the counter electrode electrode, the voltage value to be applied, the current value, etc., particles having a target nanometer size particle diameter can be obtained. Can be easily obtained.

  In addition, the particle diameter of the obtained charged fine particles is measured as electric mobility using a differential electric mobility measuring instrument (manufactured by DMA / Wyckoff Kogyo), and converted to the particle diameter based on Stokes' law. This makes it possible to accurately measure the particle size, and allows feedback on the control of the particle size to the structure and operating conditions of the electrostatic atomizer described above. Became possible for the first time.

  When the particle diameter of the charged fine particles is 3 nm or more, the lifetime is obviously longer than when the charged fine particles are less than 3 nm. By charging charged fine particles into an aluminum container and measuring the change in the number of particles using a differential electric mobility meter (DMA), charged fine particles having a particle size of about 20 nm and charging with a particle size of 1 nm are obtained. FIG. 1 shows the results of obtaining the number of particles and the life of the particles. The fine particle water having a particle diameter of 20 nm was generated using the electrostatic atomizer shown in the examples described later, and the fine particle water having a particle diameter of 1 nm was generated using a corona discharge electrode.

  The charged fine particle water is not particularly limited when discharged into the room, but it is desirable to spray an amount of 0.1 g / hr or more. This amount was measured as the amount of tank water in the electrostatic atomizer.

  Analysis of radicals contained in the charged fine particle water can be measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) after stabilizing the radicals by introducing charged fine particles into a solution containing a spin trap agent.

  The acidic chemical species contained in the charged fine particle water can be measured by ion chromatography after introducing the charged fine particles into pure water.

  In addition, the acidic chemical species in the charged fine particle water can also be measured by a drift tube type ion mobility / mass spectrometer.

  Since the charged fine particle water according to the present invention contains radicals and the particle diameter is nanometer size, it has a long life when released into the air and has a large diffusivity. Adherent odors such as curtains and clothes can be efficiently and effectively deodorized. In addition, it can effectively act against bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc., and can be inactivated. Furthermore, it can act effectively on allergens such as pollen and can be inactivated. Moreover, high moisture retention performance can be obtained for human skin.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 shows an example of an electrostatic atomizer that can be used for generation of charged fine particle water according to the present invention.
A water reservoir 1, a rod-shaped transport body 2 composed of a plurality of porous bodies whose lower ends are immersed in water in the water reservoir 1, and a water mark for holding the transport body 2 and applying a voltage to water The counter electrode 3 which is held by the additional electrode 4, the holding unit 6 made of an insulator and is opposed to the tip of the plurality of transport bodies 2, the water application electrode 4 and the counter electrode The counter electrode 3 and the water application electrode 4 are both formed of a synthetic resin mixed with a conductive material such as carbon or a metal such as SUS. ing.

  The transport body 2 is formed of a porous body and has a needle-like atomizing portion with an upper end pointed like a needle. A plurality of transport bodies 2 in the example shown in the drawing are water application electrodes. 4 is attached. These transport bodies 2 are arranged at equal intervals on a concentric circle centered on the center 5 of the water application electrode 4, the upper part projects upward from the water application electrode 4, and the lower part projects downward to form the inside of the water reservoir 1. Contact with water.

  The counter electrode 3 has an opening at the center, and when the edge of the opening is viewed from above, a plurality of arcs having the same diameter centered on the needle-like atomizing portions at the upper ends of the plurality of transport bodies 2 R is smoothly connected with other arcs. When the counter electrode 3 is grounded, the voltage application unit 5 is connected to the water application electrode 4 and a high voltage is applied, and the carrier 2 formed of a porous body sucks water by capillary action, The needle-like atomization part at the upper end of the body 2 functions as a substantial electrode on the application electrode 4 side, and the arc R of the counter electrode 3 functions as a substantial electrode. As the voltage application part 5, what can give the electric field strength of 700-1200 V / mm is preferable.

  And the said conveyance body 2 is formed with the porous body which can carry water to a front-end | tip by capillarity as mentioned above, Here, the porosity is 10 to 60%, and the particle diameter is 1 to 1. When a porous ceramic having a cross-sectional shape of 100 μm and a tip needle-like portion of φ0.5 mm or less is used, the counter electrode 3 is grounded, and a negative voltage is applied to the water application electrode 4, the pH of the water to be used A material made of a material having an equipotential point that is negatively charged in value is used. In addition, if the pH value of water is 7, what has a silica as a main component can be used suitably.

