JP2018194331A - Ozone measurement apparatus, vegetable sterilizer, vegetable sterilizing method, cut vegetable production device and cut vegetable production method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vegetable sterilizer capable of measuring ozone concentration in a working environment with high accuracy.SOLUTION: The measurement apparatus measures ozone concentration in the environment to sterilize vegetables with a sterilizing solution containing ozone water. The measurement apparatus comprises: a light source device 172 that emits measurement light; a first measurement section 171 that measures the intensity of the measurement light transmitted through a first gas introduced from the working environment; a second measurement section 171 that measures the intensity of the measurement light transmitted through a second gas which ozone is removed from the first gas; an adjustment section 178 that adjusts the amount of the light absorption component derived from vegetable with respect to the measurement light contained in the first gas and the second gas to the same amount; and an arithmetic section CL for calculating the ozone concentration on the basis of the results of the first and the second measurement sections for which the amount of the light absorption components is adjusted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an ozone measuring device, a vegetable sterilizing device, a vegetable sterilizing method, a cut vegetable manufacturing device, and a cut vegetable manufacturing method.

  As a conventional sterilizing method for cut vegetables, hypochlorite is generally used as a sterilizing agent, but a method of sterilizing with ozone water in consideration of damage to leafy vegetables has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses that a leaf-like vegetable in a hole state is cut, shredded, washed with fresh water, and then sterilized with ozone water.

JP 2006-333732 A

However, the following problems exist in the conventional technology as described above.
It is necessary to measure the ozone concentration with high accuracy so as not to cause the problem that the ozone concentration in the working environment becomes high. However, depending on the vegetable to be treated, the component derived from the vegetable may interfere with the ozone concentration measurement, and the ozone concentration in the working environment may not be accurately measured.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and is an ozone measuring apparatus, a vegetable sterilizing apparatus, a vegetable sterilizing method, a cut vegetable manufacturing apparatus, and a cut vegetable manufacturing capable of measuring ozone concentration in a work environment with high accuracy. It aims to provide a method.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an ozone measuring device for measuring ozone concentration in a working environment for sterilizing vegetables with a sterilizing solution containing ozone water, the light source device emitting measurement light, and the environment A first measurement unit that measures the amount of the measurement light that passes through the introduced first gas, and a second measurement unit that measures the amount of the measurement light that passes through the second gas obtained by removing ozone from the first gas. The first gas and the second gas, the adjustment unit for adjusting the amount of the light absorption component with respect to the measurement light derived from the vegetable to the same amount, and the amount of the light absorption component adjusted, An ozone measuring device is provided, comprising: an arithmetic unit that calculates a concentration of the ozone based on a measurement result of the measurement unit and a measurement result of the second measurement unit.

  Moreover, in the ozone measuring apparatus which concerns on the one aspect | mode of the said invention, the said adjustment part allows the said ozone contained in the said ozone contained in the said 1st gas, and the said 2nd gas to pass through, and the light-absorbing component derived from the said vegetable is used. It is characterized by being removed by adsorption.

  In the ozone measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the adjustment unit includes a molded body made of a silicone material.

Further, in the ozone measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the adjustment section includes a molded body made of a granular silicone material, a molded body made of a plate-like silicone material, and a molded body made of a tube-shaped silicone material. It is characterized by having at least one. A molded body made of a silicone material may be processed into a gas filter shape by combining a plurality of granular materials, a plate-shaped material may be processed into a porous shape, or a tube-shaped gas is put into the tube. You may make it pass.
When the molded body made of a silicone material is molded into a tube shape, the molded body made of a tubular silicone material can be used as a unit in a shape through which the first gas and the second gas pass.
By performing pretreatment such as immersion in an aqueous solution in which ozone is dissolved in advance, the molded product made of silicone material can be made less susceptible to the influence of substances that react with ozone such as plasticizer remaining in the silicone material. .

  Further, in the ozone measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, a first part that introduces the first gas, a first part that branches from the introduction part and that supplies the first gas to the first measurement part. A supply system; and a removal section that is provided to be branched from the introduction section and removes the ozone from the first gas introduced from the introduction section. The first gas from which the ozone has been removed is converted into the second gas. And a second supply system that supplies the second measurement unit, and the adjustment unit is disposed in the introduction unit.

  Further, in the ozone measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the molded body made of the silicone material is unitized and arranged detachably on the introduction portion.

  Further, in the ozone measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, connected to the shared measuring unit shared as the first measuring unit and the second measuring unit, the first supply system and the second supply system, And a switching unit that switches a gas supplied to the common measurement unit between the first gas and the second gas.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a sterilization unit for sterilizing cut vegetables with a sterilizing solution containing ozone water, and an ozone measurement apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention for measuring environmental ozone concentration around the sterilization unit, A vegetable sterilizer characterized by comprising:

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for primary sterilization of vegetables before cutting, an apparatus for removing foreign substances adhering to the primary sterilized vegetables, and the vegetables from which foreign substances have been removed have a predetermined size. There is provided a cut vegetable production apparatus comprising: a cutting device; and a vegetable sterilization device according to a second aspect of the present invention for secondarily sterilizing the cut vegetables.

