JP5424167B2 - Air purification device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air purification device, an air purification method, a virus inactivation method, and a deodorization method that purify air by detoxifying viruses, bacteria, or odorous substances in the air with singlet oxygen. In the present invention, the sealed space refers to a space where access to outside air is restricted, such as a space in a hospital or a space in a train.

  Recently, nosocomial infections in hospitals and outbreaks of poultry due to avian influenza viruses have occurred, and nowadays, there is a need for countermeasures against viruses that cause respiratory infections, such as new influenza from swine. Yes. In addition, measures against norovirus causing gastroenteritis are also demanded. However, it is not easy to kill nouroisul with a widely used alcohol-based disinfectant. In addition, there are many damages caused by bad odors, and measures to remove bad odor substances in the air are also required.

  Conventionally, ozone has been used as a technique for removing viruses and malodorous components in the air, but it has been pointed out that it has adverse effects on the human body and is difficult to handle. In recent years, as an alternative technique, many techniques have been proposed in which viruses are sterilized and malodorous components are oxidatively decomposed using singlet oxygen. For example, N-type semiconductor metal oxide in a ground state oxygen atmosphere is irradiated with near ultraviolet light to generate singlet oxygen, and then irradiated with visible light, near infrared light, and near infrared laser to induce singlet oxygen to induce electromagnetic waves. There has been proposed a technique for transitioning to ground state oxygen by release and performing sterilization, deodorization, and purification using the transition energy (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, air is sucked into the room with a fan, dust is collected on the dust collecting electrode filter, and viruses and bacteria adhering to the dust are irradiated with singlet oxygen and electrons released by the corona discharge phenomenon to superoxide. By changing the reaction to inactivate the air, purify the blown air from the blowout side, place singlet oxygen and air negative ions back into the room, and add electrons from the air negative ions to the singlet oxygen during the transport process. In addition, a technique for reacting with superoxide to inactivate airborne bacteria and adherent bacteria has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Here, a plasma phenomenon is generated to generate singlet oxygen.

  Furthermore, a technique for generating singlet oxygen using a photosensitizing dye and decomposing pollutants in the air using this has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 3). In this technology, a dye that can absorb visible light and be in a triplet excited state is supported on the surface of the air-permeable member. The air-permeable member is irradiated with visible light, and oxygen in the air passing therethrough is absorbed. It is singlet oxygen, which decomposes pollutants in the air, and is expected to be applied to the purification of air in cars.

Japanese Patent No. 3493602 JP 2003-210564 A JP 2006-81618 A

  The techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 require a large number of members and devices when using a singlet oxygen to inactivate viruses and the like, and have a complicated configuration as a sterilizer. Also, it is difficult to say that the manufacturing cost is low. On the other hand, the technique described in Patent Document 3 uses a photosensitizing dye for generation of singlet oxygen, and the apparatus configuration is relatively simple. In order to inactivate viruses in the air and decompose pollutants more quickly and more efficiently, it is necessary to increase the contact opportunities between the virus or pollutants and singlet oxygen and to increase the contact time. In the technique described in Patent Document 3, since the photosensitizing dye is supported on the surface of the breathable member, it is not easy to sufficiently increase the amount of the photosensitizing dye supported from the surface area of the breathable part material. Absent. Further, since it is necessary to bring the air-permeable member into contact with air, if the surface area of the air-permeable member is increased, the pressure loss of air when passing through the air-permeable member also increases. As described above, with respect to the technology for inactivating viruses and the like using singlet oxygen, there is much room for improvement including the structure or configuration of the apparatus, the inactivation rate, and the like.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an air purifying apparatus and an air purifying method that quickly detoxify an object to be processed in the air and purify the air with a simple apparatus configuration. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for inactivating viruses by a simple operation and a method for deodorizing odorous substances.

The present invention possess a liquid containing an optical sensitizing dye photosensitizer reactor spray tower method in which gas-liquid contact with said air liquid containing the virus to be air, the photosensitizer reactor Irradiating means for irradiating the liquid with light that excites the photosensitizing dye, and taking in the virus in the air and generating singlet oxygen by a photosensitizing reaction to harm the virus . It is an air purification device characterized by purifying air.

The present invention is characterized in that, in the air purification device, the photosensitizing dye is rose bengal .

In the air purification device according to the present invention, the virus is an enveloped virus .

The present invention is characterized in that, in the air purification device, the virus is a virus having no envelope .

The present invention, in the air purifier, air containing the virus, bus, train, airplane, is the air in a building, including air in the transport device for public transport, or hospital, department store, a barn comprising the ship It is characterized by that.

The present invention, in the air purifier, the traffic device or buildings, in or transport device has an air conditioning system for an air conditioner while circulating air in the building, the air purifier, the air It is incorporated in the return line of the circulating air of the harmony system and is characterized by detoxifying the virus in the return circulating air and purifying the traffic or the air in the building .

According to the present invention, an air purification apparatus according to the present invention makes a liquid containing a photosensitizing dye and a virus- containing air gas-liquid contact using a spray tower type photosensitization reaction apparatus , Since the virus is taken into the liquid and singlet oxygen is generated by the photosensitizing reaction to make the virus harmless and purify the air, the apparatus configuration is simple and the virus in the air can be quickly harmless. By contacting the air containing liquid and virus containing photosensitizing dye can be incorporated virus in a liquid. As a result, the virus comes into contact with singlet oxygen in the air as well as in the air, so that the virus can be rendered harmless quickly. Also even viruses are not immediately rendered harmless in a liquid, because the virus if taken due collector capturing the liquid air is purified, be air containing difficult to harmless virus, quickly air Can be purified.

Further, by dissolving or dispersing the photosensitizing dye in the liquid, it is easy to increase the concentration of the photosensitizing dye as compared with the conventional method of supporting the photosensitizing dye on the solid surface, and the virus. It is possible to increase the chance of contact with the photosensitizing dye and the contact time, and the virus can be rendered harmless quickly. Furthermore, in the method of supporting the photosensitizing dye on the solid surface, when the photosensitizing dye on the solid surface is peeled off, it is not easy to replenish the photosensitizing dye and the detoxification rate of the virus is increased. However, in the present invention, it is easy to supply the photosensitizing dye into the liquid, and the virus detoxification rate can be maintained.

  According to the present invention, the object to be treated contained in the air is at least one of viruses, bacteria, and odorous substances. Therefore, using the air purification apparatus according to the present invention, highly pathogenic avian influenza, swine Viruses, bacteria, or fecal odor components, etc. that spread through an emerging virus such as a new influenza derived from the virus, SARS (Severe Acquire Respiratory Syndrome), or air can be rendered harmless.

  According to the present invention, since the photosensitizing dye is rose bengal, air can be purified safely.

  According to the present invention, since the air containing the object to be processed is air in a sealed space, the air in the building can be purified.

According to the present invention, the air bus that contains the virus, train, airplane, air in the traffic tool of public transportation, including a ship, or a hospital, department store, since it is air in the building, including the barn, the present invention Influenza collective infection, nosocomial infection, and the like can be prevented by using the air purification apparatus according to the above.

