JP3467107B2 - Antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric and product thereof - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane for a filter, which is used alone or in combination with activated carbon or the like as a filtering material in the purification of water by a water purifier or the like. More specifically, the hollow fiber membrane is used. The present invention relates to an antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric in which a yarn having an antibacterial property is used as a part of the constituent yarns of the hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric composed of the woven or knitted fabric or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, water purification equipment such as a tap water direct connection type water purifier has been rapidly spreading due to the demand for delicious water in addition to raising health awareness.

The filter section of these water purifiers is composed of a combination of activated carbon and a porous hollow fiber membrane, and the activated carbon adsorbs and removes residual chlorine dissolved in tap water and other odorous components and organic substances. The porous hollow fiber membrane filters iron rust and colloidal components present in water, bacteria that are difficult to remove only by chlorine sterilization, and has no mold odor or chlorine odor. You are getting delicious clean water.

[0004] In this case, since the sterilizing chlorine component put into tap water is adsorbed and removed by the activated carbon layer, conversely there is a possibility that various bacteria may propagate in the filtration section itself. For this,
Silver-coated activated carbon is added to the activated carbon layer, and antibacterial materials are installed in the running water channel.

Further, although the hollow fiber membranes are used for water purification in industrial applications, they are not drinking water, so that the hollow fiber membranes are often used alone. When the substance to be filtered is deposited on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane, a function recovery treatment such as back washing is performed to remove the deposited deposit before use.

[0006]

In the case of a water purifier for drinking water, when antibacterial property is imparted to the activated carbon layer by silver-coated activated carbon or the like, considerable bacteria are removed here and remain without being removed. A small amount of miscellaneous bacteria reaches the hollow fiber membrane,
It is captured by the fine pores of the hollow fiber membrane, and the purpose is achieved for the time being. However, miscellaneous bacteria captured by the hollow fiber membrane may be accumulated with the passage of time, and may be proliferated by using organic matter in tap water as a nutrient source. And when the accumulation and growth of such bacteria progresses on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane,
May cause odor or clogging.

In a water purifier for industrial use, various function recovery treatment means such as bubbling have been proposed and implemented in order to prevent clogging, etc., but when sewage is targeted, fungi such as mildew adhere to it. The current situation is that they easily propagate and become difficult to remove even by backwashing, which shortens the life of the membrane.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric in which various bacteria are less likely to be accumulated or proliferated on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane.

[0009]

That is, according to the present invention, a hollow fiber membrane arranged as a continuous weft by being folded back at a predetermined width without being cut at the selvages, and in a direction substantially orthogonal to the hollow fiber membrane. in the hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric made of a filament fibers arranged as warp state, and are not part of該経yarn or all have antibacterial properties, antibacterial Firame
It is an antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted woven fabric in which the filaments are arranged at intervals of 10 to 50 mm .

A hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric formed by a hollow fiber membrane which is folded back at a predetermined width without being cut at the selvage and arranged as continuous wefts, and fibers which are arranged as warps in a direction substantially orthogonal to the hollow fiber membrane. Means a woven fabric or knitted fabric of a hollow fiber membrane formed for the convenience of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module used for purified water filtration or the like, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 26886/1992. It is known in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-266258.

The antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention. The hollow fiber membranes 1 are bent and folded back in a loop shape at the ears 2 at both ends of the hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric, and such hollow fiber membranes 1 are continuously arranged without being cut and knitted. The sheet surface of the fabric is formed. The hollow fiber membrane 1 of the ear portion 2 is continuously knitted by chain knitting with an ear yarn (warp) 3. In FIG. 1, 1
Although the ear part 2 is formed by the selvage yarn 3 of the book, a plurality of selvage parts 2 may be used if necessary. This specific forming method is described in detail in JP-A-1-266258, and can be knitted using, for example, a Russell knitting machine. When increasing the sheet width of the hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric 1,
If necessary, warp yarns may be arranged on the seat surface in the middle of both ears to maintain the shape of the entire seat surface.

The hollow fiber membrane 1 used as a weft yarn in the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention can be folded back without causing crushing or damage at the ears, and is used for water purifiers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Porous membranes made of various materials such as polyester, polysulfone and the like are used.