  According to the 4th aspect of this invention, in the environment which sterilizes cut vegetables with the disinfection liquid containing ozone water, the process of measuring an ozone concentration using the ozone measuring device of a 1st aspect is included. A method for sterilizing vegetables is provided.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the step of primary sterilization of the vegetable before cutting, the step of removing foreign matter adhering to the primary sterilized vegetable, and the vegetable from which the foreign matter has been removed to a predetermined size There is provided a cut vegetable production method comprising a step of cutting and a step of secondary sterilization of the cut vegetables by the vegetable sterilization method of the fourth aspect.

  In the present invention, the ozone concentration in the work environment can be measured with high accuracy.

It is a figure which shows embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the vegetable sterilizer 1. FIG. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the vegetable sterilizer 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the circulation system of the sterilization liquid in the sterilization part. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the ozone measuring device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the ozone measuring apparatus, vegetable sterilizing apparatus, vegetable sterilizing method, cut vegetable manufacturing apparatus, and cut vegetable manufacturing method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The following embodiment shows one aspect of the present invention and does not limit the present invention, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Moreover, in the following drawings, in order to make each configuration easy to understand, the actual structure is different from the scale and number of each structure.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the vegetable sterilizer 1, and FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing a schematic configuration of the vegetable sterilizer 1. The vegetable sterilizer 1 includes an input table 100, two pre-cleaning units 110A and 110B, a sterilizing unit 120, two rinsing units 130A and 130B, a discharge unit 140, and an ozone measuring device 160.

  The loading table 100, the pre-cleaning units 110A and 110B, the sterilizing unit 120, the rinsing units 130A and 130B, and the discharging unit 140 are arranged in the processing order (upstream side (right side of the drawing in FIG. 1)) It is arranged linearly on the downstream side (the left side of the drawing in FIG. 1) at the discharge portion 140).

  The pre-cleaning units 110A and 110B are areas for pre-cleaning the vegetables V before being sterilized by the sterilizing unit 120. The sterilizing unit 120 is an area for sterilizing the vegetable V pre-cleaned by the pre-cleaning units 110A and 110B using microbubble ozone water. The rinsing units 130A and 130B are areas in which the vegetables V sterilized by the sterilizing unit 120 are rinsed to wash out ozone (ozone water).

  The pre-cleaning unit 110A removes foreign matter from the plurality of nozzles 112A that inject the pre-cleaning water, the storage unit 113A that stores the pre-cleaning water that has overflowed in the pre-cleaning unit 110A, and the pre-cleaning water that flows into the storage unit 113A. A filter 111A is provided. The prewash water circulates in the prewash unit 110A, and a part of the prewash water that has overflowed is stored in the reservoir 113A and then sprayed from the nozzle 112A and reused for prewashing the vegetables V. A portion of the prewash water that has overflowed is drained and water is replenished through the water supply pipe 76. The pre-cleaning unit 110A holds the vegetables V put in the pre-cleaning water while the pre-cleaning is being performed, and when the pre-cleaning process is completed, as shown in FIG. It has the bucket 4 which rotates around and throws the vegetable V into the downstream tank. In FIG. 2, the bucket 4 provided in the rinse part 130B is illustrated. The bucket 4 is formed of, for example, a stainless material having a plurality of through holes, and pre-wash water can be distributed. In addition, since the same thing is installed in the pre-cleaning part 110B, the sterilization part 120, and the rinse parts 130A and 130B, the bucket 4 abbreviate | omits description below.

  The pre-cleaning unit 110B removes foreign substances from the plurality of nozzles 112B that inject the pre-cleaning water, the storage unit 113B that stores the pre-cleaning water that has overflowed in the pre-cleaning unit 110B, and the pre-cleaning water that flows into the storage unit 113B. A filter 111B is provided. The prewash water is circulated in the prewash section 110B, and a part of the prewash water that has overflowed is stored in the storage section 113B and then sprayed from the nozzle 112B and reused for prewashing the vegetables V. A portion of the prewash water that has overflowed is drained and water is replenished through the water supply pipe 76.

  The rinsing unit 130A includes a plurality of nozzles 132A for injecting rinsing water, a storage unit 133A for storing rinsing water overflowed in the rinsing unit 130A, and a filter 131A for removing foreign matter from the rinsing water flowing into the storage unit 133A. Yes. Rinsing water circulates in the rinsing section 130A, and a part of the overflowing rinsing water is sprayed from the nozzle 132A after being stored in the storage section 133A and reused for rinsing the vegetables V. A portion of the rinse water that has overflowed is drained, and clean water is replenished by the water supply pipe 76.

  The rinsing unit 130B includes a plurality of nozzles 132B that inject rinsing water, a storage unit 133B that stores rinsing water that has overflowed in the rinsing unit 130B, and a filter 131B that removes foreign matter from the rinsing water that flows into the storage unit 133B. Yes. The rinsing water circulates in the rinsing section 130B, and a part of the overflowing rinsing water is sprayed from the nozzle 132B after being stored in the storage section 133B and reused for rinsing the vegetables V. A portion of the rinse water that has overflowed is drained, and clean water is replenished by the water supply pipe 76.