According to the present invention, the traffic device or buildings has an air conditioning system, the air purification device, since the incorporated return line of the circulating air of the air conditioning system, transportation equipment inside or building The inside air can be purified efficiently. By incorporating the air purification device into the return line of the circulating air of the air conditioning system, the humidity is adjusted by the air conditioning system even when the humidity of the purified air discharged from the air purification device is high. It is not necessary to prepare a separate device, and the device cost can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, the air conditioning system has an air duct through which circulating air circulates, and the photosensitizing reaction device is a gas-liquid contact comprising a number of cloths containing a liquid containing a photosensitizing dye. And a liquid replenishing means for replenishing the cloth with a liquid containing a photosensitizing dye, and the cloth is mounted in the air duct of the return line of the circulating air in parallel with the flow direction of the circulating air. Therefore, air can be purified with a simple device configuration. For example, if one end of the cloth is immersed in a liquid containing a photosensitizing dye, the entire cloth can be easily applied by capillary action, and even if the liquid contained in the cloth evaporates, the liquid is replenished naturally. Because no special equipment is required. Further, since a large number of cloths are installed in the air duct, the gas-liquid contact area is wide, and the object to be processed in the air can be made harmless quickly. Further, since a large number of cloths are provided in the air duct in parallel with the direction of the circulating air, the pressure loss is small and no special fan for circulating the circulating air is required.

  According to the present invention, the air conditioning system includes an air duct through which circulating air circulates, and the photosensitizing reaction device includes a number of optical fibers and a photosensitizing dye along a side wall surface of the optical fibers. A liquid supply means for causing the liquid containing the liquid to flow down, and a liquid recovery means for recovering the liquid containing the photosensitizing dye that has flowed down along the optical fiber. Mounted in the air duct so as to be located in the middle of the air duct of the line, and the irradiation means includes a light source for supplying light to the optical fiber, so that the object in the air can be quickly detoxified. can do. The liquid containing the photosensitizing dye that flows down the side wall surface of the optical fiber comes into contact with air in the process of flowing down, takes in the object to be processed, and the object to be processed enters the singlet oxygen at the tip of the optical fiber. Since it is made harmless by contact with the substrate, the object to be treated in the air can be made harmless efficiently and quickly. Further, by irradiating the liquid recovery means with light, the object to be processed taken into the liquid can be rendered harmless here, and the object to be processed can be rendered harmless more quickly.

  According to the present invention, the air conditioning system has an air duct through which circulating air circulates, and the photosensitizing reaction device has a number of rods provided inside to cover the optical fiber. A light-emitting body, a liquid supply means for flowing a liquid containing a photosensitizing dye along the side wall surface of the rod-shaped light emitter, and a liquid containing a photosensitizing dye that has flowed down along the rod-shaped light emitter are collected. The rod-like light emitter is mounted so as to be positioned in the air duct of the return line of the circulating air, and the irradiating means includes a light source for supplying light to the optical fiber. In addition, the object to be treated in the air can be rendered harmless. The liquid containing the photosensitizing dye that flows down the side wall surface of the rod-shaped illuminant comes into contact with air in the process of flowing down and takes in the object to be processed. Since it is brought into contact and detoxified, the object to be treated in the air can be detoxified efficiently and quickly. Further, by irradiating the liquid recovery means with light, the object to be processed taken into the liquid can be rendered harmless here, and the object to be processed can be rendered harmless more quickly.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to irradiate the photosensitizing dye with light energy more efficiently because it includes a reflecting plate that reflects light on the side wall surface in the air duct of the return line of the circulating air. The to-be-processed object in air can be detoxified efficiently and quickly.

  According to the present invention, the object to be processed in the air can be taken into the cleaning liquid, and then the object to be processed taken into the cleaning liquid can be made harmless by the singlet oxygen. It is also possible to select a use apparatus and method suitable for the above.

  According to the present invention, the air containing the object to be processed and the liquid containing the photosensitizing dye are brought into gas-liquid contact, the object to be processed is taken into the liquid, and the photosensitizing dye is excited in the liquid. By irradiating light, singlet oxygen is generated, and the object to be processed is harmed by the singlet oxygen and air is purified.

  According to the present invention, the photosensitizing dye is irradiated with light to generate singlet oxygen, and the virus is inactivated by the singlet oxygen. Therefore, the virus can be inactivated by a simple operation.

  According to the present invention, light can be applied to a photosensitizing dye to generate singlet oxygen, and the virus having an envelope can be inactivated by the singlet oxygen, and thus can be applied to many viruses.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to inactivate viruses having no envelope, such as norovirus, which are difficult to kill with alcohol-based disinfectants, by singlet oxygen generated by irradiating the photosensitizing dye with light. The invention can be suitably used for inactivating norovirus viruses.

  According to the present invention, the photosensitizing dye is irradiated with light to generate singlet oxygen, and the odorous substance is deodorized by the singlet oxygen. Therefore, the present invention can be suitably used for deodorizing the odorous substance.

It is a process flow figure showing a schematic structure of air purification device 1 which is a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a process flow figure showing a schematic structure of air purification device 35 which is a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a system diagram in which an air purification device 70 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in an air conditioning system 40. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the air purification apparatus 70 in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the air purification apparatus 95 which is 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the air purification apparatus 100 which is 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a process flow figure showing a schematic structure of air purification device 120 which is a 6th embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the experimental result of Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the experimental result of Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the experimental result of Example 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the experimental result of Example 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the experimental result of Example 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the experimental result of Example 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the experimental result of Example 7 of this invention. It is a process flow figure showing a schematic structure of an experimental device used in Example 8 of the present invention. It is a process flow figure showing a schematic structure of an experimental device used in Example 10 of the present invention. It is a process flow figure showing a schematic structure of an experimental device used in Example 11 of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a process flow diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air purification device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The air purifying apparatus 1 purifies air by detoxifying an object to be processed such as a virus contained in air using a photosensitizing reaction that absorbs light energy and excites it to generate singlet oxygen. The two photosensitizing reaction towers 3 and 5 arranged in series, the lighting apparatuses 7 and 9 for irradiating light inside the photosensitizing reaction towers 3 and 5, and the photosensitizing reaction tower 3 And a cooler 11 provided at the air outlet of the photosensitization reaction tower 5 at the subsequent stage.

  The photosensitized reaction tower 3 is a bubble tower type reaction apparatus, and has a cylindrical tower body 15. The tower main body 15 has a photosensitizing dye solution 13 in which a photosensitizing dye is dissolved in water, and the lower part of the tower main body 15 includes an object to be processed such as a virus sent through the fan 10. Has an air blowing nozzle 17. The air blowing nozzle 17 is made of a porous material, and the air containing the object to be processed blown into the photosensitizing dye solution 13 becomes fine bubbles and comes into gas-liquid contact with the photosensitizing dye solution 13. In the photosensitizing reaction tower 3, since the entire photosensitizing dye solution 13 comes into contact with the blown air, the gas-liquid contact part 19 extends from the bottom of the tower body 15 to the liquid level of the photosensitizing dye solution 13. A portion corresponding to the gas-liquid contact portion 19 of the tower body 15 is formed of a transparent material for taking in light irradiated from the external illumination device 7. Of course, the entire tower body 15 may be formed of a transparent material such as glass. Further, an air pipe 21 for sending the blown air to the subsequent photosensitization reaction tower 5 is connected to the upper part of the tower body 15.