In the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention, a part or the whole of the warp 4 is composed of filament fibers having antibacterial properties, and the antibacterial action of the warp yarn 4 prevents the formation of various bacteria on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric. It suppresses deposition and proliferation. If the number of antibacterial warp yarns is increased, the suppressing effect is increased, but the hollow fiber membrane 1 used as a weft yarn is used.
Since many cross-connecting portions 5 with and are formed, the hollow fiber membrane 1 is likely to be damaged during formation of the knitted fabric, and productivity is also reduced. When the antibacterial warp yarn 4 obtained by coating a polyester filament fiber with silver is used, a preferable result can be obtained by setting the interval in the range of 10 to 50 mm. The effect is recognized even if it exceeds 50 mm, but if the interval between the antibacterial warps is too wide, the suppressing effect is weakened and the initial purpose is not achieved.

When the number of warp yarns 4 is increased, the warp yarns 4
It is also possible to cross-connect all the wefts (hollow fiber membrane 1) in a chain-knitted pattern, but at intervals (by skipping some wefts).

As the warp 4 made of filament fiber having antibacterial properties, either monofilament or multifilament may be used as long as it is a filament fiber, and it has water resistance and retains strength as a warp. If it is available, any synthetic fiber such as polyester, nylon, polypropylene or the like which is generally used can be used. Also, those crimped yarns may be used. However, it is preferable that the filament fiber is not hard so that the hollow fiber membrane is not damaged during production or handling of the knitted fabric. Staple fibers such as spun yarn are not preferable because fluff may fall off and mix into the water to be treated.

As the filament fiber having antibacterial properties, the fiber substrate itself may have antibacterial properties such as silver threads, or antibacterial properties may be imparted by carrying an antibacterial agent. Further, it may be used by aligning or twisting with other filament fibers.

Naturally, it is necessary to thoroughly examine and use the antibacterial agent and the like depending on the intended use, and it is appropriate to use a material or a drug having a low toxicity (general) which is generally used for a water purifier. .

As the warp 4, all filament fibers having antibacterial properties may be used, or may be mixed with warps having no antibacterial property.

When the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention is used in a filter hollow fiber membrane module of a water purifier, the antibacterial portion can contact the filtered water almost evenly, so that the antibacterial action works evenly and extremely. It is effective.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a hollow fiber membrane module for a domestic water purifier in which the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention is used in combination with activated carbon in a filter section. A hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric 8 having antibacterial filament fibers 7 as warps is fixed in a module case 6 with a potting material 9, and an upper end surface of a potting material configured to be housed together with activated carbon 10 is cut to form a hollow fiber membrane. Has an open end.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a hollow fiber membrane module for industrial use, which is made by using the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention alone. Hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric 8 having antibacterial filament fiber 7 as warp in module case 6 having raw water inlet 11 and purified water outlet 12
Are fixedly housed by a potting material 9. Figure 2
As in the case of, the opening end of the hollow fiber membrane is formed on the upper end surface of the potting material.

[0023]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention can be easily woven and knitted without using a new step by using a filament fiber having an antibacterial property for a part or all of the warp threads. Can be obtained and is economical. Also,
Since the hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric itself has antibacterial properties, it is possible to prevent bacteria such as mold that are floating in the air from adhering and propagating when left in a hot and humid state for a long period of time.

Further, when the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention is used in a module of a water purifier, a small amount of miscellaneous bacteria which are not removed by chlorine sterilization or activated carbon layer are accumulated on the hollow fiber membrane. Proliferation can be suppressed, and odor and clogging will not occur. In particular, when it is used as a module of an industrial water purifier, the adhesion of mold to the hollow fiber membrane is significantly suppressed, and the efficiency of the function recovery process can be prevented from lowering.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of an antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a hollow fiber membrane module for a domestic water purifier in which the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention is used in combination with activated carbon.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a module of an industrial water purifier using the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric of the present invention alone.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 hollow fiber membrane 2 ears 3 ear thread 4 Antibacterial warp 5 Intersection of warp and weft 6 module case 7 Antibacterial filament fiber 8 Hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric 9 potting material 10 activated carbon 11 Raw water entrance 12 Purified water outlet

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page       (56) Reference JP-A-6-335671 (JP, A)                 JP-A-4-256493 (JP, A)                 JP-A-1-266258 (JP, A)                 Japanese Patent Publication 4-26886 (JP, B2)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hollow fiber membrane which is folded back at a predetermined width without being cut at the selvages and is arranged as a continuous weft,
In the hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric made of a filament fibers arranged as a yarn through in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hollow fiber membrane state, and are not part of該経yarn or all have antibacterial properties,
The antibacterial filament fibers are distributed at intervals of 10 to 50 mm.
An antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric characterized by being made . 2. An antibacterial hollow fiber membrane module comprising the antibacterial hollow fiber membrane knitted fabric according to claim 1 fixed to a module case with a potting material.