JP2007307502A - Method for generating electrolytic water and electrolytic water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for generating electrolytic water and an electrolytic water generator which can provide electrolytic water safely even at a general home while removing toxic substances existing in raw water and keeping a useful component without depending on the conventional high-voltage electrolysis system or zero-gap electrodes. <P>SOLUTION: The method for generating electrolytic water comprises the steps of: introducing raw water into both of an anode chamber 12 and a cathode chamber 13 which are formed by dividing an electrolytic cell 1 by a diaphragm 11; and electrolyzing the introduced raw water by causing a predetermined current to flow between an anode 14 and a cathode 15 which are arranged respectively in the anode chamber 12 and the cathode chamber 13, to obtain at least one of cathode water and anode water, wherein the water treated by a reverse osmosis membrane is introduced into one of the anode chamber 12 and the cathode chamber 13 of the electrolytic cell 1 as raw water and highly-ionized water having the electric conductivity higher than that of the water treated by the reverse osmosis membrane is introduced into the other of the anode chamber and the cathode chamber as raw water. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing electrolyzed water such as cathodic water such as alkaline ionized water or anode water such as acidic water, and a generator of electrolyzed water after the raw water supplied into the electrolytic cell is electrolyzed.

  Conventionally, electrolyzed water such as cathodic water and anodized water obtained by electrolyzing raw water is known. For example, cathodic water is often used for drinking, and an electrolytic cell that electrolyzes raw water such as tap water. Before flowing into the plant, it is purified with a filter using activated carbon or hollow fiber.

  However, recently, tap water used as raw water has been problematic in that it contains harmful substances such as viruses, trihalomethanes, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, dioxins, environmental hormones, arsenic, mercury, and lead. However, there was a problem that the current filter configuration could not be removed.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to use a reverse osmosis membrane or the like as a means for removing these harmful substances. For example, JP 2000-06147 A, JP 11-192485 A, and JP 11-11 A. Japanese Patent No. 057722, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-284772, etc. present a generator of electrolyzed water using raw water treated with a reverse osmosis membrane, a device using a reverse osmosis membrane after electrolysis, and the like.

  However, the type that enters the electrolytic cell after passing through the reverse osmosis membrane performs electrolysis using an aqueous solution close to pure water from which impurities dissolved in water are removed, and is intended for drinking like cathodic water. In the electrolyzed water, the trace amount component necessary for the living body is removed, and there remains a question about the manifestation of the efficacy effect sought in the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.

  In addition, even if the efficacy effect was proved, the purpose of ingesting the minor components inherent in drinking water could not be fulfilled, and it was considered unsuitable for commercialization. By using these reverse osmosis membranes, the ionic components contained in the water are also removed, and the electrical conductivity of the water decreases, so that current flows even when voltage is applied. There was a problem that it was difficult to electrolyze. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a specified pH, and it is difficult to produce a cathode water generator.

  Furthermore, when electrolysis is performed using water having low electrical conductivity, it is necessary to perform electrolysis by increasing the electrolysis voltage, or to use a zero gap electrode or the like in which the electrodes are brought as close as possible. However, when a high voltage is applied, there is a risk that electrolytic heat is generated and the temperature becomes high, which is inappropriate for use at home.

  On the other hand, in the method of electrolyzing by adding an electrolyte after passing through a reverse osmosis membrane to increase the electric conductivity of raw water and conducting verification mainly in tests, there is no state where there are as many obstacles as possible in the process. There is a need for this, and it takes time to select and supply electrolytes. In particular, trace amounts of useful components contained in the raw water will be removed, and while the action mechanism of the effect of cathodic water is not clear at present, it is effective to remove calcium, etc. I wonder if there is. At present, the active hydrogen and dissolved hydrogen factors, which are the efficacy effect factors in cathodic water, are considered to require correlation with other trace components.

Furthermore, in the method of electrolyzing by adding an electrolyte to the treated water generated after passing through the reverse osmosis membrane to increase the electrical conductivity, and in the case of mainly conducting verifications such as tests, it is an impediment to the process. This is necessary because it is desirable that there is as little as possible, and it takes time and labor to select and supply electrolytes.
JP 2000-06147 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-192485 JP-A-11-057722 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 07-284772

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, without relying on the conventional high voltage electrolysis method and zero gap electrode, and while removing useful substances while removing useful substances, It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrolyzed water generation method and a generator capable of safely obtaining electrolyzed water even in general households.

  The method for producing electrolyzed water according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, introduces raw water into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber formed by partitioning an electrolytic cell with a diaphragm, and into the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, respectively. In a method for producing electrolyzed water in which at least one of cathodic water or anodic water is obtained by electrolysis by flowing a predetermined current through the arranged anode and cathode, raw water is provided in one of the anode chamber or the cathode chamber forming the electrolytic cell. Treated water by a reverse osmosis membrane is introduced, and high ionic water having higher electrical conductivity than the treated water of the reverse osmosis membrane is introduced as raw water on the other side.