  The photosensitization reaction tower 5 is a spray tower type reaction apparatus located at the rear stage of the photosensitization reaction tower 3 and has a cylindrical tower body 23. A lower part of the tower body 23 has a liquid storage part 25 for storing a photosensitizing dye solution 13 in which a photosensitizing dye is dissolved in water, and the photosensitizing dye solution 13 is placed near the upper part of the tower body 23. A spray nozzle 26 for spraying is attached. The liquid reservoir 25 and the spray nozzle 26 are connected by a circulation line 27, and the photosensitizing dye solution 13 is sprayed from the spray nozzle 26 via a circulation pump 29 interposed in the circulation line 27. The air treated in the preceding photosensitization reaction tower 3 is sent to the lower part of the tower body 25 through the air feed pipe 21, and the sent air rises up the tower body 23 and is sprayed from the spray nozzle 26. It is in countercurrent contact with the sensitizing dye solution 13. In the photosensitization reaction tower 5, the liquid level range 24 from the spray nozzle 26 to the liquid storage part 25 is a basic gas-liquid contact part. However, the photosensitizing dye solution 13 stored in the liquid storage unit 25 also functions as a gas-liquid contact unit because it entrains air when the falling droplet collides. From the spray nozzle 26 to the bottom of the tower body is formed of a transparent material for taking in light irradiated from the external illumination device 7. A demister 30 is mounted on the top of the tower body 23 to remove mist. The purified air sent to the photosensitizing reaction tower 5 is sent to the cooler 11 through the exhaust pipe 31 at the upper part of the tower main body 23.

  The cooler 11 is a partition-type cooler, in which cooling water flows inside the cooling pipe and air sent from the exhaust pipe 31 flows outside the cooling pipe. The cooler 11 includes a condensed water feed pipe 33 that cools air sent from the exhaust pipe 31 and sends condensed water in which water vapor in the air is condensed to the photosensitized reaction tower 3.

  The illuminating devices 7 and 9 are devices for irradiating the photosensitizing dye solution 13 with visible light and exciting the photosensitizing dye, and are composed of a white light. The illumination devices 7 and 9 are arranged so that visible light can be irradiated to the entire photosensitizing dye solution 13 in the photosensitizing reaction towers 3 and 5. When the photosensitizing dye solution 13 is irradiated with visible light, the photosensitizing dye is in an excited state. When the excited photosensitizing dye comes into contact with air (oxygen), oxygen in the air is excited, and singlet oxygen is excited. It becomes. This singlet oxygen oxidizes and detoxifies the object to be treated accompanying the air.

  In the air purification apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, when air containing an object to be processed such as a virus is sent to the photosensitizing dye solution 13 through the air blowing nozzle 17 of the preceding photosensitizing reaction tower 3, the object to be processed is supplied. The contained air becomes fine bubbles in the photosensitizing dye solution 13. A part of the processing object in the blown air is taken into the photosensitizing dye solution 13. The object to be processed taken into the photosensitizing dye solution 13 is singlet oxygen generated by excitation of dissolved oxygen in the photosensitizing dye solution 13 or oxygen in bubbles dispersed in the photosensitizing dye solution 13. Oxidized with. On the other hand, the object to be processed that has not been taken into the photosensitizing dye solution 13 exists in the bubbles, and the object to be processed in the bubbles is singlet oxygen generated by the oxygen in the bubbles coming into contact with the photosensitizing dye. Oxidized.

  The object to be treated that has not been rendered harmless in the photosensitization reaction tower 3 is sent to the subsequent photosensitization reaction tower 5 together with the air that has been sent in. Oxidized and detoxified by singlet oxygen generated by sensitive reaction. The purified air is discharged from the system via the cooler 11 after the mist is removed by the demister 30 provided at the upper part of the photosensitizing reaction tower 5. The purified air sent to the cooler 11 contains saturated water vapor or water vapor close to saturated water vapor because it is in gas-liquid contact in the photosensitized reaction tower 5. The air containing the water vapor is cooled by the cooler 11, a part of the water vapor is recovered as condensed water, and this condensed water is sent to the photosensitized reaction tower 3. A part of the photosensitizing dye solution 13 in the photosensitizing reaction tower 3 is converted into water vapor and sent to the photosensitizing reaction tower 5 together with air. The amount decreases. On the other hand, since air containing a large amount of water vapor is fed into the photosensitizing reaction tower 5, the amount of the photosensitizing dye solution 13 in the photosensitizing reaction tower 5 is substantially constant. For this reason, by returning the condensed water recovered by the cooler 11 to the photosensitized reaction tower 3, the amount of liquid can be kept substantially constant.

  As described above, the air purification device 1 is an air purification device using a wet-type photosensitization reaction using water as a dispersion medium. The air purification device using a wet-type photosensitization reaction has a higher air purification speed than an air purification device using a dry-type photosensitization reaction in which a photosensitizing dye is supported on a solid surface that does not use water. Can be increased. By bringing the liquid containing the photosensitizing dye into contact with the air containing the object to be processed, the object to be processed can be taken into the liquid. In this case, not only the object to be treated can be taken directly into the liquid, but also the object to be treated such as a virus adhering to dust in the air can be taken into the liquid together with the dust. As a result, the object to be treated comes into contact with singlet oxygen in the air as well as in the air, so that the object to be treated can be rendered harmless quickly. Even if the object to be processed is not immediately detoxified in the liquid, the air is purified if the object to be processed is taken into the liquid. The air can be purified.

  In the dry method, the photosensitizing dye supported on the solid surface functions effectively by contacting oxygen, but the internal photosensitizing dye is obstructed by the surface photosensitizing dye and cannot contact oxygen. Does not necessarily work effectively. In contrast, in the wet method, the photosensitizing dye solution in which the photosensitizing dye is dissolved, dispersed, suspended or emulsified in water is brought into gas-liquid contact, so that all the photosensitizing dyes are effectively used. can do. Further, the gas-liquid contact can be easily increased, and the contact opportunity between the photosensitizing dye and oxygen, the generated singlet oxygen and the object to be processed can be greatly increased as compared with the dry method. Furthermore, it is easy to increase the concentration of the photosensitizing dye, and replenishment of the photosensitizing dye can be easily performed.

  The photosensitizing dye in the first embodiment includes, but is not limited to, rose bengal. As the photosensitizing dye, in addition to rose bengal, it is possible to use known photosensitizing dyes such as fullerene and methylene blue. Of course, one kind of photosensitizing dye can be used alone, Two or more photosensitizing dyes may be used simultaneously. Rose Bengal can be suitably used because it is a highly safe substance as can be seen from its use in food red.

  The liquid in which the photosensitizing dye is dispersed is not limited to water, but may be another liquid or a liquid in which two or more kinds of liquids are mixed. The photosensitizing dye is not necessarily used in a state dissolved in a liquid, and may be in a dispersed, suspended, or emulsified state. Furthermore, a chemical agent may be added to the liquid in which the photosensitizing dye is dispersed in such a range that the performance of the photosensitizing reaction is not deteriorated. For example, by adding a surfactant that lowers the interfacial tension with air into the liquid, when air is blown into the liquid, the bubbles become very small and the gas-liquid contact area increases. Furthermore, you may add the chemical | medical agent which improves the absorption to the liquid of a to-be-processed object, and collection. For example, when the absorption rate of the object to be treated in the liquid depends on the pH, an agent for adjusting the pH may be added. As a result, the object to be processed can be rendered harmless quickly. The concentration of the photosensitizing dye is preferably higher, but is about 1 to 100 μM if a practical range is shown.

