JP2013056038A - Air filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air filter using air permeable base material deactivating virus during proliferation.SOLUTION: In the air filter, the air permeable base material contains the natural extracted component extracted from pine trees, or the air permeable base material contains a plurality of kinds of natural extracted components including the natural extracted component extracted from the pine trees. It is preferable that the contents of the natural extracted component extracted from the pine trees in the air permeable base material is 0.01 g/mor more.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air filter characterized in that a breathable base material contains a natural extract component extracted from pine.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of air conditioners, instead of ventilating indoor air with windows open, there are many living environments in which indoor air is purified using an air purifier.

  Substances collected by air cleaner filters include mite and pollen-derived allergens, mold spores, fungi, viruses, and the like. Since these substances cause disease, it is desired to deactivate them on the collected filter.

  As an effective means for allergens, a filter (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) supporting (containing) tea catechin, a filter (for example, refer to Patent Document 2) supporting an enzyme, and the like are disclosed as air filters. Further, a mask (for example, see Patent Document 3) carrying an aromatic hydroxy compound as an anti-allergen component is disclosed, and is expected to be used as a filter.

  As an effective means against mold and viruses, a filter (for example, see Patent Document 4) having a material with a tea extract component and an antifungal agent attached thereto is disclosed. In addition, as an effective means against fungi and viruses, an air filter carrying a ginkgo biloba extract (see, for example, Patent Document 5) is disclosed.

  The filter of the air cleaner collects not only allergens derived from ticks and pollen, mold spores, fungi and viruses, but also nutrients necessary for the growth of molds, fungi and viruses. Therefore, there is a concern that molds, fungi, and viruses grow on the filter.

  In the conventional technology, even if the collected virus can be inactivated, there is no proposal of an effective air filter for the virus that is growing.

JP 2000-5553 A JP 2003-210919A JP 2003-79756 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-315 International Publication No. 2006/011541 Pamphlet

  This invention solves said subject, and makes it a subject to provide the air filter using the breathable base material which inactivates the virus which is growing.

The present invention has the following configuration.
(1) An air filter comprising a breathable base material containing a natural extract component extracted from pine.
(2) An air filter comprising a breathable base material containing a plurality of types of natural extract components including a natural extract component extracted from pine.
(3) The air filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content of the natural extract component extracted from pine in the breathable substrate is 0.01 g / m ² or more.

  The air filter of the present invention is obtained by adding a natural extract component extracted from pine to a breathable base material. The air filter of the present invention is effective as an air filter because it can suppress and inactivate the growth of viruses collected on the filter. It also has antiallergenic properties, which are totally unexpected effects.

  Hereinafter, the air filter of the present invention will be described in detail.

  In the present invention, the natural extract component extracted from pine is an extract extracted from pine trees, pine leaves, seeds, bark, tree trunks, fruits, etc. There is no particular limitation as long as it can inactivate the virus. As will be described below, in particular, a natural extract component (Matsuka extract) extracted from a pine tree is preferably used, but even a natural extract component derived from a part other than a pine tree has no particular problem.

  Among them, the pine coconut extract contains a physiologically active substance called pinosol which is not found in other natural product extracts. Pinosol is a phenylpropenoid polymer having a structure in which sugars are bonded to a polyphenol moiety. The phenylpropenoid polymer moiety binds directly to the virus and inhibits growth.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the extraction method of the natural extract component from a pine, It can obtain by the method disclosed until now. As an example, when the pine extract is used in the present invention, there is a method of extracting pine trees with hot water and further extracting the active substance in the residue with alkaline water.

  As for the natural extract component extracted from the pine of the present invention, the extract obtained as described above may be used as it is, and if necessary, the component purified, concentrated and dried according to a conventional method is used as a powder. Alternatively, a further diluted one may be used.

  In addition, when the natural extract component obtained by the above extraction method or the like is analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography or the like, the quality of the natural extract component to be used can be confirmed. Furthermore, the above extraction method can be applied as it is to the analysis of natural components extracted from pine contained in the air filter of the present invention. That is, by analyzing the liquid obtained by the extraction operation from the air filter, stable production by quality confirmation after the air filter is manufactured becomes possible.

The content of the natural extract component extracted from pine in the air filter of the present invention is preferably 0.01 g / m ² or more with respect to the breathable substrate used in the air filter. More preferably, it is 0.1 g / m ² or more, and further preferably 1 g / m ² or more. It is preferable to incorporate a natural extract component extracted from this amount of pine into the air-permeable base material, since an effect such as virus inactivation can be obtained to a satisfactory level. Below this lower limit, the effects of the present invention may not be sufficiently obtained.

