JP4203142B2 - Air purifier using the workings of plants - Google Patents

Description

【００２９】
天然土壌は滅菌することにより除去率は低下する。また、人工土壌のみの場合は除去能力は有しない。天然土壌も人工土壌も植物を植えることにより除去率が向上する。植物を植えた天然土壌と植物を植えた人工土壌を比較すると、人工土壌の方が除去能力が高い。
【００３０】
〔試験２〕植物の種類による天然土壌／人工土壌によるホルムアルデヒドの除去
能力の比較
【００３１】
【表２】

【００３２】
各植物とも、天然土壌に比べ人工土壌の方がホルムアルデヒドの除去能力が高い。
【００３３】
〔試験３〕排気ユニット付空気清浄器における、室内空気のホルムアルデヒドの除去能力の経年変化の比較
【００３４】
【表３】

【００３５】
２年経過後も除去能力は変わっていない。土壌中微生物により化学物質の除去能力が維持されている。従ってフィルター交換が不要である。
【００３６】
〔試験４〕排気ユニット付き空気清浄器の化学物質の除去能力の比較
植物としてゴールデンポトスを使用し、６０ｃｍ×６０ｃｍ×９０ｃｍの密閉容器中に空気清浄器を入れて、ファン風量７２リットル／分、電球１００Ｗ白熱球、電球の表面温度１０２度に維持し、一定時間後に容器の空気に含まれるホルムアルデヒド濃度を測定し、その初期濃度との差から除去率を求めた。
【００３７】
【表４】