  The light irradiated to excite the photosensitizing dye and generate singlet oxygen is preferably light having the maximum absorption wavelength of the photosensitizing dye or light having a certain range of wavelengths centered on the light. Further, the photosensitizing dye It is preferable that the light be as low as possible. For example, since the maximum absorption wavelength of rose bengal is 580 nm and methylene blue is 665 nm, light suitable for these is preferably light having a wavelength of 550 to 700 nm, and preferably does not include light in the ultraviolet wavelength region. The illuminating means can use a fluorescent lamp or sunlight, but an LED that generates a relatively small amount of ultraviolet rays is preferable.

  The illuminance of the light irradiated to excite the photosensitizing dye and generate singlet oxygen is preferably high, but is about 3500 to 100,000 lux if a practical range is shown.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which two types of photosensitizing reaction towers of different types are provided in series has been shown. However, the number of photosensitizing reaction towers may be one or three or more. A reaction tower may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a process flow diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air purification device 35 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to the air purification device 1 according to the first embodiment, the air purification device 35 according to the present embodiment makes the gas-liquid contact between the photosensitizing dye dissolved in water and the air containing the object to be processed, and the gas-liquid contact. It is an apparatus that irradiates light to excite a photosensitizing dye and generates singlet oxygen using a photosensitizing reaction, thereby detoxifying an object to be processed in the air. The same components as those of the air purification device 1 shown in FIG. The air purification device 35 shown in FIG. 2 is a single tower type air purification device. In the photosensitized reaction tower 36, the lower part of the tower main body 37 is a bubble column type gas-liquid contact part, and the upper part from the center of the tower main body 37. The type of photosensitizing reaction tower 36 having a spray tower type gas-liquid contact portion and having the photosensitizing reaction tower 5 coupled to the upper part of the photosensitizing reaction tower 3 of the air purification apparatus 1 shown in FIG. It is. The illumination device 38 is the same as the air purification device 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that the entire surface of the gas-liquid contact portion of the photosensitizing reaction tower 36 is irradiated with visible light. In addition, since the air containing a to-be-processed object is directly blown into the liquid storage part 25, a part of the liquid storage part 25 is prevented so that the circulation pump 29 does not cause cavitation due to bubbles contained in the photosensitizing dye solution 13. A gas-liquid separation unit 39 is provided in the first.

  The photosensitization reaction tower is not limited to the photosensitization reaction towers 3, 5, and 36 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and any specific reaction tower or reaction apparatus may be used as long as it is an apparatus excellent in gas-liquid contact performance. It is not limited to. In addition to bubble towers and spray towers, well-known wet wall towers, packed towers, scrubbers, rotary spray towers, liquid column towers, venturi devices, pumps, suction air at the same time as the liquid and mechanically apply shearing force. A microbubble generator that generates fine bubbles can be used. However, since it is necessary to irradiate the gas-liquid contact part or the gas-liquid coexisting part with light for exciting the photosensitizing dye, it is possible to easily irradiate the gas-liquid contact part or the gas-liquid coexisting part with light. A reaction tower and a reaction apparatus are preferred.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the light for exciting the photosensitizing dye is irradiated from the outside of the tower is shown. However, a light source may be installed inside the tower, and light is irradiated using an optical fiber. May be. Moreover, in the air purification apparatuses 1 and 35, you may provide the temperature control apparatus which can adjust the temperature of air and / or a photosensitizing dye solution as needed.

  FIG. 3 is a system diagram in which an air purification device 70 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in an air conditioning system 40. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the air purification device 70 in FIG. Similarly to the air purification apparatuses 1 and 35 shown in the first and second embodiments, the air purification apparatus 70 shown in the present embodiment brings the photosensitizing dye dissolved in water and the air containing the object to be in gas-liquid contact. In addition, the gas-liquid contact portion is irradiated with light that excites a photosensitizing dye, and singlet oxygen is generated using a photosensitizing reaction, thereby detoxifying an object to be processed in the air. The same components as those of the air purification apparatuses 1 and 35 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The air conditioning system 40 is a system that appropriately maintains the temperature, humidity, and cleanliness of the air in the building 42, and is connected to the air conditioner 44 and the air conditioner 44, and each room 46 (46a, 46a, 46) in the building 42 is connected. 46b, 46c), an air supply line 48 for sending conditioned air, a return air line 50 for guiding the air in each room 46 in the building 42 to the air conditioner 44, and an outside air duct 52 for taking in outside air. The air conditioner 44 includes an air filter 54, a cooler 56, a heater 58, a humidifier 60, and a blower 62 in order from the side closer to the outside air duct 52, and each room in the building 42 that returns via the return air line 50. A part of the outside air is mixed with the air 46, and the air that has been purified, temperature-controlled, and humidity-controlled is sent to each room 46 in the building 42 via the air supply line 48. Further, an air purifying device 70 is incorporated in the middle of the return air line 50 at a position close to the air conditioner 44. The air conditioning system 40 excluding the air purification device 70 is the same as the air conditioning system conventionally used for air conditioning in hospitals and the like, and basically circulates and uses the air in the building 42.

  The air purifier 70 includes a plurality of optical fibers 74 installed in a return air duct 72 constituting the return air line 50, a photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76 that supplies the photosensitizing dye solution 13 to the optical fibers 74, In addition to the photosensitizing dye solution recovery tank 78 that recovers the photosensitizing dye solution 13 that flows down along the optical fiber 74, the liquid return that returns the recovered photosensitizing dye solution 13 to the photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76. A line 80, a light source 82 that supplies light to the optical fiber 74, and a reflector 84 that reflects light installed on both side walls in the return air duct 72.

  The optical fiber 74 is composed of a plurality of optical fibers, and the distal end portion 85 of the optical fiber 74 is located in the return air duct 72. The other end 86 is located outside the return air duct 72 in a state where the plurality of optical fibers 74 are gathered and penetrates the ceiling of the return air duct 72. The distal end portion 85 of the optical fiber 74 is randomly attached so that the distal end position is different from the center to the upper portion of the return air duct 72. The same applies to the longitudinal direction (air flow direction) of the return air duct 72. The optical fiber 74 used here is a general optical fiber conventionally used for light transmission.

  The photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76 is provided at the ceiling in the return air duct 72, and a plurality of through holes 88 through which the optical fiber 74 passes are provided at the bottom of the photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76. A slight gap is provided between the through hole 88 and the optical fiber 74 inserted therethrough. The optical fiber 74 penetrating through one through hole 88 may be one or a plurality of optical fibers may be bundled.

  The photosensitizing dye solution recovery tank 78 is provided at the bottom of the return air duct 72 and recovers the photosensitizing dye solution 13 flowing down along the optical fiber 74. In the middle of the liquid return line 80, a liquid return pump 90 is interposed, and the recovered photosensitizing dye solution 13 is a liquid that connects the photosensitizing dye solution recovery tank 78 and the photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76. It is returned to the photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76 via the return line 80.