The natural extract used in the air filter of the present invention may be a single extract extracted from pine or may be used in combination with other extracts. The extract that can be used in combination is not particularly limited as long as it does not impair the performance of the extract extracted from pine. Ginkgo biloba, grapefruit, star fruit, grape, coffee, tea, cedar, cypress, hiba, eucalyptus, taiwan cypress, sendan, bamboo, sasa, sesame, chrysanthemum extract, salmon white, chitosan Animal extracts such as The content of the extract used in combination is not limited as long as the desired performance can be obtained, but is preferably 0.01 g / m ² or more with respect to the breathable substrate used for the air filter. More preferably, it is 0.1 g / m ² or more, and further preferably 1 g / m ² or more. At this time, the content of the natural extract component extracted from the pine is preferably 0.01 g / m ² or more with respect to the breathable base material used for the air filter. More preferably, it is 0.1 g / m ² or more, and further preferably 1 g / m ² or more. If it is the quantity of this range, the effect of another extract can be extracted, without impairing effects, such as inactivation of a virus. Below this lower limit, the effects of the present invention may not be sufficiently obtained.

  Next, the air permeable base material used for this invention is demonstrated. In the present invention, the material of the breathable substrate to be used is not particularly limited, and any material can be used as long as it corresponds to the shape of the apparatus and equipment to be used. Any shape such as a planar shape or a three-dimensional shape may be used.

  As for the flat thing, a sheet-like thing is mentioned as the example. It can be appropriately selected from woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, non-woven fabrics, paper, nets, breathable foams, metal porous bodies, sheet-like materials such as apertured films, etc., but at low cost, fiber blending, basis weight, thickness, etc. Nonwoven fabrics are mentioned as one of the preferable substrates because they are easy to control and easy to perform post-processing such as drilling. As a method for producing the nonwoven fabric, at least one method selected from a spun bond method, a melt blow method, a dry method (thermal bond method, resin bond method, needle punch method, spun lace method, stitch bond method), a wet method and the like is selected and used. be able to. A plurality of these methods can be combined as required.

  The method of incorporating (supporting) the natural extract component extracted from pine into the breathable base material used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the natural extract component can be contained as uniformly as possible on the surface of the breathable base material. No, but a method of applying a natural extract component as a solution or a dispersion by applying to a breathable substrate by a method such as coating, impregnation or spraying, removing the solvent or dispersion medium by a method such as drying, etc. The Examples of the solvent for the solution or dispersion include various solvents used for extraction of natural extract components. In addition, a method of supporting a resin, metal, or the like, which is a raw material of the base material, by means of kneading and the like can also be mentioned. In addition to the above-described method, a method of internally supporting a natural extract component in the process of forming raw material fibers into a sheet, such as internal addition in a wet method, can also be mentioned.

  The effect of the natural extract component extracted from pine can be used to enhance the adhesion of the natural extract component extracted from pine to the base material, to improve the appearance of the product by combining with other components or coloring. Use of a small amount of a binder (adhesive) is one of the preferred methods within the range not inhibiting. Specific examples of the aqueous binder will be given. Examples of water-soluble materials include polyvinyl alcohol and starch. Examples of water dispersible materials include poly (meth) acrylic acid esters, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, and styrene-butadiene latex.

  In addition, if necessary, in order to more stably support the natural extract component extracted from pine on the base material, to keep the effect of virus inactivation etc. constant for a long time, and to relieve the extract odor, Porous powder (for example, activated carbon or zeolite powder) may be contained in the breathable substrate.

  Further, a material in which a sheet carrying a natural extract component extracted from these pines and another sheet are combined by a method such as bonding is also a preferable material for a planar substrate.

  Other shapes of the breathable substrate used in the present invention include a three-dimensional shape, and examples include a honeycomb shape, a corrugated shape, and a pleated shape. In addition to processing the sheet-like materials listed above, the materials for constituting these base materials include plastic sheets such as polyolefin and polyester with poor air permeability, metal plates such as aluminum and copper, and cardboard. May be.

  In addition to the method of imparting at a stage before processing into a three-dimensional shape, a method of imparting by a method such as spraying after forming a solid shape is also preferred.