  In particular, in the invention, the high ionic water is preferably formed by adding an electrolyte to the concentrated water by the reverse osmosis membrane, or raw water or concentrated water.

  The electrolyzed water generator according to the present invention includes an anode chamber and a cathode chamber formed by partitioning an electrolytic cell with a diaphragm, and an anode and a cathode, respectively, and an inlet and an electrolyzer for raw water are placed in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, respectively. The electrolyzed water generators each having an outlet for electrolyzed water produced by the step of introducing treated water into one of the inlets of raw water formed in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber and the other inlet for raw water It has the water purifier by the reverse osmosis membrane for introduce | transducing concentrated water into.

  Alternatively, an anode and a cathode chamber are respectively formed in an anode chamber and a cathode chamber formed by partitioning an electrolytic cell with a diaphragm, and the anode chamber and the cathode chamber have an inlet for raw water and an outlet for electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis, respectively. An electrolyzed water generator having a water purifier with a reverse osmosis membrane for introducing treated water into one of the raw water inlets formed in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, and further, the raw water or concentrated water You may have an electrolyte addition apparatus for introduce | transducing electrolyte into one of the inlets.

Conventionally, metal electrodes used for electrolysis have been responsible for the decomposition and generation of water or dissolved substances by exchanging electrons as electron conductors. When performing water electrolysis, it is normally performed by the following reaction formula.
Cathode (hydrogen generation) 2H ₂ O → H ₂ ↑ + 2OH ⁻ + 2e ⁻
Anode (oxygen generation) 2H ₂ O → O ₂ ↑ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻
The exchange of electrons performed on the electrode surface must have the same energy balance between the cathode and the anode. However, when the electrical conductivity of the cathode and anode chambers is not uniform, the exchange of electrons is balanced. It was thought that the electrolysis current could not be obtained as a result of falling into a collapsed state.

  Therefore, as a result of measuring the electrolysis current under the following conditions in which the electrical conductivity of the cathode chamber and the anode chamber is nonuniform using the water storage type electrolytic cell as shown in FIG. It has been found that an electrolytic current can be obtained.

The measurement uses a platinum-coated titanium electrode as an inert electrode, a neutral membrane of polyester nonwoven fabric as the diaphragm, and the sample water as a loose reverse using tap water and an aromatic polyamide composite membrane. A reverse osmosis membrane treated water using a osmosis membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane concentrated water were used, and an electrolytic power source was a DC stabilized power source.
The electrical conductivity of each aqueous solution is shown in Table 1, and the measurement results are shown in Table 2.

In addition, electrolysis was performed using a saline solution and an aqueous solution not added to one side.
The water used was water treated with a reverse osmosis membrane, and prepared with salt added (electric conductivity 80 mS / m) and not added (electric conductivity 0.62 mS / m). Table 3 shows the measurement results.

Next, Table 4 shows the results of electrolysis using an aqueous solution using a reverse osmosis membrane under running water.
The electrode used was a platinum-coated titanium electrode, which is an inert electrode, an ion exchange membrane (Arsansep G-3) was used for the diaphragm, an electrolytic cell was used, and the treated water in the reverse osmosis membrane (electrical) Conductivity 0.8 mS / m) is introduced into the cathode chamber side inlet under running water of 1.2 liters per minute, and concentrated water (electrical conductivity 18.4 mS / m) at the reverse osmosis membrane enters the anode chamber side. After introducing into the water inlet, the electrolysis current was measured under the following conditions.

  Usually, in the case of an aqueous solution with high electrical conductivity, the generation of reaction heat is considered to be low because the impedance of the solution is low, but in this measurement result, the opposite result occurs, and water with high electrical conductivity is present. That is, it is considered that the aqueous solution having a high salt concentration plays a trigger role for exchanging electrons, so that the aqueous solution having a low salt concentration forcibly starts to be decomposed. However, when an ion exchange membrane is used, it is considered that the electrolysis current is lowered depending on conditions because the selectivity increases depending on the ion species.

That is, when the electrolyte concentration such as metal ions in the cathode chamber is low,
_{^{2H + + 2e - → H 2}} ↑
The reaction is considered to occur mainly,
2H ₂ 0 → H ₂ ↑ + 20H ⁻ + 2e ⁻
As a result of this reaction, the aqueous solution in the cathode chamber is alkaline.