  In the air purification apparatus 70 having the above-described configuration, the photosensitizing dye solution 13 flows down from the through hole 88 provided in the bottom of the photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76 toward the return air duct 72. At this time, since the optical fiber 74 is inserted in the through hole 88 with a slight gap, the photosensitizing dye solution 13 flowing down from the through hole 88 flows down along the outer wall of the optical fiber 74. The photosensitizing dye solution 13 flowing down along the optical fiber 74 comes into contact with the air containing the object to be processed that passes through the return air duct 72 and takes in a part of the object to be processed in the air. The photosensitizing dye solution 13 containing these objects to be processed absorbs light emitted from the tip portion 85 of the optical fiber 74 and excites oxygen in the photosensitizing dye solution 13 and oxygen passing through the return air duct 72. Oxygen is generated, and the object to be processed taken into the photosensitizing dye 13 solution and the object to be processed in the air are rendered harmless. The photosensitizing dye solution 13 away from the optical fiber 74 absorbs the light irradiated from the tip end portion 85 of the optical fiber 74 and the light reflected by the reflecting plate 84 in the middle of dropping, and renders the object to be harmed as described above. To do. Moreover, since the optical fiber 74 is attached so that the height of the tip end portion 85 is different, the photosensitizing dye solution 13 flowing down along the optical fiber 74 is light irradiated from the other optical fiber 74. As in the case described above, the object to be treated is rendered harmless. Further, since the light from the optical fiber 74 is also irradiated from above on the photosensitizing dye solution 13 in the photosensitizing dye solution recovery tank 78, the object to be processed can be made harmless also in this part. If necessary, a lighting device may be separately installed in the photosensitizing dye solution recovery tank 78.

  Since the diameter of the optical fiber 74 is very thin, the gas-liquid contact area of the photosensitizing dye solution 13 flowing down the optical fiber 74 is very large, and the object to be processed can be rendered harmless quickly. Furthermore, the photosensitizing dye, oxygen, the object to be processed, and light can be reliably brought into contact with each other at the distal end portion 85 of the optical fiber 74, and the object to be processed in the air can be made harmless efficiently.

  Moreover, the air purification apparatus 70 shown in this embodiment has a gas-liquid contact portion located in the return air duct 72 and a simple gas-liquid contact method, and the pressure loss associated with the gas-liquid contact is very small, and the object to be processed It is efficient because there is no need to separately prepare a device for conveying air containing objects, such as a fan.

  Further, by attaching the air purification device 70 to the return air line 50, even if the humidity in the air after purification increases, this air is sent to the air conditioner 44, where the temperature, humidity, etc. are adjusted, so that the building The humidity of the air sent into 42 does not increase extremely. As can be seen from this, when the air purification device 70 is incorporated into the air conditioning system 40, it is preferable to incorporate the air purification device 70 into the return air line 50. Further, it is more preferable that the air purifying device 70 is incorporated in a position in the middle of the return air line 50 and close to the air conditioner 44. If the humidity in the air after purification discharged from the air purification device 70 is high and the distance to the air conditioner 44 is long, there is a risk that drainage may occur in the return air line 50. The generation of drain can be suppressed by shortening the distance.

  In the present embodiment, the air conditioner 44 is provided with the air filter 54, the cooler 56, the heater 58, and the humidifier 60. However, the air conditioner is only a temperature adjusting device capable of adjusting the temperature. Of course it is good.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an air purification device 95 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The air purifying device 95 shown in FIG. 5 is an example of being incorporated in the air conditioning system 40, similarly to the air purifying device 70 shown in FIG. Since the configuration of the air conditioning system 40 and the manner in which the air purification device 95 is incorporated into the air conditioning system 40 are the same as those of the air purification device 70 shown in the third embodiment, description of this part is omitted. The same components as those of the air purification apparatuses 1, 35, and 70 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Since the air purification device 95 shown in FIG. 5 has a configuration similar to that of the air purification device 70 shown in FIG. 4, differences will be mainly described.

  Similar to the air purification device 70 shown in FIG. 4, the air purification device 95 is incorporated in the middle of the return air line 50 and in the vicinity of the air conditioner 44. In the air purification device 70 shown in FIG. 4, the tip 85 of the optical fiber 74 is installed so as to be located in the return air duct 72 and only the tip 85 of the optical fiber 74 emits light. A large number of rod-like light emitters 96 capable of transmitting light are attached so as to cover each optical fiber 74.

  A plurality of optical fibers 74 are positioned in a single rod-shaped light emitter 96 with their tip positions different from each other, and the rod-shaped light emitter 96 emits light entirely by light emitted from the optical fiber 74. One end 97 of the rod-shaped light emitter 96 penetrates slightly to the photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76 side in a state having a slight gap with a through hole 88 provided in the photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76, and forms a rod shape. The other end 98 of the light emitter 96 is in contact with the photosensitizing dye solution 13 stored in the photosensitizing dye solution recovery tank 78.

  In the air purification device 95 having the above-described configuration, the photosensitizing dye solution 13 flows down from the through hole 88 provided in the bottom of the photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 76 toward the return air duct 72. At this time, since the rod-shaped light emitter 96 is inserted through the through-hole 88 with a slight gap, the photosensitizing dye solution 13 flowing down from the through-hole 88 flows down along the outer wall of the rod-shaped light emitter 96. The photosensitizing dye solution 13 flowing down along the rod-shaped light emitter 96 comes into contact with the air containing the object to be processed passing through the return air duct 72 and takes in a part of the object to be processed in the air. The photosensitizing dye solution 13 containing these objects to be processed absorbs light from the rod-shaped light emitter 96 and excites oxygen in the photosensitizing dye solution 13 and oxygen passing through the return air duct 72 to generate singlet oxygen. The to-be-processed object taken into the photosensitizing dye solution 13 and the to-be-processed object in the air are rendered harmless. Note that the length of the rod-shaped light emitter 96 is random and is attached so that the tip position of the rod-shaped light emitter 96 is different from the center to the top of the return air duct 72 as in the optical fiber 74 of the air purifier 70 shown in FIG. May be.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an air purification device 100 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to the air purification apparatuses 1, 35, 70, and 95 shown in the first to fourth embodiments, the air purification apparatus 100 shown in the present embodiment also contains a photosensitizing dye dissolved in water and air containing an object to be processed. It is an apparatus that makes a gas-liquid contact portion irradiate light that excites a photosensitizing dye, generates singlet oxygen using a photosensitizing reaction, and detoxifies an object to be processed in the air. Hereinafter, the case where the air purification apparatus 100 is incorporated and used in the air conditioning system 40 similarly to the air purification apparatuses 70 and 95 shown in the third and fourth embodiments will be described as an example. Since the configuration of the air conditioning system 40 and the manner in which the air purification device 100 is incorporated into the air conditioning system 40 are the same as those of the air purification devices 70 and 95 shown in the third and fourth embodiments, the description of this part is omitted.

  The air purification apparatus 100 is connected to a plurality of cloths 102 installed in the return air duct 72 constituting the return air line 50 and the lower ends 103 of the cloths 102, similarly to the air purification apparatus 70 shown in the third embodiment. 102 is provided with a photosensitizing dye solution replenisher 104 for supplying the photosensitizing dye solution 13 to the ceiling 102 of the return air duct 72 and illuminating the cloth 102 with light.