  In addition, if necessary, for the purpose of adding other performance without departing from the spirit of the present invention, deodorization, antibacterial, antifungal, further antiviral, insecticidal, insecticidal, deodorant, fragrance, temperature sensitivity, Heat retention, heat storage, heat storage, heat generation, heat absorption, waterproofing, water resistance, water repellency, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, dehumidification, humidity adjustment, moisture absorption, oil repellency, lipophilic, oil absorption, and transpiration of water and volatile chemicals What added various functions, such as sustained release, may be used.

  In the present invention, in addition to the function of inactivating viruses in the air filter, at least one of the deodorizing function, the dust removing function, the microbial resistance function, the fragrance adding function, and the negative ion adding function on the breathable substrate as described above. It is also preferable to add.

  The air filter of the present invention is mounted and used in an air treatment device using forced supply / exhaust by a machine, such as an air conditioner, an air cleaner, a vacuum cleaner, a dehumidifier, a dryer, a humidifier, a ventilator, a fan, or a heat exchanger. Thus, preferable effects such as virus inactivation can be obtained. Or you may use the air filter of this invention for the external airflow inlet_port | entrance (a vent hole, a window, etc.) for natural air supply / exhaust. In the case of an air cleaner or the like, the required functions such as deodorization and dust removal may be obtained by using a filter having each function.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the examples without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(Matsuka extract)
500 g of pine pine pine tree was pulverized with a Willet mill to obtain a powder. The pine powder was boiled and refluxed with 5 L of hot water for 5 hours to recover the residue. The obtained residue was extracted with a 4% by mass aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at 60 ° C. for 5 hours, and the extract was recovered. Acetic acid was added to the extract to adjust to pH 5 to precipitate a solid. The extract was concentrated under reduced pressure, and 25 g of the precipitate was collected by centrifugation. After 25 g of the obtained precipitate and 25 g of dextrin were dissolved in 100 g of hot water, the solution was spray-dried to obtain 50 g of pine tree powder. The pine tree extract contains 50% by mass of pine tree extract. When used in the following examples, the above operation was repeated until the required amount was obtained. Matsukasa powder was dissolved in water at a mass ratio of 5:95 to prepare an aqueous solution of Matsukasa extract used in the examples. The pine tree extract contains 2.5% by mass of the pine tree extract.

(Examples 1-5)
A 40 g / m ² polyester spunbond nonwoven fabric is used as the breathable substrate, and the above-mentioned Matsukasa extract solution is uniformly applied to the nonwoven fabric by a spray method and dried at 120 ° C. to produce an air filter of the example. did. In addition, the coating amount of the pine coconut extract is 10 g / m ² (Example 1), 1 g / m ² (Example 2), 0.1 g / m ² (Example 3), and 0.0. 01g / ^{m 2} (example 4), was five levels of 0.001 g / ^{m 2} (example 5).

(Ginkgo biloba extract)
8 kg of a mixed solution of ethanol and purified water (volume ratio of 1: 1) was added to 1 kg of dried ginkgo leaves, and the mixture was extracted by stirring for 7 hours. After filtering the solid matter, the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure at 60 ° C. or lower until the total volume was reduced to about one-tenth volume, 0.5 kg of ethyl acetate was added, and the mixture was stirred sufficiently, then allowed to stand and separate. A lower layer was obtained. The lower layer was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a brown viscous product. The viscous product was dissolved in a mixed solution (volume ratio 8: 2) of about 30 times propylene glycol and purified water, and a small amount of insoluble matter was filtered through a filter paper to obtain 8 g of a ginkgo biloba extract solution. 1 g of this product corresponds to 0.1 g of dried ginkgo biloba extract. When used in the following examples, the above operation was repeated until the required amount was obtained.

(Examples 6 to 10)
Using a polyester spunbond nonwoven fabric of 40 g / m ² as the breathable substrate, uniformly applying the mixed solution of the above-mentioned pine tree extract and Ginkgo biloba extract to the nonwoven fabric by a spray method, and carrying out by drying at 120 ° C. An example air filter was made. In addition, the coating amount of a pine coconut extract is 10 g / m < ² > (Example 6), 1 g / m < ² > (Example 7), 0.1 g / m < ² > (Example 8), 0.00 as dry pine pine extract content. 01g / ^{m 2} (example 9), a 5 levels 0.001 g / ^{m 2} (example 10), the content of ginkgo biloba extract, a dry gingko leaf extract content of examples 6-10 Both are 1 g / m ² .

(Comparative Example 1)
The polyester spunbonded nonwoven fabric of the example was used as the air filter of Comparative Example 1.