Conversely, if the electrolyte concentration in the anode chamber is high,
For example, in the case of halogen,
2Cl ⁻ → Cl ₂ + 2e ⁻
It is considered that the main reaction is the formation and decomposition reaction of ionic species contained in water (however, it cannot be determined because the concentration-dependent aspect is also considered).
at the same time,
2H ₂ 0 → 0 ₂ ↑ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻
Such reactions also occur, and the aqueous solution shows acidity.
And it is thought that the electrolytic reaction is performed so that the electron balance of said reaction is equivalent in a cathode and an anode.

  In addition, in order to flow the concentration difference of the electrolyte dissolved in the water into the electrolytic cell, in addition to flowing the water treated with the reverse osmosis membrane and the concentrated water, the electrolyte is pumped, etc. It goes without saying that the condition can be created by increasing the conductivity and flowing into one side.

  In addition, neutral membranes such as polyester and ion exchange membranes can be used as the diaphragm between the electrodes, and only useful ion components that are electroosmotic during electrolysis can be drawn to one side. When using reverse osmosis membranes, It goes without saying that the waste liquid on the opposite side can be reused by providing a circulation path. In the case of cathodic water, the useful components removed by the reverse osmosis membrane are electrolyzed again so that they gather on the cathode side, so that cathodic water containing useful components can be generated with water from which harmful substances have been removed. For this reason, the effect effect as a cathode water known conventionally is maintained.

  According to the present invention, for example, in cathode water, water on the cathode side is usually used for drinking as, for example, alkaline ionized water, but water on the anode side is not used for drinking. Therefore, by supplying treated water only to the cathode side, and using the concentrated water on the anode side, it is possible to generate conventional cathode water by providing a structure that allows only the useful components that are electroosmotic to pass through when electrolyzed. The filter performance can be improved without changing the structure of the vessel.

  In particular, harmful substances such as viruses, trihalomethane, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, dioxin, environmental hormones, arsenic, mercury, and lead contained in tap water used as raw water in normal cases are removed by a reverse osmosis membrane. It is possible to remove impurities below the physical filtration of microfilters such as activated carbon and hollow fibers that are conventionally used.

  Furthermore, by introducing treated water to the cathode side, high concentrations of calcium and magnesium are not introduced, so that the scale deposited on the electrode surface is reduced. As a result, the frequency of electrolytic cleaning due to reverse polarity, which has been performed in the past, is reduced, so that platinum elution is suppressed during pole conversion. When concentrated water is used, only useful components such as calcium can be drawn to the cathode side, and the water quality as cathode water can be maintained.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of a preferred embodiment of an electrolyzed water generator according to an embodiment of the present invention using a cathodic water generator as a model. The electrolyzer 1 is, for example, an ion exchange membrane (Alsan Sep G-3). The anode chamber 12 and the cathode 15 made of platinum-coated titanium electrodes, which are inert electrodes, are respectively arranged in the anode chamber 12 and the cathode chamber 13 which are formed by partitioning with the diaphragm 11 made of The chamber 15 has raw water inlets 16 and 17 and electrolytic water outlets 18 and 19 generated by electrolysis, respectively.

  In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a water purifier using a loose reverse osmosis membrane using an aromatic polyamide composite membrane, having a pre-filter 3 upstream of the water inlet 21 and a treated water outlet 22 being a pressurized tank (water storage tank). 4) The raw water inlet 17 provided in the cathode chamber 13 of the electrolytic cell 1 is connected via the post filter 5, the water stop valve 6 and the flow sensor 7.

  The concentrated water outlet 23 of the water purifier 2 is connected to the raw water inlet 16 provided in the anode chamber 12 of the electrolytic cell 1.

  More specifically, the raw water (tap water) introduced into the water purifier 2 is first removed of residual chlorine and foreign matters by a pre-filter (activated carbon filter or the like) 3. Therefore, the load of the reverse osmosis membrane equipped in the water purifier 2 can be reduced, the performance of the reverse osmosis membrane can be maintained, and the life can be extended.

  Moreover, in order to apply a reverse osmosis membrane, in order to apply an osmotic pressure with respect to a membrane, it is processed under the pressurization of about 0.4-4 Mpa normally using a pressure pump. By using a loose reverse osmosis membrane using an aromatic polyamide composite membrane with low pressure and high blocking performance, it can be used at a normal tap water pressure of about 0.3 to 1 Mpa, and is a special pressure pump It is economical and can be made compact, and there is no problem for use at home.

  Further, the water purifier 2 is separated into treated water that has passed through the reverse osmosis membrane and concentrated water that has been collected by removing impurities contained in the water when passing through the membrane. Only when the reverse osmosis membrane is being treated after being introduced into the water port 16, the anode side outlet 18 of the anode chamber 12 and the pipe (not shown) beyond the anode chamber 12 are always open.