【００３８】
ポトスのみでもメチルアルコールの除去能がある。電球を点燈することによりメチルアルコールの除去量は増大し、ホルムアルデヒド、キシレンの除去能はわずかに向上した。ファンを運転することにより、何れの化学物質も著しく除去能が向上した。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】一部を切り欠いて示した鉢容器及び密閉水槽の斜視図
【図２】排気ユニットの側面図
【図３】本発明の空気清浄器の側面図
【符号の説明】
12 容器
14 鉢植物
17 植物の根
20 密閉水槽
21 基盤部
27 葉
30 排気ユニット
36 取付部
37 電球
38 ファン
39 臭く汚れた空気
48 培養基質
49 触媒機能及び化学吸着性を有する物質
50 多孔質物質
60 新鮮で純粋な空気[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus of the present invention relates to an apparatus for keeping indoor air clean, and more particularly, to an apparatus for keeping indoor air clean by utilizing the action of microorganisms symbiotic with plants and plant roots.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional air filters and humidifiers used to purify indoor air utilize physical or physical / chemical effects. In these devices, it is necessary to replace the filter regularly in order to maintain normal function, but not only there is a risk that the filter will not be replaced at the appropriate time, There is a problem of disposal of used filters.
[0003]
On the other hand, indoor plants (house plants) control the amount of microorganisms that inhabit plants, the roots of plants, and culture substrates (for example, soil and stones) that support plant growth. Active activities are known to biologically degrade various airborne pollutants, especially the airborne hydrocarbons.
[0004]
The fact that ordinary indoor plants cultivate microorganisms around the roots and decompose and destroy volatile organic chemicals is a research paper by Wolverton et al. "Foliage plants for removing pollutants""Economi Botany (Economic Botany), Vol. 38, (2) 224-228 and C. Wolverton and J.W. D. Wolverton (1993) research paper “Plants and soil microorganisms: Removal of formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia from indoor environments”, Mississippi Academy of Sciences 41 (2) 99-105.
[0005]
Usually, indoor plants are cultivated in soil housed in pot containers and placed indoors. A general question for maintaining the growth of indoor plants is when and how much water and fertilizer are given. In order to avoid problems such as water shortage and water excess, many inventions have been made regarding automatic water supply or water supply to plants in the absence.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The following problems must be taken into account when using biological plants to grow and cultivate soil and biologically remove and decompose chemical toxins contained in indoor air. The problem is that water and fertilizer must be frequently applied to the soil contained in the pot container to maintain the life of the plant. The damp pot soil is a fungal spore known as an argen (allergenic substance). The problem of creating an ideal environment suitable for growth, the water stored in the pot is still an ideal place for the growth of mold and downy mildews. The problem is that downy mildew will grow on the floor.
[0007]
The main object of the present invention is to provide an air purifier having a function of removing harmful vaporized chemical substances contained in room air, a function of increasing the humidity of room air, and a function of reducing the amount of mold spores. It is to be.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention utilizes the action of microorganisms symbiotic with plants and plant roots, and comprises the following means. That is, a pot container 12 for maintaining a living plant, a culture substrate 48 composed of a porous material 50 and a substance 49 having a catalytic function and chemisorption, and placed in the pot container, and a culture medium up to the root of the living plant A sealed water tank 20 attached to the bowl container that enables water to be supplied through the quality, a fan 38 that allows air to pass through the culture substrate, and an exhaust unit 30 that is installed in or adjacent to the bowl container. I have. Examples of the porous material 50 include pumice, foam brick, expanded shale, foam of natural earth, fired natural soil, porous glass, and artificial soil produced by recycling. Examples of the substance 49 having a catalytic function and chemical adsorption include charcoal, activated carbon, natural zeolite, artificial zeolite, vermiculite, and a substance imparted with adsorption performance and catalytic performance by recycling.
[0009]
The upper part 43 of the exhaust unit is a fan enclosure that draws in air 39 that has passed through the culture substrate. The electric lamp 37 located next to the fan has a function of heating air that has passed through the culture substrate and killing microorganisms such as pathogens contained in the air. The heated air is released into the room as purified air 60. The plurality of intake pipes 42 installed in the culture substrate serve as a receiving port for air sucked from the culture substrate by the force of the fan, and also serve as a passage for guiding the air to the electric heater for heating the air. ing.
[0010]
Next, examples of indoor plants suitable for the air cleaner will be shown. These indoor plants are tested for ease of growth, ease of management, resistance to pests, removal rate of harmful vaporized chemicals and transpiration rate, and the total score of each test is high. They are listed in order. Areca, Kannonchiku, Cama edrea zaifritzy, Indian rubber tree (rubber tree), Aowanekki / Dracaena “Janet Craig”, Atlantic ivy, Sinnow palm, Fixture Alii, Boston Tamaida, Spatifirum, Dracaena Fragrance “Massageana” , Potos, Nephrolepis obliterata, Potmum, Gerbera, Dracaena “Warnecky”, Benif Klinsennenoku, Philodendron Herveskens, Singonium, Defenbakia “Exotica Compactor”, Table palm, Benjamin rubber tree (Benjamin), Brassay Actino Begonia Sempaflorence, Philodendron Seroum, Himekazura, Sansevieria Trifaskiata, de Fembachia Camilla, Philodendron, Domesticum, Shimanan Yosugi, Homaromena Barici, Maranta Leuconeura “Kershobiana”, Fertile Banana, Christmas Cactus (Chaxoba cactus), Easter Cactus, Sissus Robifolia “Eren Danica Bee” , Koyaburan, Dendrobium, Nakafuori Laurin (Orchid Luran), Aglaonema "Silver Queen", Anthurium, Croton, Poinsettia, Azalea, Calatea, Aloe Vera, Cyclamen, Ekmea Faskiata (Ananas), Tulip, Phalaenopsis (Chacolan), Kalanchoe.