(Comparative Examples 2 and 3)
Air filters of Comparative Examples 2 and 3 were prepared in the same manner as in Examples 1 and 2 except that the Ginkgo biloba extract solution was used instead of the pine coconut extract solution used in Examples 1 and 2. (The contents of the natural extract components in Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, and in Example 2 and Comparative Example 3 correspond to each other.)

  As mentioned above, the air filter of Examples 1-10 and the air filter of Comparative Examples 1-3 were evaluated according to the following performance test, and the result was shown in Table 1. The following tests were performed under conditions of 25 ° C. and 50% RH (relative humidity).

[Virus inactivation test]
Each of the air filters obtained in Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 was cut into a size of 3 cm × 3 cm to obtain specimens and individually tested. A suspension of influenza virus was dropped onto the specimen and stored at room temperature, and the virus infectivity titer after 24 hours was measured. Details are as follows.

1. Test virus Influenza virus type A (H1N1) was used.

2. Cells used MDCK (NBL-2) cell ATCC CCL-34 strain (Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was used.

3. Medium used 3-1. Cell growth medium A solution obtained by adding 10% by mass of neonatal calf serum to Eagle MEM (containing 0.06 mg / ml kanamycin) was used.

3-2. Cell maintenance medium Eagle MEM = 1000 ml, 10 mass% aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution = 34 ml, L-glutamine (30 g / l) = 9.8 ml, 100 × MEM vitamin solution = 30 ml, 10 mass% -albumin = 20 ml, trypsin ( A medium having a composition of 5 mg / ml) = 2 ml was used.

4). Adjustment of virus suspension bacteria 4-1. Cell Culture MDCK cells were monolayer cultured in tissue culture flasks using cell growth media.

4-2. Virus culture 4-2-1. Culture of low infectious dose test virus After monolayer culture, the cell growth medium was removed from the flask and inoculated with the test virus. Next, a cell maintenance medium was added and cultured in a carbon dioxide incubator (carbon dioxide concentration: 5 mass%) at 37 ° C. for 2 to 5 days.

4-2-1. High Infectious Dose Test Virus Culture After monolayer culture, the cell growth medium was removed from the flask and inoculated with the test virus. Next, the cell maintenance medium was added and cultured in a 37 ° C. carbon dioxide incubator (carbon dioxide concentration: 5 mass%) for 5 to 7 days.

4-3. Preparation of virus suspension After culturing, the morphology of cells was observed using an inverted phase contrast microscope, and it was confirmed that morphological changes (cytopathic effect) occurred in the cells. Next, the culture solution was centrifuged (3000 rpm × 10 minutes), and the resulting supernatant was used as a virus suspension.

5. Sample Preparation Samples obtained by cutting the air filters obtained in Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 cm × 3 cm into each size of 3 cm × 3 cm were subjected to wet heat sterilization (121 ° C. × 15 minutes).

6). Test operation 0.2 ml of the virus suspension was dropped into the sample and stored at room temperature. Moreover, it tested similarly using a plastic petri dish as a control sample.

7). Washing out virus After storing for 24 hours, the virus suspension in the sample was washed out with 2 ml of cell maintenance medium.

8). Measurement of virus infectivity titer MDCK cells were cultured in a monolayer in a tissue culture microplate (96 wells) using a cell growth medium, and then the cell growth medium was removed and 0.1 ml of cell maintenance medium was added. Next, the washing solution and 0.1 ml of the diluted solution were inoculated into every 4 holes and cultured in a 37 ° C. carbon dioxide incubator (carbon dioxide concentration: 5 mass%) for 4 to 7 days. After culturing, the presence or absence of cell morphological change (cytopathic effect) was observed using an inverted phase contrast microscope, the 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID ₅₀ ) was calculated by the Reed-Muench method, and the virus per ml of washing solution Converted to infectious titer. The logarithmic value of TCID ₅₀ per 1 ml of washing solution (log TCID ₅₀ / ml) immediately after virus inoculation (control) and after storage for 24 hours (sample) was compared and used as an index of virus inactivation performance. _{Incidentally,} the limit of detection of logTCID 50 /ml<1.5.

9. Effect on proliferating virus When inactivation of viruses was confirmed in test systems with different viral infectivity, that is, both low and high infectivity, it was judged to inactivate the proliferating virus.

[Allergen inactivation test]
1. Preparation of reagents 1-1. Preparation of allergen solution Purified mite allergen rDerf2 (manufactured by Seikagaku Corporation) was dissolved in PBS (-) to prepare a test allergen solution of 500 ng / ml.