  In addition, since the reverse osmosis membrane has a smaller amount of filtered water than a normal filter, a water storage tank (pressurized tank) 4 is generally provided and used in order to cope with the actual use environment. In this embodiment, the treated water is stored in the water storage tank 4 when the faucet 6 is closed in order to store the treated water during a period of no time. The treated water collected in the water storage tank 4 passes through the post filter 5 when the water stop valve 6 is opened, passes through the post filter 5, removes odors, and is introduced into the flow sensor 7. When a certain amount or more of treated water is passed through the sensor 7, electrolysis is performed by applying a voltage to the electrodes 14 and 15 in the electrolytic cell 1, and cathode water is generated in the cathode chamber 13 partitioned by the diaphragm plate 11, Anode water is produced in the anode chamber 12. At this time, the diaphragm plate 11 prevents the passage of anions by the action of the ion exchange membrane and allows only cations such as calcium to pass through, thereby maintaining the water quality equivalent to that of the conventional cathode water and having less impurities. Can be provided.

  Needless to say, when a certain pressure is reached by using a shutoff valve or the like in the piping path of the raw water (tap water) and the treated water, the water stoppage and water flow are controlled.

  Next, the properties of electrolyzed water obtained by using the electrolyzed water generator according to this embodiment are shown in Tables 5 and 6 below.

  The raw water used was Sagamihara City water (pH 7.62, electric conductivity 15.01 mS / m, water temperature 18.9 ° C., nitrate nitrogen 2.3 mg / L, calcium hardness 25 mg / L), and a reverse osmosis membrane. The quality of the treated permeated water and concentrated water is as shown in Table 5 below.

  From the above measurement results, safe alkaline water (cathode water) with few impurities could be obtained.

  FIG. 3 shows a different embodiment of the present invention. The overall configuration is substantially the same as that of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, but an electrolysis auxiliary liquid tank 8 for supplying an electrolyte and The difference is that a pump 9 is provided, and an electrolyte is added to the concentrated water from the water purifier 2 provided with a reverse osmosis membrane and introduced into the cathode chamber 13. Table 9 shows the properties of the strongly acidic electrolyzed water (anode water) obtained in the anode chamber.

  The raw water used in this embodiment is Sagamihara City water (pH 7.22, electric conductivity 15.34 mS / m, water temperature 17.2 ° C., nitrate nitrogen 2.3 mg / L, calcium hardness 25 mg / L). The quality of the permeated treated water and the concentrated water treated with the reverse osmosis membrane is as shown in Table 8 below.

  From the above measurement results, it was possible to obtain safe strongly acidic water with few impurities.

It is the schematic for demonstrating the principle of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows different embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolysis tank, 2 Water purifier, 3 Pre filter, 4 Pressure tank, 5 Post filter, 6 Inlet, 7 Flow rate sensor, 8 Electrolysis auxiliary liquid tank, 9 Pump, 11 Diaphragm, 12 Anode room, 13 Cathode room, 14 Anode, 15 cathode, 16 inlet, 17 inlet, 18 outlet, 19 outlet, 21 inlet, 22 treated water outlet

Claims (7)

  The raw water is introduced into the anode chamber and the cathode chamber formed by partitioning the electrolytic cell with a diaphragm, and the cathode water or the cathode water is electrolyzed by flowing a predetermined current through the anode and the cathode respectively disposed in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber. In the method for producing electrolyzed water to obtain at least one of anode water, treated water by a reverse osmosis membrane is introduced as raw water into one of an anode chamber or a cathode chamber forming the electrolytic cell, and the reverse osmosis membrane as raw water is introduced into the other. A method for producing electrolyzed water, characterized by introducing high ionic water having higher electrical conductivity than treated water.   The method for producing electrolyzed water according to claim 1, wherein the high ionic water is concentrated water by the reverse osmosis membrane.   The method for producing electrolyzed water according to claim 1, wherein the high ionic water is obtained by adding an electrolyte to the concentrated water by the reverse osmosis membrane.   The method for producing electrolyzed water according to claim 1, wherein the high ionic water is obtained by adding an electrolyte to water.   Electrolyzed water in which an anode and a cathode are respectively formed in an anode chamber and a cathode chamber formed by partitioning an electrolytic cell with a diaphragm, and each of the anode chamber and the cathode chamber has an inlet for raw water and an outlet for electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis A water purifier using a reverse osmosis membrane for introducing treated water into one of the raw water inlets formed in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber and introducing concentrated water into the other raw water inlet. A generator of electrolyzed water, characterized by comprising a vessel.   Electrolyzed water having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber formed by partitioning an electrolytic cell with a diaphragm, respectively, and having an inlet for raw water and an outlet for electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, respectively An electrolyzed water generator comprising a water purifier using a reverse osmosis membrane for introducing treated water into one of raw water inlets formed in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber. . The electrolyzed water generator according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising an electrolyte adding device for introducing an electrolyte into one of the raw water inlets.