The reason why such a material is selected is as follows. That is, for example, tap water, ground water, electrolyzed water, pH-adjusted water, mineral water, water containing useful components such as vitamin C and amino acids, aroma oil, fragrance, deodorant, etc. are added as the water to be atomized. When water that contains mineral components such as Ca, Mg, etc., when it is pulled up to the tip of the carrier by capillary action, it reacts with CO _{2 in} the air, and CaCO is formed at the tip of the carrier. ₃ , it becomes difficult to cause electrostatic atomization due to deposition and adhesion as MgO or the like, but when using a material having an equipotential point that is negatively charged at the pH value of the water used, the water application electrode 4 When a negative voltage is applied to water and the carrier 2 made of a porous ceramic comes into contact with each other, the carrier 2 is negatively charged as shown in FIG. Inside white When the direction is indicated by the arrow, the water in the capillary tube in the carrier 2 that is a porous ceramic has a distribution of electrostatic potential (the zeta potential is indicated by Z in the figure), and an electric double layer is formed. A so-called electroosmotic flow is generated in the direction indicated by A in the figure, and cations such as Ca and Mg are directed toward the water application electrode 4 having a low potential. That is, water is pulled up in the transport body 2 in the direction of the counter electrode 3 by capillarity, but the cations such as Ca and Mg contained in the water do not go to the counter electrode 3 side. It does not cause a situation in which it reacts with CO ₂ in the air and precipitates and adheres as CaCO ₃ , MgO or the like to the tip of the carrier. In the figure, S indicates a surface (sliding surface) where the flow velocity of the electroosmotic flow becomes zero.

When the counter electrode 3 is grounded and a positive voltage is applied to the water application electrode 4, a porous ceramic made of a material having an equipotential point that is positively charged with the pH value of the water used is applied to the carrier 2. use. In addition, if the pH value of water is 7, what has an alumina as a main component can be used suitably. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, cations such as Ca and Mg also move toward the water application electrode 4 along with the flow of anions of the electroosmotic flow flowing in the direction of the water application electrode 4 having a high potential. Accordingly, in this case as well, since cations such as Ca and Mg do not go to the counter electrode 3 side, they react with CO ₂ in the air at the tip of the carrier ₂ and CaCO ₃ , MgO at the tip of the carrier. As a result, it does not cause a situation of deposition and adhesion.

  In any case, the carrier 2 is brought into contact with the water in the water reservoir 1 to suck up the water by capillary action, and the counter electrode 3 is grounded and the voltage application unit 5 is connected to the water application electrode 4 to When a voltage is applied to the additive electrode 4, if this voltage is a high voltage that can cause Rayleigh splitting in the water located in the needle-like atomization portion of the carrier 2, the needle-like mist on the upper end of the carrier 2 In the conversion section, water undergoes Rayleigh splitting and atomizes. At this time, when the electric field strength is 700 to 1200 V / mm, the mist generated by electrostatic atomization is of nanometer size having a particle diameter of 3 to 100 nm. , Having radicals (hydroxy radical, superoxide, etc.) and having a strong charge.

  By the way, when an electric field strength of 700 to 1200 V / mm is applied, a mist with a particle size of 3 to 20 nm and a mist with a particle size of 30 to 50 nm are often generated. The above effects were particularly effective when a large amount of mist having a particle diameter of 16 to 20 nm at an electric field strength of 900 V / mm was generated.

  Incidentally, as described above, when the porous body having a porosity of 10 to 60%, a particle diameter of 1 to 100 μm, and a tip cross-sectional shape of the tip needle-like portion of φ0.5 mm or less is used as the carrier 2, When the electric field strength of 900 V / mm is given when the porosity is 40%, the particle diameter is 1 to 3 μm, and the tip cross-sectional shape of the needle-like atomization part is φ0.25 mm A large amount of mist having a particle diameter of 16 to 20 nm could be generated.

  In addition, the conveyance body 2 is not limited to what consists of porous ceramics, For example, felt etc. may be used. However, porous ceramic is advantageous in that it generates mist having a uniform particle size.

  And such nanometer-sized charged fine particle water can be used for deodorization, inactivation of pollen-causing substances, inactivation of viruses and fungi in the air, removal of soot in the air, and antifungal effect. It was confirmed to have an action.

  That is, the charged fine particle water obtained by the above electrostatic atomizer in a state where the water application electrode 4 is a negative electrode has a particle size distribution shown in FIG. 5 as measured by a differential electric mobility meter. In other words, it has a distribution of 10 to 30 nm with a peak at around 20 nm, and the amount of charged fine particle water produced is O.D. as measured by the amount of water decrease in the water reservoir 1. 5 g / hr, and a measurement chart of the radicals in the charged fine particle water by the electron spin spectrum method is shown in FIG. 6 (in the figure, A is a radical detection peak, B is a peak of manganese oxide which is a standard substance), Furthermore, when the analysis results of various ions measured with a drift tube type ion mobility / mass spectrometer in charged fine particle water are as shown in FIG. 7, the effect that can be confirmed using this charged fine particle water, Described below. As is clear from FIG. 6, the charged fine particle water contains radicals and, as is clear from FIG. 7, such as nitrogen oxides and organic acids considered to be generated from nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It contains a lot of acidic species.

  First, when 10 ppm of acetaldehyde in a 3 L chamber was treated with the charged fine particle water for 1 hour, a reduction of 60% was confirmed. The measurement results are shown in FIG. In the figure, α is treated with the charged fine particle water, β is treated with charged fine particle water having a particle diameter of 1 nm, and γ is not treated at all.