  The sterilization unit 120 includes a plurality of nozzles 122 that inject sterilization liquid, a storage unit 123 that stores the sterilization liquid overflowed by the sterilization unit 120, and a filter 121 that removes foreign substances from the sterilization liquid flowing into the storage unit 123. ing. As the sterilizing liquid, a liquid containing microbubble ozone water is used. The sterilizing liquid circulates in the sterilizing unit 120, and a part of the overflowed sterilizing liquid is sprayed from the nozzle 122 after being stored in the storage unit 123 and reused for sterilizing the vegetables V. A part of the overflowing sterilizing liquid is drained and water is replenished by the water supply pipe 76.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a sterilizing liquid circulation system in the sterilizing unit 120.
As shown in FIG. 3, the drainage pipe 11 and the liquid introduction pipe 12 are connected to the bottom of the sterilization tank 124 in the sterilization unit 120. The liquid guide pipe 12 is branched from the drain pipe 11. A pump 13 and an ejector 18 are connected to the liquid guide pipe 12. A branch pipe 17 is connected between the pump 13 and the ejector 18 in the liquid guide pipe 12. An ozone concentration sensor 14 is connected to the branch pipe 17. The ozone concentration sensor 14 measures the dissolved ozone concentration of the sterilizing liquid flowing through the branch pipe 17 and outputs the measurement result to the concentration adjusting unit 16. An ozone supply unit 15 is connected to the ejector 18. The concentration adjusting unit 16 adjusts the ozone supply by the ozone supplying unit 15 as described later according to the dissolved ozone concentration of the sterilizing solution measured by the ozone concentration sensor 14.

  The pump 13 sends a part of the sterilizing liquid drained from the drainage pipe 11 toward the sterilizing tank 124. The ozone concentration sensor 14 measures the dissolved ozone concentration in the sterilizing liquid sent to the sterilizing tank 124 and outputs the measured concentration to the concentration adjusting unit 16. The sterilizing liquid sent to the sterilizing tank 124 includes ozone dispersed as bubbles (microbubbles) in the sterilizing liquid in addition to ozone dissolved in the sterilizing liquid. The dissolved ozone concentration in the sterilizing solution can be measured using a polarographic dissolved ozone concentration meter as described later. In that case, for example, it is possible to take out a part of the liquid feeding tank 12 and take out a part of the liquid fed into the liquid feeding bowl 12 and guide it to the sensor unit of the dissolved ozone concentration meter.

  For example, the ozone supply unit 15 introduces an aqueous solution containing a chemical that assists the generation and dispersion of fine bubbles into the ozone gas generated by the ozone gas generator via the ejector 18, and guides it as a mixed phase flow of ozone gas and the aqueous solution. Supply to the liquid pipe 12. Supply of ozone gas and medicine by the ozone supply unit 15 is adjusted by the concentration adjustment unit 16. The concentration adjustment unit 16 adjusts the operation of the ozone supply unit 15 so that the dissolved ozone concentration in the sterilizing solution measured by the ozone concentration sensor 14 is within a predetermined range. Specifically, the concentration adjusting unit 16 adjusts the operation of the ozone supply unit 15 so that the dissolved ozone concentration of the sterilizing liquid is 0.1 mg / L or more and 0.5 mg / L or less. The concentration adjustment unit 16 switches the operation of the ozone gas generator on or off as the operation adjustment of the ozone supply unit 15. Microbubble ozone water in which ozone gas is dissolved and dispersed in water as fine bubbles (microbubbles) by supplying ozone gas and chemicals to the sterilization tank 124 through the liquid introduction pipe 12 by the operation of the ozone supply unit 15. Can be supplied to the sterilization liquid in the sterilization tank 124. Moreover, by installing the liquid introduction tank 12 at the bottom of the sterilization tank 124, leakage of ozone into the work environment can be further prevented, and the ozone concentration in the work environment can be suppressed.

As the drug, a surfactant can be used, and for example, triacetin, fatty acid glycerin (for example, polysorbate, monocaprylylline) and the like can be preferably used.
Microbubbles are fine bubbles having a bubble diameter of 10 to 200 μm, and microbubble water refers to water in which microbubbles are dispersed in water.
The microbubble ozone water refers to water in which ozone gas containing about 2 to 40 g / Nm ^{3 of} ozone in oxygen or air is dispersed in water as microbubbles. In microbubble ozone water, ozone gas is partly dissolved in water and partly dispersed as microbubbles.

  The discharge unit 140 includes a container 141, from which the vegetables V that have been sterilized and washed (rinsing process) are collected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the ozone measuring device 160.
The ozone measurement device 160 includes a sample gas introduction pipe (introduction unit) 161, a filter unit 162, an exhaust unit 163, a measurement cell (common measurement unit) 171, a light source device 172, a light receiving unit 173, an ozone decomposer 174, a switching unit 175, It has a tube unit 176, a first supply system 181, a second supply system 182 and a calculation unit CL.

  The sample gas introduction pipe 161 has an introduction port 161A. As an example, the introduction port 161 </ b> A is locally provided above the filter 121 in the sterilization unit 120, that is, above the inlet to the storage unit 123. The position of the introduction port 161 </ b> A is not limited to the sterilization unit 120, and may be, for example, the vicinity of the loading table 100 on which an operator works. The sample gas around the sterilization unit 120 is introduced from the inlet 161A as the first gas. The filter unit 162 is provided in the middle of the sample gas introduction pipe 161. The filter unit 162 captures and removes dust introduced together with the first gas through the sample gas introduction pipe 161.

  The exhaust unit 163 includes an ozonolysis device (removal unit) 165 and a pump 166 housed inside the housing 164. The ozonolysis device 165 and the pump 166 are sequentially provided in an exhaust pipe 167 that discharges gas to the outside of the housing 164.