1-2. Preparation of antibody solution Anti-rDerf2 monoclonal antibody 15E11 (manufactured by Seikagaku Corporation) was diluted with PBS (-) to a concentration of 2 µg / ml.

1-3. Preparation of labeled antibody solution Horseradish peroxidase-labeled anti-rDerf2 monoclonal antibody 13A4PO (manufactured by Seikagaku Corporation) was diluted 5000 times with PBS-T. For PBS-T, 0.5 g of Tween 20 was dissolved in 1000 ml of PBS (−) and used.

Preparation of 1-4. 1% -BSA-PBS (-) 0.2 g of BSA was dissolved in 20 ml of PBS (-) and used.

1-5. Preparation of 0.3 mg / ml-ABTS (Substrate Solution) 3 mg of ABTS was dissolved in 10 ml of 0.3 M-citrate buffer (pH 4.0), and 10 μl of 30% by mass hydrogen peroxide was added thereto. Used.

2. Test Method This test method is a confirmation test that allergens captured on the air filter are inactivated.

2-1. Summary The air filters obtained in Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 were each cut into a size of 2 mm × 4 mm and individually tested as specimens. The specimen was placed on the bottom of a 48-well plate, 300 μl of allergen solution (500 ng / ml) was added per well, and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 hours. After standing, 50 μl was collected, and the allergen concentration present therein was quantified by sandwich ELISA. Details of the sandwich ELISA method are as follows.

2-2. Sandwich ELISA method (1) 50 μl of coating solution (antibody solution, 2 μg / ml) was added to each well of an ELISA plate and allowed to stand at 4 ° C. overnight.
(2) The coating solution was removed, and after washing 3 times with 300 μl of PBS (−), 200 μl of 1% -BSA-PBS (−) was added and allowed to stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
(3) After washing the ELISA plate 3 times with 300 μl of PBS-T, 50 μl of allergen solution brought into contact with the specimen for 2 hours was collected and added, and allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 hours.
(4) The ELISA plate was washed 3 times with 300 μl of PBS-T, 50 μl of the labeled antibody solution was added, and the plate was allowed to stand at room temperature for 2 hours.
(5) After washing the ELISA plate 3 times with 300 μl PBS-T, add 100 μl 0.3 mg / ml-ABTS, develop color at room temperature, mix for 20-30 minutes, mix with a microplate reader at 405 nm Absorbance was measured.
(6) The purified mite allergen rDerf2 concentration (Ang / ml) in the allergen solution brought into contact with the specimen is calculated from the absorbance, and the calculated value is compared with the purified mite allergen rDer2 concentration (500 ng / ml) in the initial allergen solution. By doing this, the allergen removal rate (%; 100 × (500-A) / 500) was determined.

  From the above, it was confirmed that the air filter of the present invention can inactivate the virus inoculated on the substrate. In particular, in the air filter of the present invention, virus inactivation was confirmed in test systems with different virus infection amounts, that is, both low infection amount and high infection amount, and it was confirmed that the virus that was proliferating could be inactivated. It also has antiallergenic properties, which are totally unexpected effects.

  By including both the pine root extract and the ginkgo biloba extract in the base material, it is possible to provide a filter base material having virus inactivation and antiallergenicity during growth even if the amount of the pine root extract applied is small. Moreover, the addition of Ginkgo biloba extract did not inhibit the virus inactivation performance of the pine pine extract.

It is preferable that the content of the pine coconut extract is 0.01 g / m ² or more because an effect of inactivating the growing virus can be further obtained.

  On the other hand, from the comparison between Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 and the comparison between Example 2 and Comparative Example 3, when only ginkgo biloba extract was applied, the effect of virus inactivation during proliferation at a high infection level was not sufficient. It was. It is presumed that the difference was caused as a result of the effective action of the components unique to the natural extract component extracted from pine.

  The air filter of the present invention can inactivate the collected virus and further suppress the growth. It also has antiallergenic properties and can be used for air filters of various air treatment devices such as air conditioners, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, dehumidifiers, dryers, humidifiers, ventilators, heat exchangers. Moreover, there is a possibility that it can be used for a humidifying element of a humidifier, a disinfectant around water, a mask, a wet wiper, or a floor wiper.

Claims (3)

  An air filter comprising a breathable base material containing a natural extract component extracted from pine.   An air filter comprising a breathable base material containing a plurality of types of natural extract components including a natural extract component extracted from pine. The air filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content of the natural extract component extracted from pine in the breathable substrate is 0.01 g / m ² or more.