  The cloth 102 has a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the return air duct 72 and is suspended in the return air duct 72 so that the lower end 103 is in contact with the photosensitizing dye solution supply body 104. The cloth 102 connects the photosensitizing dye solution supply body 104 and the lower end 103 to suck and hold the photosensitizing dye solution 13 held by the photosensitizing dye solution supply body 104 by capillary action. The sensitizing dye solution 13 is brought into contact with air containing an object to be processed that circulates in the return air duct 72. As described above, the cloth 102 is not limited to a specific cloth as long as it is a member exhibiting water absorption and capillary action, and may be a non-woven cloth. Since the cloth 102 comes into contact with the photosensitizing dye solution including the photosensitizing dye solution 103, it goes without saying that the cloth 102 must be resistant to these solutions. A plurality of cloths 102 are attached in parallel to the air flow in the return air duct 72. Thereby, there is little resistance of the air which distribute | circulates the inside of the return air dunk 72, and it is not necessary to prepare the apparatus which conveys the air containing a to-be-processed object separately.

  The photosensitizing dye solution supply body 104 is a member that supplies the cloth 102 with the photosensitizing dye solution 13 and is made of a solid material having water retention. The photosensitizing dye solution replenisher 104 can hold the photosensitizing dye solution 13 therein, and may be any solid material that can easily discharge the photosensitizing dye solution 13, such as a sponge, Cloth etc. can be used. It is preferable that more photosensitizing dye solution 13 can be retained inside.

  In the air purification apparatus 100 shown in the fifth embodiment, the photosensitizing dye solution 13 held by the cloth 102 is in contact with the air containing the object to be processed that passes through the return air duct 72, and is one of the objects to be processed in the air. Incorporate the department. The photosensitizing dye solution 13 containing these objects to be processed absorbs light emitted from the illumination device 106 and excites oxygen in the photosensitizing dye solution 13 and oxygen passing through the return air duct 72 to generate singlet oxygen. The processing object taken into the photosensitizing dye solution 13 and the processing object in the air are rendered harmless. Although the cloth 102 comes into contact with the circulating air flowing through the return air duct 72, water evaporates, but the photosensitizing dye solution 13 is sucked from the photosensitizing dye solution supply body 104 in contact therewith. Can always hold the photosensitizing dye solution 13. Needless to say, the illuminance may be increased by using an optical fiber, LED, or the like as necessary.

  The basic configuration and purification mechanism of the air purification device 100 shown in the fifth embodiment are the same as those of the air purification devices 1, 35, 70, and 95 shown in the first to fourth embodiments as described above. However, in the air purification apparatus 100 shown in the fifth embodiment, the photosensitizing dye solution 13 is held by the cloth 102 and the photosensitizing dye solution supply body 104. For this reason, there is little risk that the photosensitizing dye solution 13 spills into the return air duct 72 or leaks to the outside even when subjected to vibration or impact from the outside. For this reason, it is possible to perform air purification that is suitably incorporated into an air conditioning system for a transportation device such as a train such as a bullet train that receives vibration, an airplane, or a ship.

  FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air purification device 120 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The same members as those of the air purification apparatuses 1, 35, 70, 95, and 100 shown in the first to fifth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the air purification apparatuses 1, 35, 70, 95, and 100 shown in the first to fifth embodiments, a part of an object to be processed in the air is photosensitized using one apparatus, for example, a photosensitizing reaction tower. While being taken in by the dye solution 13, the collected object to be processed and the object to be processed in the air are detoxified using a photosensitization reaction. The air purification device 120 removes the object to be processed in the air with a cleaning liquid. The difference is that the apparatus for taking in and the apparatus for detoxifying the object to be processed in the taken-in cleaning liquid using a photosensitizing reaction are completely separated.

  The air purifying device 120 brings the air containing the object to be processed into contact with the cleaning liquid, takes the object to be processed into the cleaning liquid and cleans the air, and the cleaning liquid containing the object to be processed taken in by the air cleaning device 122. A photosensitizing reaction column 124 that generates singlet oxygen by photosensitizing reaction and renders the object to be harmless, an irradiation device 126 that irradiates light of a predetermined wavelength into the photosensitizing reaction column 124, photosensitizing An air supply device (not shown) for supplying air that does not include an object to be processed is provided to the sensitive reaction tower 124.

  The air cleaning device 122 is a packed tower type reaction device, and has a cylindrical tower body 130. The tower main body 130 is filled with a filler 132 for improving the gas-liquid contact efficiency, and a spray nozzle 134 for spraying a cleaning liquid is attached to the upper part of the filler 132. The spray nozzle 134 is connected to the lower portion of the tower main body 130 via a circulation line 136, and a circulation pump 138 interposed in the circulation line 136 sends the cleaning liquid 140 to the spray nozzle 134. While the cleaning liquid 140 falls in the tower main body 130, the cleaning liquid 140 comes into gas-liquid contact with air containing an object to be processed that is sent from the bottom of the tower main body 130 and rises in the tower main body 130. As a result, the object to be processed in the air is absorbed or collected by the cleaning liquid 140. The purified air is discharged out of the system via the exhaust line 143 after the mist is collected by the demister 142 provided at the upper part of the tower main body 130. The exhaust line 143 may be provided with a circulation line 144 to circulate air.

  The cleaning liquid used here is not particularly limited as long as it can absorb or collect the object to be treated in the air or take in by other methods and does not adversely affect the photosensitizing dye. Absent. For example, it is possible to use water, a mixed solution of an organic solvent and water, or the like, and it is more preferable if the object to be processed can be taken in more quickly. You may add the chemical | medical agent which promotes absorption and collection of a to-be-processed object to a washing | cleaning liquid as needed.

  The photosensitized reaction column 124 is a bubble column type reaction apparatus, and the basic configuration is the same as that of the photosensitized reaction column 5 shown in the first embodiment. In the tower main body 146, a photosensitizing dye solution 13 in which a photosensitizing dye is dissolved in water is held, and a cleaning liquid containing an object to be processed is sent from the air cleaning device 122 through a supply pipe 148. In the photosensitization reaction column 124, air that does not include an object to be processed and is supplied from an air supply device (not shown) is supplied via the air blowing nozzle 150. A photosensitization reaction occurs due to air that does not contain the processed material and light irradiated from the irradiation device 126, and the processed material in the cleaning liquid is rendered harmless. The cleaning water sent from the air cleaning device 122 is rendered harmless here and discharged from the overflow pipe 152.

  In the air purification apparatus 120 shown in the sixth embodiment, since the object to be processed is present in the liquid in the photosensitization reaction column 124, the average residence time of the object to be processed in the photosensitization reaction tower 124 is ensured to be long. The object to be processed can be rendered harmless. Further, the air purifying device 120 is completely separated from the air cleaning device 122 for removing the object to be treated in the air and the device for detoxifying the object to be treated with singlet oxygen, so that the object to be treated in the air is removed. And the step of detoxifying the object to be processed with singlet oxygen can be separated. As a result, even if the object to be processed has a slow oxidation rate due to singlet oxygen, the object to be processed can be rendered harmless in the photosensitizing reaction column 124 over time. Furthermore, the photosensitizing reaction column 124 can be made compact, and the apparatus cost can be suppressed.