  The ozonolysis device 165 decomposes and removes ozone contained in the gas after the ozone concentration measurement. The pump 166 discharges the first gas introduced from the introduction port 161 </ b> A to the outside of the housing 164 by sucking the exhaust pipe 167 with negative pressure.

  The first supply system 181 supplies the first gas introduced into the sample gas introduction pipe 161 to the measurement cell 171. The first supply system 181 includes a branch pipe 191 that branches from the sample gas introduction pipe 161 inside the housing 164 and is connected to the switching section 175, and a connection pipe 192 that connects the switching section 175 and the measurement cell 171.

  The second supply system 182 includes a branch pipe 193 branched from the sample gas introduction pipe 161 inside the housing 164 and connected to the switching unit 175, and the connection pipe 192. The connection pipe 192 is shared by the first supply system 181 and the second supply system 182. In the middle of the branch pipe 192, an ozonolysis device 174 is provided. The ozonolysis device 174 generates a second gas obtained by decomposing and removing ozone from the first gas introduced through the sample gas introduction pipe 161. The second supply system 182 supplies a second gas obtained by removing ozone from the first gas introduced into the sample gas introduction pipe 161 to the measurement cell 171.

  The switching unit 175 supplies the gas supplied to the common measuring unit via the first supply system 181 (branch pipe 191) under the control of the calculation unit CL, and the second supply system 182 (branch pipe). 193) to switch between the second gas introduced. As an example, the switching unit 175 is configured by a three-way solenoid valve.

  The first gas or the second gas switched by the switching unit 175 is supplied to the measurement cell 171. Measurement light emitted from the light source device 172 enters the measurement cell 171. As an example, the measurement light emitted from the light source device 172 is ultraviolet light (ultraviolet light) having a wavelength of 253.7 nm. The measurement light incident on the measurement cell 171 passes through the measurement cell 171 and is received by the light receiving unit 173. The light receiving unit 173 outputs the amount of received measurement light to the calculation unit CL.

  When the first gas is supplied to the measurement cell 171 via the first supply system 181, the measurement cell 171 functions as a first measurement unit to measure the amount of measurement light transmitted through the first gas. Further, when the second gas is supplied to the measurement cell 171 via the second supply system 182, the amount of measurement light transmitted through the second gas is measured as the second measurement unit. That is, the measurement cell 171 includes a first measurement unit for measuring the amount of light transmitted through the first gas supplied via the first supply system 181 and the second gas supplied via the second supply system 182. It is a common measurement part shared as a 2nd measurement part for measuring the light quantity which permeate | transmits.

  The calculation unit CL controls the switching of the first gas or the second gas supplied to the measurement cell 171 via the switching unit 175, and calculates the ozone concentration in the first gas based on the light reception result of the light receiving unit 173. To do. More specifically, ozone absorbs ultraviolet light that is measurement light. The amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by ozone varies according to the ozone concentration. Accordingly, the ozone concentration in the first gas is calculated according to Lambert-Beer's law based on the amount of measurement light that has passed through the first gas containing ozone and the amount of measurement light that has not passed through the first gas containing ozone. Is done.

Specifically, the ozone concentration C is calculated by the following equation (1).
C = (A / (a × T)) × Log (Io / Ix) (1)
In Equation (1), a: ozone absorption coefficient, T: optical path length (optical path length of measurement light in the measurement cell 171), Io: ultraviolet incident light amount, Ix: ultraviolet transmitted light amount, and A: constant. The ultraviolet ray incident light amount Io is measured by the light receiving unit 173 as the light amount of the measurement light transmitted through the second gas from which ozone is removed from the first gas by the ozonolysis device 174. The amount of transmitted ultraviolet light Ix is measured by the light receiving unit 173 as the amount of measurement light transmitted through the first gas supplied through the first supply system 181.

  If the ultraviolet light absorption component contained in the first gas and the second gas is only ozone, the ozone concentration of the first gas is calculated by the equation (1). Further, even when an ultraviolet light absorption component other than ozone is contained in the first gas, if the second gas also contains an ultraviolet light absorption component other than ozone, Io / Ix in the formula (1) This term cancels the influence of ultraviolet light absorption components other than ozone.

  However, the first gas contains a vegetable-derived ultraviolet light-absorbing component (measurement light-absorbing component) as an ultraviolet light-absorbing component other than ozone, and the ozone decomposer 174 uses the second gas to produce a vegetable-derived ultraviolet light-absorbing component. Is removed, the influence of the vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption component is not offset, and the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by the vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption component is added as the amount of light absorbed by ozone, resulting in ozone measurement accuracy. It becomes an error factor.

  Therefore, in the vegetable sterilizer 1 of this embodiment, the adjustment part which adjusts the quantity of the ultraviolet light absorption component derived from the vegetable contained in 1st gas and 2nd gas to the same quantity is provided. Specifically, the adjustment unit 176 arranged in the sample gas introduction pipe 161 upstream of the filter unit 162 sets the amount of the ultraviolet light absorbing component derived from vegetables contained in the first gas and the second gas to the same amount. Provided to adjust.

  As a result of diligent efforts, the inventors according to the present application include a vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorbing component in the first gas when sterilizing onions, long onions, etc., and the vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorbing component is an ozonolysis device. It was found that it was decomposed and removed by 174, that the molded body made of silicone material allowed ozone to pass through, and selectively adsorbed the vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorbing component to remove it from the first gas.