  Such a deodorizing effect is considered to be achieved by the odor gas being non-brominated by a chemical reaction with radicals in the charged fine particles. The following is a deodorization reaction formula of radicals and various odors including acetaldehyde. OH represents a hydroxy radical.

Acetaldehyde CH ₃ CHO + 6 · OH + O ₂ → 2CO ₂ + 5H ₂
Ammonia 2NH ₃ + 6 · OH → N ₂ + 6H ₂
Acetic acid CH ₃ COOH + 4 · OH + O ₂ → 2CO ₂ + 4H ₂
Methane gas CH ₄ + 4.OH + O ₂ → CO ₂ + H ₂
Carbon monoxide CO + 2 · OH → CO ₂ + H ₂
Nitric oxide 2NO + 4 · OH → N ₂ + 2O ₂ + 2H ₂
Formaldehyde HCHO + 4OH → CO ₂ + 3H ₂
Moreover, when the koji mold was exposed to the above charged fine particle water, the result that the koji residual rate became 0% after 60 minutes could be obtained. It is thought that the anti-wrinkle effect can be obtained because the OH radical decomposes the mycelium of the cocoon.

  Further, when the ELISA test was carried out by exposing the antigens Cry j1 and Cry j2 extracted from cedar pollen to the above charged fine particle water, as shown in FIG. 9, the result was that the antigen amount was halved from the initial state (blank). Could get.

  In addition, the virus solution is sprayed with a sprayer from one end opening into a cylindrical container (φ55 × 200 mm) into which the charged fine particle water is supplied from the electrostatic atomizer, and the virus is collected with an impinger from the other end opening. When the antiviral effect was confirmed by the plaque method, it was found that the number of plaques in the recovered solution was smaller than that obtained when the virus was simply exposed to negative ions.

  Further, when E. coli O-157 was exposed to the charged fine particle water, a result that the inactivation rate became 100% after 30 minutes could be obtained. This is presumably because the active species in the charged fine particle water denatures the protein on the surface of the cells and suppresses the growth of the cells.

  Furthermore, regarding the moisture retention on the skin, the moisture content of the skin after directly exposing fine water to the skin was evaluated. As shown in FIG. It was confirmed that it became longer.

  Further, in a charged fine particle water having a negative charge, a body temperature increase test after cold water was conducted. As shown in FIG. 11, the rate of increase in body temperature was higher than that in the case of a normal ion having a particle diameter of 1 nm (h). Improvement was confirmed. In the figure, “nu” represents a case where charged fine particle water is not included.

  As the acidic species, at least one of nitric acid, nitric acid hydrate, nitrous acid, and nitrous acid hydrate may be contained. When these are contained, the charged fine particle water maintains weak acidity, and has not only an effect on the alkaline odor component but also a significant effect in terms of penetration into human skin and moisture retention.

  In addition, when the particle diameter was smaller than 3 nm and when the particle diameter exceeded 50 nm, the effect of inactivating the antigen as described above could not be obtained so much. In addition, the extremely small charged fine particle water having a particle diameter of 3 to 50 nm has little influence on the adjustment of humidity in the air.

(a) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the characteristic of the charged fine particle water based on this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of an example of the electrostatic atomizer used for the production | generation of the charged fine particle water same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of operation | movement same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the other example same as the above. It is a characteristic view which shows the particle diameter distribution measurement result of the charged fine particle water produced | generated with the electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is an electron spectrum (ESR) chart of the radical in the charged fine particle water produced | generated with the electrostatic atomizer same as the above. (a) is a mass spectrum chart in charged fine particle water generated by the electrostatic atomizer described above, and (b) is an explanatory diagram of molecular weight, chemical formula and number of ions. It is a characteristic view which shows the acetaldehyde decomposition | disassembly performance measurement result in the chamber by the electrical resistant fine particle water same as the above. It is a characteristic view of the inactivation evaluation result by the ELISA test of the cedar pollen antigen by the same charged fine particle water. It is a characteristic view of the electrical conductivity of a skin stratum corneum after the cold water load by the charged fine particle water same as the above. It is a characteristic view of finger temperature after the cold water load by the charged fine particle water same as above.

Claims (7)

  A charged fine particle water having a particle size of nanometer size and containing a radical.   2. The charged fine particle water according to claim 1, wherein the particle diameter is 3 to 100 nm.   3. The charged fine particle water according to claim 1, comprising at least one of a hydroxyl radical, a superoxide, a nitric oxide radical, and an oxygen radical as a radical.   The charged fine particle water according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising an acidic chemical species.   5. The charged fine particle water according to claim 4, comprising nitrogen oxide or organic acid.   6. The charged fine particle water according to claim 4, comprising at least one of nitric acid, nitric acid hydrate, nitrous acid, and nitrous acid hydrate.   The charged fine particle water according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is negatively charged.

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