  In the air purification devices 35, 70, 95, 100, and 120 shown in the second to sixth embodiments, the photosensitizing dye is not limited to rose bengal, and the liquid in which the photosensitizing dye is dispersed is not limited to water. It is the same as the air purification apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment that the installation procedure of the light irradiation apparatus can be changed.

  Since the air purification apparatus according to the present invention detoxifies the object to be treated in the air using singlet oxygen, the object to be treated is not particularly limited as long as it can be detoxified with singlet oxygen. Examples of the object to be treated include emerging viruses such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and SARS and a new swine-derived influenza virus, viruses that spread through air, bacteria, and odor substances such as methyl mercaptan. The poliovirus used in the experiments described below is a single-stranded RNA virus that does not have an envelope belonging to the Picornaviridae family and is relatively strong against various disinfectants. In this experiment, it was confirmed that poliovirus can be inactivated using a photosensitization reaction. Furthermore, a high inactivation effect was confirmed against viruses having an envelope such as influenza virus. From this result, the present invention can be suitably used as an air purification device, an air purification method, a virus inactivation method, and an odor substance deodorization method.

Example 1
A cylindrical glass container was filled with 25 ml of a 10 μM Rose Bengal aqueous solution in which Rose Bengal was dissolved in ultrapure water. An air supply pipe made of a glass thin tube was inserted into the liquid from the top of the glass container, and a light source was installed at a location about 5 cm away from the outer wall of the glass container. Poliovirus type 1 (Sabinl type vaccine strain) was added to the rose bengal aqueous solution to a concentration of about 5 × 10 ⁶ PFU / ml, and at the same time, 100 ml / min of air was supplied from the air supply pipe. Was irradiated with light. After this time was set to 0 minutes, air supply and light irradiation were continued. During this time, a portion of the rose bengal aqueous solution was collected, and the infectivity of the virus was measured by the Plaque method using Vero cells. As Comparative Example 1, an experiment with light shielding was performed. Other conditions are the same as those in Example 1. Further, as Comparative Example 2, an experiment was conducted in the case of using water without adding rose bengal. Other conditions are the same as those in Example 1.

The result of the experiment is shown in FIG. In Example 1, the virus infectivity titer gradually decreased with time, and was 1.0 × 10 ⁶ PFU / 0.2 ml immediately after the addition (0 minutes), but at 180 minutes after the end of the experiment. It was 7.0 × 10 ³ PFU / 0.2 ml. In Comparative Example 1, the virus infectivity value for 180 minutes at the end of the experiment was 3.5 × 10 ⁵ PFU / 0.2 ml. In Comparative Example 2, no reduction in virus infectivity was observed.

Example 2
The experiment was conducted by setting the concentration of rose bengal to 100 μM, which is 10 times the concentration of Example 1. Other conditions are the same as those in the first embodiment. As Comparative Example 3, an experiment with light shielding was performed. Other conditions are the same as those in Example 2.

  The result of the experiment is shown in FIG. In Example 2, the virus infectivity titer decreased with time, and was below the detection limit (<1.0 PFU / 0.2 ml) 180 minutes after the end of the experiment. In Comparative Example 3, no reduction in virus infectivity was observed.

Example 3
The other conditions were the same as in Example 1 except that A virus was used as the virus and the initial concentration was 6.0 × 10 ³ PFU / 0.2 ml. Comparative Example 4 corresponds to Comparative Example 2.

  The result of the experiment is shown in FIG. In Example 3, it was less than the detection limit (<5.0 PFU / 0.2 ml) in 5 minutes after the start of the experiment.

Example 4
Other conditions were the same as in Example 1 except that influenza B virus was used as the virus and the initial concentration was 1.5 × 10 ⁵ PFU / 0.2 ml. Comparative Example 5 corresponds to Comparative Example 2.

  The result of the experiment is shown in FIG. In Example 4, it was 1.0 × 10 PFU / 0.2 ml 5 minutes after the start of the experiment, and was less than the detection limit (<5.0 PFU / 0.2 ml) 10 minutes after the start of the experiment.

Example 5
The other conditions were the same as in Example 1, except that herpes simplex virus was used as the virus and the initial concentration was 1.0 × 10 ⁵ TCLD ₅₀ /0.2 ml. Comparative Example 6 corresponds to Comparative Example 2.

  The result of the experiment is shown in FIG. In Example 5, it was less than the detection limit (<5.0 PFU / 0.2 ml) in 5 minutes after the start of the experiment.

Example 6
Other conditions were the same as in Example 1 except that calicivirus was used as the virus and the initial concentration was 1.2 × 10 ⁵ PFU / 0.2 ml. Comparative Example 7 and Comparative Example 8 correspond to Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2.

The result of the experiment is shown in FIG. In Example 6, it was 3.0 × 10 ³ PFU / 0.2 ml 5 minutes after the start of the experiment, and was less than the detection limit (<5.0 PFU / 0.2 ml) 15 minutes after the start of the experiment.

Example 7
Other conditions are the same as in Example 1, except that swine-derived new influenza virus (H1pdm) was used as the virus and the initial concentration was 2.0 × 10 ⁴ PFU / 0.2 ml. Comparative Example 9 corresponds to Comparative Example 2.

  The result of the experiment is shown in FIG. In Example 7, it became 3.0 × 10 PFU / 0.2 ml 5 minutes after the start of the experiment, and was less than the detection limit (<5.0 PFU / 0.2 ml) after 15 minutes.

Example 8
A schematic configuration of the experimental apparatus is shown in FIG. The photosensitization reaction tower is composed of a spray tower type photosensitization reaction tower 160 and a bubble tower type photosensitization reaction tower 162, and has illumination devices 164 and 166, respectively. The tower bodies of the photosensitized reaction towers 160 and 162 are cylindrical containers made of a colorless transparent acrylic resin and having an inner diameter of 200 mm and a height of 1400 mm. The illumination devices 164 and 166 used four white fluorescent lamps of 1200 mm and 32 W in length as visible light sources, respectively, and were evenly arranged around the photosensitized reaction towers 160 and 162. The distance between the white fluorescent lamp and the tower bodies of the photosensitized reaction towers 160 and 162 was about 100 mm. The two photosensitizing reaction towers 160 and 162 are connected via a liquid circulation line 168 and a liquid circulation pump 170, and a photosensitizing dye solution is placed between the two photosensitizing reaction towers 160 and 162. It was circulated. The air containing the object to be processed is filled in a tank 172 having an internal volume of about 40 L, the air containing the object to be processed is sent to the photosensitizing reaction tower 160 by the blower 174, and the air discharged from the photosensitizing reaction tower 160 is The gas was returned to the gas tank 172 via the gas circulation line 176. The photosensitized reaction tower 162 was blown with air containing no object to be processed using a glass thin tube 178.

As the photosensitizing dye solution, a Rose Bengal aqueous solution having a concentration of 10 μM was used. The total amount of the Rose Bengal aqueous solution was 50 L, and the discharge amount of the liquid circulation pump 170 was 12 L / min. The object to be treated was methyl mercaptan, the concentration was 40 ppm, and the concentration of methyl mercaptan was measured with a pocketable multigas monitor GX-2001 (manufactured by Riken Keiki Co., Ltd.). The amount of air blown into the photosensitized reaction tower 162 was 0.5 L / min. The blower 174 has an air flow rate of 3 m ³ / min.