  Therefore, as for the vegetable sterilizer 1 of this embodiment, the tube unit 176 including the molded body made of the tube-shaped silicone material is derived from the vegetable contained in the first gas and the second gas as the molded body made of the silicone material. It is provided as an adjustment unit for adjusting the amount of the ultraviolet light absorbing component to the same amount.

  The tube unit 176 has a silicone tube 178 housed inside the housing 177. The silicone tube 178 is housed in the housing 177 in a wound state. The tube unit 176 is detachably provided on the sample gas introduction pipe 161 through a pipe joint or the like. When the tube unit 176 is attached to the sample gas introduction pipe 161, the silicone tube 178 is connected to the pipe 161. The first gas introduced into the exhaust pipe through the introduction port 161A is supplied to the first supply system 181 and the second supply system 182 through the silicone tube 178 and the filter unit 162 in order.

  Since the vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorbing component contained in the first gas is adsorbed when passing through the silicone tube 178, the first gas supplied via the first supply system 181 and the second supply system The second gas supplied via 182 and from which ozone has been removed by the ozonolysis device 174 does not contain any vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption component and is adjusted to the same amount (zero).

  Next, a method for cleaning and sterilizing the vegetables V using the vegetable sterilizer 1 having the above-described configuration will be described. For example, the vegetables V cut to the eating size are put into the bucket 4 in the pre-cleaning unit 110A from the loading table 100. In the pre-cleaning unit 110A, the pre-clean water in the bucket 4 can be fluidized with a large fluid force by the pre-clean water sprayed from the spray nozzle 112A, and the vegetables V can be stirred with a large stirring force.

  After the vegetable V that has been pre-cleaned for a predetermined time in the pre-cleaning unit 110A is put into the pre-cleaning unit 110B by the rotation of the bucket 4 and pre-cleaning for a predetermined time is performed in the same manner as the pre-cleaning unit 110A, The sterilization unit 120 is charged. The amount and time of pre-cleaning water when pre-cleaning is performed in the pre-cleaning units 110A and 110B are as follows. The vegetable V introduced into the sterilization unit 120 after completion of the pre-cleaning process is “vegetable COD (vegetable cleaning degree COD ) "Is set based on the COD (chemical oxygen demand) measured. If the pre-cleaning is not sufficient, the amount of organic matter such as lye that exudes from the vegetable V put into the sterilization unit 120 increases, and the “vegetable COD” increases. In this case, ozone contained in the sterilizing liquid is consumed in the reaction with organic substances such as lye so that the predetermined dissolved ozone concentration cannot be satisfied and the vegetables V cannot be sufficiently sterilized. In particular, when the vegetable V is continuously charged, sterilized, and discharged in one sterilization tank as in the present embodiment, organic substances such as lye are accumulated in the sterilization liquid in the sterilization tank. It is necessary to increase the replenishment amount of drinking water and replace a part of the sterilizing liquid, or temporarily stop the sterilizing process and replace the sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing tank. This causes waste of chemicals and sterilizing solutions that supplement the generation and dispersion of microbubble ozone introduced into the inside. Therefore, the amount and time of the pre-cleaning water when the pre-cleaning is performed in the pre-cleaning units 110A and 110B can be determined according to the “vegetable COD” of the vegetable V after the pre-cleaning process is finished, but the lower it is, Preferably, it is preferably set to 300 mg / L or less, and more preferably 100 mg / L or less when sterilizing continuously.

In the sterilizing unit 120, the vegetables V are sterilized with a sterilizing liquid containing microbubble ozone water. At the time of sterilization of the vegetables V, ozone contained in the sterilization liquid is consumed by reaction with organic substances such as fungi and lye from the vegetables, and the dissolved ozone concentration decreases. The concentration adjusting unit 16 has an upper limit (for example, 0.4 mg / L) and a lower limit (for example, 0) corresponding to a dissolved ozone concentration of 0.1 mg / L or more and 0.5 mg / L or less to be maintained in the sterilizing solution. .2 mg / L). Then, when the dissolved ozone concentration measured by the ozone concentration sensor 14 falls below the lower limit value, the concentration adjusting unit 16 turns on the operation of the ozone gas generator and supplies microbubble ozone water to the sterilization tank 124. On the other hand, when the dissolved ozone concentration measured by the ozone concentration sensor 14 exceeds the upper limit value, the concentration adjusting unit 16 turns off the operation of the ozone gas generator and stops the supply of the microbubble ozone water to the sterilization tank 124. In this way, the concentration adjusting unit 16 adjusts the operation of the ozone supply unit 15 according to the dissolved ozone concentration measured by the ozone concentration sensor 14, thereby setting the dissolved ozone concentration of the sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing unit 120 to a predetermined range (0). .1 mg / L or more and 0.5 mg / L or less).
When sterilization is repeated in one sterilization tank, organic matter such as lye accumulates and reacts with ozone to be consumed to consume ozone. Therefore, it may be difficult to keep the dissolved ozone concentration within the predetermined range. Therefore, the COD of the sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing tank is preferably low, and is appropriately determined according to the purpose. However, in order to stably maintain the dissolved ozone concentration, the COD of the sterilizing liquid is preferably 100 mg / L or less. .