[0011]
Among these, Boston tamashida, pot mum, gerbera, cinna palm, and aowaneki have excellent formaldehyde removal ability. Areca palm, Cinno palm, Phalaenopsis, Defenbakia “Camilla”, Benifukrinsennenoku and Dendrobium are excellent in removing xylene and toluene. Kannonchiku, Homaromena Parisi, Koya Blanc, Anthurium, and Pot Mum are excellent in ammonia removal ability. Bio-effluent (bio-exhaust) released by human respiration contains methyl alcohol, acetone, and ethyl acetate. Spatiphyllum has excellent ability to remove acetone, methylchol, and ethyl acetate from this bio-effluent. . Therefore, the indoor air quality (LAQ) can be maintained at a high quality by these indoor plants.
[0012]
[Action]
The air purifier of the present invention includes a bowl container 12 and a sealed water tank 20. The sealed water tank is preferably provided with a level meter indicating the water level and a water gate with a cap. The culture substrate of the pot container takes in organic chemicals (vaporization chemicals) floating in the air, has the function of decomposing chemical substances by microorganisms symbiotic with the roots, and the function of strengthening the vitality of plants ing. The pot container 12 is provided with a slit 13 at the bottom extending to the bottom of the sealed water tank, and the water that has passed through the pot container 12 passes through the granular porous material 50 and goes up to the root of the plant. Since the sealed water tank is provided with a water seal port that can be sealed, bacteria such as mold spores in the water are not exposed to room air.
[0013]
If the sealed water tank is enlarged, it can be adapted to a large plant, and sufficient stability can be provided even when the exhaust unit 30 is attached. Moreover, the rapid drying of the root of a plant which is seen with a normal small pot container can be prevented, and it will suffice if water and fertilizer are supplied every 1 to 3 months.
[0014]
The air purifier of the present invention is soilless cultivation in which a plant is grown and grown using a porous and chemisorbable soilless culture substrate. The granular porous material 50 of the soilless culture substrate 48 is: Because of its large surface area, it has the effect of continuously sucking water into the roots of the plants and moistening the roots. By using the soil-free culture substrate containing these granular porous materials 50 in common with the exhaust unit 30, the air purification capability can be further increased.
[0015]
The soil-free culture substrate in which the intake pipe 42 of the exhaust unit 30 is installed includes a substance 49 having a catalytic function and a chemical adsorption property such as activated carbon that increases the removal rate of vaporized chemical substances in the air. The chemical substances adsorbed by these substances are processed as food by microorganisms symbiotic to the roots of the plant, and become an energy source for the microorganisms and roots.
[0016]
The air purifier of the present invention is equipped with an exhaust unit 30 and can increase the air purifying ability, and electric toxins are generated from microorganisms such as chemical toxins (vaporizing chemicals) and pathogens remaining in the air. Can be destroyed by heat. That is, the fan 38 is used to slowly pass a large amount of air through a hot electric lamp 37 in a glass enclosure 43. The electric lamp 37 plays a role of destroying microorganisms such as chemical toxins and pathogenic bacteria in the air when the air sent by the fan passes near the electric lamp. Further, the heat energy of the electric lamp 37 inside the glass container 43 can be used as a reinforcing element in the air cleaning process. The electric lamp 37 can increase the air flow rate, act as a light source, and provide a heating zone that increases the ability to remove microorganisms from the atmosphere. If a soil-free culture substrate having a porous and chemisorbing property is used in combination, the air purification ability of indoor plants cultivated on the culture substrate can be increased up to 35 times.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 includes a tapered bowl container 12 and a thick disk-shaped sealed water tank 20 of an air purifier 10. The pot container 12 is made up of a space 9 for accommodating a culture substrate for cultivating indoor plants, a peripheral wall 16, a bottom plate 11, and a gap 18 of the container. The bottom plate 16 of the pot container 12 is firmly attached to the bottom plate of the large sealed water tank 20, and the water tank opening is provided in the sealed water tank. Water can be supplied to the sealed water tank 20 from the cap 22 portion of the water outlet.
[0018]
The sealed water tank 20 is provided with a water level gauge viewing window 26 for displaying the water surface height 24. The water level gauge communicates with the sealed water tank. By adopting this mechanism, it is possible to prevent the water in the sealed water tank from coming into contact with the room air. Therefore, the cultivation of mold spores seen when water is given to general potting soil can be prevented by the sealing method of the present invention. The height 24 of the water surface can be observed from the outside as shown in FIG.