  The blower 174, the liquid circulation pump 170, and the lighting devices 164 and 166 were activated, and while the methyl mercaptan was absorbed into the rose bengal aqueous solution, singlet oxygen was generated to decompose the methyl mercaptan. Within 5 minutes from the start of the experiment, the methyl mercaptan concentration in the tank 172 decreased to 7.5 ppm. The concentration of methyl mercaptan in the Rose Bengal aqueous solution decreased to 1/3 in 1.5 hours.

Example 9
The amount of air blown into the photosensitized reaction tower 162 was 8 L / min. Other conditions are the same as in Example 8. As a result of the experiment, the concentration of methyl mercaptan in the Rose Bengal aqueous solution was completely decomposed in 1 minute.

Example 10
A schematic configuration of the experimental apparatus is shown in FIG. The photosensitization reaction tower is composed of a spray tower type photosensitization reaction tower 180 and a bubble tower type photosensitization reaction tower 182, and has illumination devices 184 and 186, respectively. The photosensitizing reaction towers 180 and 182 are made of a colorless and transparent acrylic resin. The photosensitizing reaction tower 180 has an inner diameter of 80 mm and a height of 210 mm. The photosensitizing reaction tower 182 has an inner diameter of 80 mm and a height. It is a 260 mm cylindrical container. For the lighting devices 184 and 186, white fluorescent lamps were used as visible light sources, respectively, and they were equally arranged around the photosensitized reaction towers 180 and 182. The two photosensitizing reaction towers 180 and 182 are connected via a liquid circulation line 188 and a liquid circulation pump 190, and a photosensitizing dye solution is placed between the two photosensitizing reaction towers 180 and 182. It was circulated. The air in the photosensitization reaction tower is circulated in the photosensitization reaction tower 180 by the blower 192 installed outside the photosensitization reaction tower 180 so that the air flows upward in the photosensitization reaction tower 180. I let you. The photosensitized reaction tower 182 was blown with air containing no object to be processed using a glass thin tube 198 and discharged to the outside from a sample collection port 196 provided at the top.

  A 10 μM Rose Bengal aqueous solution was used as the photosensitizing dye solution, and the total amount of the Rose Bengal aqueous solution was 2.4 L. The illuminance is 3500 lux for the photosensitized reaction tower 180 and 6000 lux for the photosensitized reaction tower 182.

While operating the apparatus, A Soviet influenza virus was added from the sample collection port so that the final concentration in the aqueous solution was 2.5 × 10 ² PFU / 0.2 ml. Five minutes, 15 minutes and 30 minutes after addition, 1 ml of an aqueous solution was collected, and the virus infectivity was measured. In Comparative Example 10, pure water was used instead of the Rose Bengal aqueous solution.

  The results are shown in Table 1. In the Rose Bengal aqueous solution, no infectious virus was detected even 5 minutes after virus addition. On the other hand, in Comparative Example 10, the decrease in infectivity was slight even 30 minutes after the addition of virus.

Example 11
A schematic configuration of the experimental apparatus is shown in FIG. The experimental apparatus shown in FIG. 17 is an open system, whereas the experimental apparatus of FIG. 16 is a closed system. The same members as those in FIG. 16 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The A-Soviet influenza virus is performed by flowing air containing the A-Soviet influenza virus into the gas phase portion of the photosensitizing reaction tower 180 using the atomizer 200, and the top of the photosensitizing reaction tower 180. The air flowing out from the air was passed through an epin jar 202 filled with 40 ml of virus maintenance medium, and the virus in the air flowing out was captured and collected.

While operating the apparatus, a total of 40 ml of virus solution was continuously sprayed using a nebulizer for 120 minutes using a soviet influenza virus having a concentration of 3.0 × 10 ² PFU / 0.2 ml. After 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 75 minutes, 90 minutes, 105 minutes and 120 minutes of spraying, 1 ml of circulating rose bengal aqueous solution is collected from the sample collection port 196 and maintained in the epin jar 202 A part of the medium was also collected and the virus infectivity was measured.

  The results are shown in Table 2. It was thought that most of the virus added in the atomized state was dispersed in the aqueous solution circulating in the apparatus by being trapped in the Rose Bencal aqueous solution sprayed in the form of a shower in the photosensitizing reaction tower 180. . On the other hand, the virus in the air that did not come into contact with the rose bengal aqueous solution in the photosensitizing reaction tower 180 is finally trapped in the epin jar 200, but the amount is extremely small, 120 minutes after the start of spraying. Only 2 infectious viruses (2.0 PFU) were confirmed in 12 ml of the maintenance medium in Epinger, and in this experiment, most of the viruses in the air introduced into the photosensitization reaction tower 180 were in the apparatus. And was inactivated in an aqueous solution.

  Under visible light conditions, 300 ml of a 10 μM concentration rose bengal aqueous solution was used, the air flow rate was 50 mL / min, and the decomposition rate of odorous compounds in the aqueous solution was measured. The measurement results are shown in Table 3. Methyl mercaptan was completely decomposed within 10 minutes, skatole was completely decomposed within 60 minutes, and methyl sulfide was decomposed to 96% within 60 minutes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air purification apparatus 3, 5 Photosensitization reaction tower 7, 9 Photosensitization reaction tower 13 Photosensitizing dye solution 19 Gas-liquid contact part 35 Air purification apparatus 36 Photosensitization reaction tower 38 Illumination apparatus 40 Air conditioning system 42 Building 46 Room 48 Air supply line 50 Return air line 70 Air purifier 72 Return air duct 74 Optical fiber 76 Photosensitizing dye solution supply tank 78 Photosensitizing dye solution recovery tank 82 Light source 84 Reflector plate 85 Optical fiber tip 95 Air purifier 96 Bar-shaped luminous body 100 Air purification device 102 Cloth 104 Photosensitizing dye solution replenisher 106 Illumination device 120 Air purification device 122 Air cleaning device 124 Photosensitization reaction tower 126 Irradiation device 140 Cleaning fluid 160 Photosensitization reaction tower 162 Photosensitization Reaction tower 164 Lighting device 166 Lighting device 180 Photosensitized reaction tower 182 Photosensitized reaction tower 184 Lighting device 86 lighting device

Claims (6)

A spray tower type photosensitizing reaction apparatus that holds a liquid containing a photosensitizing dye and makes the liquid containing the virus- containing air and the liquid come into gas-liquid contact;
Irradiation means for irradiating the liquid in the photosensitizing reaction device with light for exciting a photosensitizing dye,
Wherein with the virus in the air taking in the liquid to generate singlet oxygen by photosensitization reaction detoxify the virus air purifier apparatus characterized by purifying the air. Serial mounting of the air purifier to claim 1, wherein the photosensitizing dye is rose bengal. The air purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the virus is a virus having an envelope . The air purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the virus is a virus having no envelope . Air containing the virus, wherein the bus, train, airplane, air in the transport device of the public transport, including boat, or hospitals, department stores, claim 1, characterized in that the air in a building comprising a barn Item 5. The air purification device according to any one of items 4 to 4. The traffic device or buildings, transportation equipment inside or an air conditioning system for an air conditioner while circulating air in the building,
The said air purification apparatus is integrated in the return line of the circulating air of the said air conditioning system, detoxifies the virus in the return circulating air, and purifies the air in the said transportation equipment or a building . Air purification equipment.

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