  In the sterilizing unit 120, the sterilized vegetables V are sequentially put into the rinsing units 130A and 130B, respectively, and after sterilizing with a sterilizing solution by rinsing water to be cleaned, they are transported to the discharging unit 140. The

  During the sterilization process for the vegetables V, the first gas around the sterilization unit 120 is introduced into the sample gas introduction pipe 161 from the inlet 161A. The first gas introduced into the sample gas introduction pipe 161 containing ozone and vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption components produced by the sterilization treatment has a vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption component when passing through the silicone tube 178 in the tube unit 17. It is adsorbed and removed, and dust is captured and removed by passing through the filter unit 162. Ozone contained in the first gas passes through the silicone tube 178 and the filter unit 162 without being removed.

  The first gas that has passed through the filter unit 162 is introduced into the branch pipe 191 of the first supply system 181 or the branch pipe 193 of the second supply system 182 according to the setting of the switching unit 175. Since the ozone concentration measurement using the above-described equation (1) is performed using both the amount of ultraviolet light transmitted through the first gas and the amount of ultraviolet light transmitted through the second gas, the measurement cell by the switching unit 175 is used. Switching between the measurement of the amount of ultraviolet light transmitted through the first gas supplied to 171 and the measurement of the amount of ultraviolet light transmitted through the supplied second gas is preferably performed every time the ozone concentration is measured. However, the order of performing the light amount measurement of the ultraviolet light transmitted through the first gas and the light amount measurement of the ultraviolet light transmitted through the second gas may be first.

  For example, first, when the first gas that has passed through the filter unit 162 by the switching of the switching unit 175 is supplied to the measurement cell 171 by the first supply system 181, the first gas that does not contain vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption components and contains ozone. The amount of ultraviolet light Ix that passes through the gas is measured. Subsequently, when the first gas that has passed through the filter unit 162 by the switching of the switching unit 175 is introduced into the second supply system 182, ozone contained in the first gas is decomposed and removed by the ozone decomposer 174, and ozone and A second gas that does not contain vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption components is supplied to the measurement cell 171, and the amount of ultraviolet light Io that passes through the second gas that does not contain ozone and vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption components is measured. Then, the ozone concentration in the work environment is measured using the measured light quantity Ix, light quantity Io, and equation (1).

  As described above, in the vegetable sterilization method using the vegetable sterilization apparatus 1 and the ozone measurement apparatus 160 according to the present embodiment, the ultraviolet light transmitted light amount is removed by removing the ultraviolet light absorption component through the silicone tube 178 that is the adjustment unit. It is possible to adjust the amount of the ultraviolet light absorbing component in the first gas and the second gas to measure the same. Therefore, in the vegetable sterilization method using the vegetable sterilization apparatus 1 and the ozone measurement apparatus 160 of this embodiment, even when sterilizing vegetables containing ultraviolet light-absorbing components derived from vegetables, the working environment ozone concentration is measured with high accuracy. It becomes possible.

  Moreover, in the vegetable sterilization method using the vegetable sterilization apparatus 1 and the ozone measurement apparatus 160 of the present embodiment, the gas for measuring the amount of transmitted ultraviolet light supplied to the measurement cell 171 is switched using the switching unit 175. There is no need to separately provide a measurement cell for measuring the amount of UV transmitted light for one gas and a measurement cell for measuring the amount of transmitted UV light for the second gas, which can contribute to downsizing and cost reduction of the apparatus.

  Moreover, in the vegetable sterilization method using the vegetable sterilizer 1 and the ozone measuring device 160 according to the present embodiment, the silicone tube 178 is wound and stored in the casing 177, so that the small installation space has a long distance. One gas can be passed, and a small tube unit 176 capable of effectively removing vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorbing components can be obtained. Moreover, in the vegetable sterilization method using the vegetable sterilization apparatus 1 and the ozone measurement apparatus 160 of the present embodiment, since the tube unit 176 is detachably provided on the sample gas introduction pipe 161, the silicone tube 178 is aged. Can also be easily replaced.

  Moreover, in the vegetable sterilization method using the vegetable sterilization apparatus 1 and the ozone measurement apparatus 160 of the present embodiment, the tube unit 176 is disposed on the upstream side of the filter unit 162, and therefore, for example, the downstream side of the filter unit 162. It is possible to easily add the tube unit 176 to an existing apparatus in which the above devices are integrated without significant modification. Note that the tube unit 176 may be arranged on the downstream side of the filter unit 162 in the case where the installation of the tube unit 176 is not hindered.

(Vegetable sterilization test method using microbubble ozone)
(1) Pre-washing Each part was washed for 90 seconds in the pre-washing part of 2 tanks using the apparatus and conditions shown in Table 1 (namely, washing twice in total).
(2) Ozone sterilization The pre-washed vegetables were sterilized with microbubble ozone water for 90 seconds. Sterilization was performed under the conditions shown in Table 1. Ozone gas was introduced from an ejector into an aqueous solution containing 0.05% by weight of a surfactant. The ozone gas source gas to be introduced was oxygen gas in an oxygen cylinder. Ozone gas is generated with an ozone generator (OZSD-3000A manufactured by Sugawara Jitsugyo), and the flow rate of oxygen gas containing ozone gas with an ozone gas concentration of 10-21.4 g / Nm ³ is measured with an ozone gas monitor (EG-600 manufactured by Ebara Jitsugyo) 0.4- 4 L / min was measured with a mass flow controller (MODEL 8500 manufactured by Cofrock).