[0019]
The culture substrate 48 of the pot container is composed of a porous material (for example, pumice) 50 having a high porosity and a material (for example, activated carbon) 49 having a catalytic function and chemical adsorption, and the culture substrate is made of golden pothos or the like. Indoor plants are cultivated, and the method of supplying water and fertilizer to the plant 14 in the pot container 12 is apparent from this figure.
[0020]
The slit 13 provided in the bottom 15 of the pot container 12 allows water to be sucked from the sealed water tank 20 to the plant pot container 12. Passing through the porous material 50, water is sucked up to the plant roots 17 and the microorganisms 19. The function of the culture substrate 48 plays a role of maintaining the indoor plant 14 and a role of sucking water and nutrients from the sealed water tank 20 to the pot container 12 and the root 17 of the plant 14 by capillary action. The sealed water tank 20 and the bowl container include a base 21 that holds a base 32 of an exhaust unit 30 described later.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the exhaust unit. The exhaust unit 30 has a structure in which room air is sucked through the culture substrate, and includes a thick disk-like base 32, a column 34 composed of a hollow pipe, a mounting portion 36 for a light bulb 37, and a fan 38. Further, a filter pipe (intake pipe) 42 with a large number of holes is provided in order to guide air to the support column 34 of the exhaust unit 30. When the exhaust unit 30 is incorporated in the pot container 12, the filter tube 42 is located at the portion of the culture substrate in the pot container. The function of the exhaust unit 30 will be described later.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a side view of a bowl container and a closed water tank incorporating an exhaust unit. When the exhaust unit 30 is installed in the bowl container 12, the fan 38 and the light bulb 37 increase the purification power of the indoor air of the bowl container 12 by 15 to 35 times. As shown in FIG. 3, the plant root 17 and the inactive culture substrate 48 form a region called a rhizosphere or a root region, that is, a region where naturally occurring microorganisms symbiotic with the plant root 17 are present. To do. Microorganisms and plants related to the root jointly take in nutrients and chemicals from the culture substrate 48. The very porous material 50 of the culture substrate serves to increase the flow of air to the roots 17 of the plant so that the leaves 27 diverge moisture into the surrounding room air. In other words, the very porous substance 50 in the culture substrate 48 plays a role of increasing the exposure amount of dirty air to the root microorganism 19 and promoting the decomposition of the pollutant by the biological action of the microorganism. ing.
[0023]
Next, the function of purifying room air in the air purifier having the above configuration will be described. The dirty air (arrow 39) in the room descends through a filter tube 42 surrounded by a porous material 50 and a material 49 having a catalytic function and chemical adsorption. The odor-stained air 39 enters from the air intake port of the porous filter tube 42, and the toxins in the air are adsorbed and removed by the porous material 50 and the material 49 excellent in catalytic function and chemical adsorption. The adsorbed chemical substance is quickly decomposed by the catalytic function of the substance 49 promoting the biochemical reaction of microorganisms.
[0024]
The air that has passed through these is then pulled up by the fan 38 through the column 34 of the exhaust unit 30 and passes through the surface of the thermal bulb 37 surrounded by the glass bulb 43. Bacteria in the air are destroyed in the glass bulb container 43 that is sufficiently heated. Thereafter, the air exits from the outlet and is released into the room as fresh and pure air (arrow 60).
[0025]
The heat from the light bulb 37 is caused by pathogenic bacteria remaining in the air after passing through the porous filter tube 42 for air intake and the catalytic function and chemisorbable material 49 surrounding the porous filter tube 42 and the porous material 50. Destroy microorganisms. The light bulb umbrella 40 directly supplies light to the leaf 27 of the plant to promote and enhance the growth of the plant. In addition, the bulb 37 is given aesthetic value. The toxin adsorbed on the activated carbon and other substances 49 and pumice 50 is biologically cleaned by the plant root 17 and microorganisms. The apparatus of the embodiment has a removal rate of harmful vaporized chemicals of 20 to 50% higher than that of a conventional apparatus in which the same plant is grown using normal soil, and the indoor air cleaning capacity is 35 times higher.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
The following tests were performed using the air purifier, and the performance was confirmed.
After a certain concentration of formaldehyde is placed in a 60 cm × 60 cm × 90 cm sealed container, the above air purifier is sealed and the concentration of formaldehyde contained in the air in the container is measured after a certain period of time. The removal rate was calculated from the difference.
[0027]
[Test 1] Comparison of formaldehyde removal ability with and without soil bacteria [0028]
[Table 1]

