JP3242147B2 - Membrane module - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a novel membrane module using a hollow fiber membrane or a flat membrane. In particular, it is effectively used in applications requiring sterility, such as a surgical hand washing system, a pyrogen-free water production line, and an ultrapure water production line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, separation membrane modules have been used for producing aseptic water, drinking water, ultrapure water, and the like. Since microbial contamination always occurs on the secondary side when the module is replaced, sterilization of the connection part and the secondary pipe after replacement has been indispensable in applications of aseptic water production and ultrapure water production.

As the sterilizing method, use of a sterilizing agent, heating of hot water or steam, UV irradiation, ozone treatment and the like have been performed. The main disinfectants are formalin, hydrogen peroxide,
Sodium hypochlorite, acid, alkali, alcohol and the like are used. Although heating, UV irradiation, ozone treatment and the like are very effective sterilization methods, there are many systems that cannot be used depending on the materials of modules and pipes, and have drawbacks such as requiring a large amount of capital investment.

[0004]

In the case of disinfection with a disinfectant, after the module is mounted, a predetermined concentration liquid of the disinfectant is filled and sterilization is performed. It is dangerous to handle undiluted solution. Also, the operation of injecting into the line itself is complicated and dangerous. An object of the present invention is to provide a membrane module that can perform a safe and simple chemical solution sterilization method when a membrane module is attached.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention is to provide a housing.
Is divided into primary and secondary sides by multiple filtration membranes
In a liquid filtration membrane module shipped in a dry state, the filtration membranes on the primary side of the housing are connected to each other.
A disinfectant having a solid form dissolvable with the filtered liquid is pre-existed in the gap or the gap between the housing and the filtration membrane in a dispersed state, and the disinfectant dissolves at the start of filtration, and the module and the secondary It is a membrane module in which the side piping is sterilized.

Hereinafter, the membrane module of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the membrane module of the present invention. The membrane module of the present invention basically includes a housing 1, a fixing member 2, a separation membrane 3, and a germicide 4.

The housing 1 may be a housing used for an ordinary membrane module, and may be an integral type or an internal membrane exchange type. The material is not particularly limited, including metal and resin, but it is necessary that the material be resistant to the germicide 4. The fixing member 2 may be one that is used for a normal membrane module.

The separation membrane 3 may be a hollow fiber membrane or a flat membrane as long as it is a general one such as a pore diameter, a porosity, a film thickness and a material. However, in the case where the sterility of the filtrate is required, it is naturally necessary to use a separation membrane having a pore size of 0.2 μm or less.

The disinfectant 4 is easily dissolved in a filtered liquid (mainly water), hardly deteriorates after a certain period of time, and comes in contact with the hollow fiber membrane, flat membrane or housing material in a dry state. Anything that does not change will do.

The following are examples of the fungicide or its application method. Water-soluble hypochlorous acid powders, granules, tablets such as calcium hypochlorite, cyanuric acid, etc. Examples of the method include a method in which a liquid is sealed in microporous ceramic microballs, solidified, and then gradually dissolved from a microporous portion by wetting with water, and a method of impregnating with porous polyurethane is considered. A method in which an oil-based bactericide is microencapsulated with a water-soluble polymer, and the film dissolves by contact with water to make the bactericide effective.

When a liquid flows in from the inlet of the module shown in FIG. 1 and comes into contact with the disinfectant 4, the disinfectant dissolves or releases to exhibit a disinfecting effect. At that time, the disinfectant disinfects not only the primary side of the module but also the secondary side including the connection part through the porous membrane. Therefore, the problem of bacterial contamination at the time of module replacement can be solved.

[0012]

The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples.

Example 1 Calcium hypochlorite was formed into granules having a diameter of 0.3 to 3 mm and dispersed on the primary side of a hollow fiber membrane module having a membrane area of 3 m ² and a pore size of 0.1 μ as shown in FIG. . The internal volume of the module is about 1200 ml, and the mixing amount of the above granules is 0.1
2 g. When the whole amount of calcium hypochlorite granules is dissolved by the water entering the module at the start of filtration, the concentration becomes about 100 ppm. Since the granules are dissolved in 1 to 10 minutes after contact with water, water is supplied after pipe connection, and when about 300 ml of water is discharged from the secondary outlet, the supply of water is stopped and the granules are left for 3 hours. After standing, 20 l of water was passed for washing the germicide, the last 1 l was sampled, and the number of bacteria in it was measured. The result is 0.00c
fu / ml, and no viable bacteria were detected in 1 l.

Comparative Example 1 A water-flow experiment similar to that of Example 1 was performed on a module containing no germicide granules. The final 1 l was sampled and the number of bacteria therein was measured. The result was 0.01 cfu /
ml and 10 viable bacteria per liter were detected.

[0015]

The use of the membrane module of the present invention makes it possible to mount the module, which has been complicated so far.
The sterilization operation after replacement can be performed easily and safely.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a membrane module of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Resin fixing part 3 Hollow fiber membrane 4 Disinfectant 5 Inlet 6 Outlet

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-293029 (JP, A) JP-A-2-117089 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B01D 67/00-71/82 510 C02F 1/44

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] (1) The interior of the housing is formed by a plurality of filtration membranes.
In a liquid filtration membrane module that is partitioned into a secondary side and a secondary side and shipped in a dry state, one of the housings
The gap between the filtration membranes on the next side or the housing and the filter
In the gap between the membrane and the membrane, a disinfectant having a solid shape that dissolves in the filtered liquid is previously present in a dispersed state, so that the disinfectant dissolves at the start of filtration and the module and the secondary pipe are sterilized. Membrane module.