(Experimental Examples 1-4)
A microbubble ozone sterilization test of cut vegetables was performed according to the specifications in Table 1, and the amount of ozone in the working environment was measured. As shown in Table 2, in Experimental Example 1 and Experimental Example 2, the target processed product was an onion. In Experimental Example 3 and Experimental Example 4, the target processed material was shredded cabbage.
(Measurement method of ozone concentration in work environment)
(Measurement location, measurement method)
The measurement of the working environment ozone concentration was performed using an ultraviolet absorption ozone gas monitor (EG-700 manufactured by Sugawara Jigyo) including the ozone measuring device 160 described above. The measurement position was 40 cm above the surface of the sterilization tank. In Experiments 1 to 4, the set dissolved ozone concentration was set to 0.1 to 0.3 mg / L. In Experimental Example 2 and Experiment 4, the tube material of the adjustment unit was silicone (using silicone tube 178). As the silicone tube, a Tigers polymer silicone tube (product number: SR1554) was used (inner diameter 5 mm, outer diameter 9 mm, length 8 m). In Experimental Example 1 and Experiment 3, the tube material of the adjustment unit was Teflon (registered trademark).

  From the results in Table 2, when shredded cabbage that does not have a UV-absorbing component derived from vegetables is sterilized, the ozone concentration in the working environment is 0.1 ppm or less, which is the guideline of the Japan Society for Occupational Health, regardless of the tube material. It was. Further, when an onion having an ultraviolet light absorbing component derived from vegetables was processed and the tube material was Teflon (registered trademark), an ozone concentration exceeding the guidelines of the Japan Society for Occupational Health was measured. On the other hand, even when an onion having an ultraviolet light absorbing component derived from vegetables was processed, if the tube material was silicone, an ozone concentration satisfying the guidelines of the Japan Society for Occupational Health was measured as in the case of processing shredded cabbage. . Thereby, even when the vegetable which has an ultraviolet light absorption component was sterilized, it has confirmed that an accurate ozone concentration was measurable by using a silicone tube.

[Cut vegetable manufacturing method]
Although said embodiment demonstrated using the example which performs washing | cleaning and disinfection processing to the vegetable previously cut by predetermined size (for example, eating size), the cut vegetable manufacturing apparatus and cut vegetable manufacture including the cutting of vegetables are carried out. The present invention can also be applied to a method. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the pre-cleaning process, the sterilizing process, and the rinsing process are continuously performed using the continuous vegetable sterilizer having the same number of pre-cleaning parts and rinsing processes as the pre-cleaning process and the rinsing process. In addition to the configuration for performing the treatment, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration using a batch-type vegetable sterilizer that performs pre-cleaning processing, sterilization processing, and rinsing processing in a single tank.

  As an example, the cut vegetable production method for onions includes a pre-sterilization process, pre-cut process, foreign matter removal process, eating size cut process, pre-cleaning process, ozone sterilization process, and rinsing process for whole vegetables.

  In the pre-sterilization process for whole vegetables, the onion from which the skin has been removed is sterilized by immersing it in a 200 ppm aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution stored in a pre-sterilization tank.

  In a precut process, an onion is taken out from a pre-sterilization tank, and a half cut or a 1/4 cut is carried out.

  In the foreign matter removing step, the onion that has been half-cut or quarter-cut is put into a foreign matter removing and washing machine to remove foreign matters (insects, dust, etc.).

  In the eating size cutting process, a slicer is used to cut the onion into eating size (chopped).

  When using a continuous vegetable sterilizer in the pre-cleaning process, for example, a 5 tank type ground raccoon made by Hosoda Industry, use the 1st and 2nd tanks to perform pre-cleaning while adding makeup water to remove vegetable lye . When a batch type vegetable sterilizer is used in the preliminary washing step, washing is performed while adding makeup water to remove lye. This operation is performed twice more with the water exchanged.

  When a continuous vegetable sterilizer is used in the ozone sterilization step, a chemical is added so that the chemical concentration of the cleaning liquid becomes constant while adding makeup water to the third tank, and ozone gas is blown into the cleaning liquid. When a batch-type vegetable sterilizer is used in the ozone sterilization step, after three times of preliminary cleaning, water is changed, a chemical is added by the fourth cleaning, and ozone gas is blown into the cleaning liquid. The sterilization process using the microbubble ozone water described above can be applied when using any of the continuous vegetable sterilizer or the batch vegetable sterilizer.

When a continuous vegetable sterilizer is used in the rinsing process, rinsing is performed while adding makeup water in the fourth and fifth tanks. When a batch type vegetable sterilizer is used in the rinsing process, after the fourth ozone sterilization, water is exchanged and rinsing is performed while adding makeup water.
By going through these steps in sequence, we produce cut vegetables that are fully sterilized while measuring the ozone concentration in the work environment with high accuracy and suppressing the ozone concentration from the whole vegetable before cutting. It becomes possible to do.