[0029]
The removal rate is reduced by sterilizing natural soil. Moreover, in the case of artificial soil only, it does not have a removal ability. The removal rate is improved by planting both natural and artificial soil. Comparing natural soil planted with artificial soil planted with plant, artificial soil has higher removal ability.
[0030]
[Test 2] Comparison of formaldehyde removal ability by natural soil / artificial soil by plant type
[Table 2]

[0032]
For each plant, artificial soil has a higher ability to remove formaldehyde than natural soil.
[0033]
[Test 3] Comparison of change over time of formaldehyde removal capacity of indoor air in air purifier with exhaust unit
[Table 3]

[0035]
The removal ability has not changed after two years. The ability to remove chemicals is maintained by microorganisms in the soil. Therefore, no filter replacement is necessary.
[0036]
[Test 4] Comparison of chemical removal ability of air purifier with exhaust unit Using golden potos as a plant, placing the air purifier in a sealed container of 60 cm x 60 cm x 90 cm, fan air flow 72 liters / min, The bulb was maintained at an incandescent bulb of 100 W and the surface temperature of the bulb was 102 ° C. After a certain time, the concentration of formaldehyde contained in the air in the container was measured, and the removal rate was determined from the difference from the initial concentration.
[0037]
[Table 4]

[0038]
Potos alone can remove methyl alcohol. By turning on the bulb, the amount of methyl alcohol removed increased and the ability to remove formaldehyde and xylene slightly improved. By operating the fan, the ability to remove any chemical substance was significantly improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pot container and a closed water tank shown with a part cut away. FIG. 2 is a side view of an exhaust unit. FIG. 3 is a side view of an air cleaner according to the present invention.
12 containers
14 pot plants
17 Plant roots
20 Sealed water tank
21 Foundation
27 leaves
30 Exhaust unit
36 Mounting part
37 light bulb
38 fans
39 Smelly and dirty air
48 Culture substrate
49 Substances with catalytic function and chemisorption
50 Porous material
60 fresh and pure air

Claims (3)

A plant having leaves and roots (14), a culture substrate (48) for holding microorganisms symbiotic with the roots and roots of the plant, a pot container (12) containing the culture substrate, and the growth substrate for plant growth A closed water tank (20) for supplying necessary water and an exhaust unit (30) for sucking air through the culture substrate are provided.The exhaust unit (30) is an intake pipe (42) surrounded by the culture substrate (48). ), A hollow column (34) communicating with the intake pipe, an air blowing means (38) passing through the hollow column, and a microorganism destruction means (37) such as pathogenic bacteria in the air, The chemical substances contained in the air are adsorbed by the culture substrate and biologically decomposed by plants and microorganisms, and microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria contained in the air that has passed through the culture substrate are removed by the exhaust unit. An air purifier that uses the action of plants, characterized by its removal and destruction. The air purifier using the action of the plant according to claim 1, characterized in that the culture substrate (48) is composed of a porous substance (50) and a substance (49) having a catalytic function and chemisorption. An air purifier that uses the work of plants. The air purifier using the action of the plant according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exhaust unit (30) includes a plurality of intake pipes (42) installed in the culture substrate (48) and air through the intake pipes. Fan (38), an upper part (43) for fan enclosure, and an electric heater (37) for heating the sucked air, which flow through the culture substrate by the fan Air that uses the action of plants, receiving air (39), sending air to the electric part to heat the air, and releasing the heated air to the atmosphere as clean air (60) Purifier.

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