  As described above, the preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the examples. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described examples are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the said embodiment, as an adjustment part which adjusts the quantity of the vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption component contained in 1st gas and 2nd gas to the same amount, by adsorbing and removing the vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorption component Although the structure which provides the silicone tube 178 which makes the quantity of the ultraviolet-light absorption component derived from vegetables contained in 1st gas and 2nd gas the same quantity (zero) was illustrated, it is not limited to this structure. For example, it is good also as a structure which provides in the branch pipe 193 as an adjustment part the ozone decomposer which passes through without removing ozone-decomposing component derived from vegetable while removing ozone. In this configuration, both the first gas and the second gas contain a vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorbing component, and therefore, in the calculation of the ozone concentration using the above equation (1), the influence of the vegetable-derived ultraviolet light absorbing component. Is canceled out, making it possible to measure ozone concentration with high accuracy.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the same measurement cell 171 illustrated the structure which measures the light quantity of the ultraviolet light which permeate | transmits 1st gas, and the light quantity of the ultraviolet light which permeate | transmits 2nd gas, it permeate | transmits 1st gas. The 1st measurement part which measures the light quantity of the ultraviolet light to perform, and the structure which each provides the 2nd measurement part which measures the light quantity of the ultraviolet light which permeate | transmits 2nd gas may be sufficient.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the silicone tube 178 which consists of a tube-shaped silicone material was illustrated as a molded object consisting of a silicone material, it is not limited to this structure, For example, the molded object consisting of a granular silicone material is used as a gas filter. The structure provided in a shape may be sufficient, and the structure provided in plate shape may be sufficient. Even in these cases, it is possible to unitize the particles and plates made of silicone material and to be detachably provided on the sample gas introduction pipe 161, so that even if the particles and plates made of silicone material deteriorate, they can be easily replaced. This is preferable. Moreover, the structure which provides both a silicone tube and a silicone granule, or both a silicone tube and a silicone board | plate body may be sufficient.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the vegetable sterilizer 1 provided with the ozone measuring device 160 illustrates the structure provided with two pre-cleaning parts 110A and 110B, the sterilization part 120, the two rinse parts 130A and 130B, and the discharge part 140. However, the vegetable sterilizer 1 is not limited to this configuration. The vegetable sterilizer 1 may have other configurations as long as it includes a sterilizing unit that sterilizes vegetables with a sterilizing solution containing at least ozone water.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although an onion was illustrated as a vegetable of a process target, in addition to this, it is widely applicable to vegetables which have ultraviolet light absorption components (measurement light absorption component) derived from vegetables, such as a long onion.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vegetable sterilizer, 14 ... Ozone concentration sensor, 15 ... Ozone supply part, 16 ... Concentration adjustment part, 110A, 110B ... Pre-cleaning part, 120 ... Sterilization part, 160 ... Ozone measuring device (measuring device), 161 ... Sample Gas introduction pipe (introduction part), 165 ... Ozone decomposer (removal part), 171 ... Measurement cell (common measurement part, first measurement part, second measurement part), 176 ... Tube unit (adjustment part), 178 ... Silicone Tube, V ... Vegetable

Claims (11)

An ozone measuring device that measures the ozone concentration in the environment for sterilizing vegetables with a sterilizing solution containing ozone water,
A light source device for emitting measurement light;
A first measurement unit that measures the amount of the measurement light that passes through the first gas introduced from the environment;
A second measurement unit that measures the amount of the measurement light that passes through the second gas obtained by removing ozone from the first gas;
An adjustment unit that adjusts the amount of the light-absorbing component for the measurement light derived from the vegetables contained in the first gas and the second gas to the same amount;
An ozone measurement comprising: an arithmetic unit that calculates a concentration of the ozone based on a measurement result of the first measurement unit and a measurement result of the second measurement unit, wherein the amount of the light absorption component is adjusted apparatus.   The said adjustment part makes the said ozone contained in the said ozone contained in the said 1st gas, and the said 2nd gas pass, and adsorb | sucks and removes the light absorption component derived from the said vegetable. Ozone measuring device.   The ozone measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment unit includes a molded body made of a silicone material.   The said adjustment part has at least one among the molded object which consists of a granular silicone material, the molded object which consists of a plate-shaped silicone material, and the molded object which consists of a tube-shaped silicone material. The ozone measuring device described. An introduction part for introducing the first gas;
A first supply system that is branched from the introduction unit and supplies the first gas to the first measurement unit;
The second gas is provided as a second gas that has a removal portion that is provided by branching from the introduction portion and removes the ozone from the first gas introduced from the introduction portion. A second supply system for supplying to the measurement unit,
The ozone measuring device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the adjustment unit is arranged in the introduction unit.   The ozone measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the molded body made of the silicone material is unitized and detachably disposed on the introduction portion. A common measurement unit shared as the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit;
A switching unit connected to the first supply system and the second supply system and switching a gas supplied to the common measurement unit between the first gas and the second gas. The ozone measuring apparatus according to 5 or 6. A sterilization section for sterilizing cut vegetables with a sterilizing solution containing ozone water;
A vegetable sterilizer comprising: the ozone measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 that measures an environmental ozone concentration around the sterilizing unit. A device for primary sterilization of vegetables before cutting;
A device for removing foreign substances adhering to the primary sterilized vegetables;
An apparatus for cutting the vegetable from which the foreign matter has been removed into a predetermined size;
The vegetable sterilizer of Claim 8 which carries out the secondary sterilization of the cut said vegetable, The cut vegetable manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   A vegetable sterilization method comprising a step of measuring ozone concentration using the ozone measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in an environment in which cut vegetables are sterilized with a sterilizing solution containing ozone water. . A process of primary sterilization of vegetables before cutting;
Removing foreign matter adhering to the primary sterilized vegetables;
Cutting the vegetable from which the foreign matter has been removed into a predetermined size;
A method for producing cut vegetables, comprising a step of secondary sterilization of the cut vegetables by the vegetable sterilization method according to claim 10.

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