JPH05220474A - Water cleaning device with filter for removing iron rust - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform efficiently regeneration of a filter for removing iron rust while the filter for removing iron rust is placed in a water cleaning device. CONSTITUTION:In a water cleaning device wherein a filter for removing iron rust is placed in a water passing channel, the filter for removing iron rust consists of an electrically conductive porous body such as glassy carbon. A cathode 50 is connected with this filter 22 for removing iron rust and an anode 70 is provided each between these filters 22 for removing iron rust and cathodes 50 through electrolytic diaphragm 60 in such a way that a voltage can be applied between the cathode 50 and the anode 70 by means of a const. electric current apparatus 80 to make iron rust stuck to the filter 22 for removing iron rust flow off by performing reduction and solubilizing the iron rust based on electrolytic reaction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifier with an iron rust removal filter, and more particularly to a water purifier that is attached to a faucet part of a water supply and uses various filters to purify water. The present invention relates to a water purifier equipped with a filter for removing iron rust contained in water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, deterioration of the water quality environment has become a problem, such as eutrophication and pollution of lakes and reservoirs, and the water quality of waterworks using such water sources as raw water. Is getting worse. For example, the inclusion of musty odorous substances (diosmin, 2-methylisoborneol) produced by phytoplankton, trihalomethane, which is a carcinogen, and the like is a serious problem.

Conventionally, in order to remove harmful organic substances as described above from tap water so that delicious water can be drunk,
A water purifier that uses a filter function such as activated carbon is used. Such a water purifier can remove organic substances and the like in tap water only by attaching it to a faucet and passing tap water, and it has been widely used for general household use.

In addition to the above-mentioned organic substances, iron rust generated due to deterioration of water pipes has also been a problem as a factor that deteriorates the quality of tap water. Water containing iron rust,
It has a red color and not only causes visual discomfort, but also becomes a major taste problem. A water purifier equipped with a filter for removing the iron rust is also used. As a filter for removing iron rust, there are various materials and structures, but at present, a filter mainly using a hollow fiber membrane is mainly used.

However, a drawback of such a conventional iron rust removal filter is that it is easily clogged. To regenerate a clogged filter, a method of flushing iron rust by backflowing water is adopted. However, iron rust that has entered the small gaps of the filter cannot be washed out easily, and it is hard to say that this is an effective regeneration method. Therefore, the iron rust removal filter that has been used for a certain period of time has a declining water purification function, and thus it has to be replaced regularly, which is very troublesome. There is also a problem that the replacement cost of the iron rust removal filter is high. Conventionally, there has been no water purifier with a long-life iron rust removal filter that can be used for a long period of time without replacement.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to keep the iron rust removing filter in the water purifier without replacing it,
An object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can easily and reliably eliminate the clogging of the iron rust removal filter and regenerate the water purification function of the iron rust removal filter.

[0007]

A water purifier with an iron rust removing filter according to the present invention which solves the above problems is an iron rust removing filter in a water purifier in which an iron rust removing filter is housed in a water passage. Consists of a conductive porous body,
A cathode is connected to the iron rust removal filter, an anode is provided between the iron rust removal filter and the cathode through an electrolytic diaphragm, and a voltage can be applied between the cathode and the anode. And

The iron rust removal filter is a porous filter material having various iron rust removal functions that has been used in conventional water purifiers, and one having conductivity that can serve as an electrode for an electrolytic reaction to be described later. Used. Specific examples thereof include glassy carbon and compression-molded fibrous activated carbon. The iron rust removal filter is housed in the cathode chamber, and the cathode chamber is provided with the cathode electrically connected to the iron rust removal filter. Further, an anode is provided between the cathode chamber and the cathode chamber through an electrolytic diaphragm. The electrolytic diaphragm is made of a material that has low electrochemical resistance and can block the passage of reaction products generated by electrolysis. Specifically, the electrolytic diaphragm is a porcelain diaphragm or glass filter made by unglazed,
Materials for various electrolytic diaphragms used in ordinary electrolysis devices such as ion exchange resin membranes are used. As a material for the anode and the cathode, a material is used in which hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are difficult to generate when water is electrolyzed by applying a voltage between the electrodes, and which is not eluted into water by electrolysis.
Specifically, Pt, carbon, glassy carbon, or metal oxide is used as the anode, and the same conductive material as the iron rust removal filter can be used as the cathode. Carbon is used.

The cathode chamber containing the cathode and the iron rust removal filter and the space containing the anode are isolated except for the electrolytic diaphragm. A battery housed in the water purifier or a power source such as an external power source is connected to the anode and the cathode so that a voltage can be applied between both electrodes. The applied voltage or current may be set in a range in which water is satisfactorily electrolyzed between the anode and the cathode and the desired electrolytic reaction efficiently occurs, and the applied voltage or current can be set in the same range as in a normal electrolysis apparatus. Specifically, the applied voltage is 100 V or less and the current density is 10 ⁻⁴ to
It is preferably performed at 1000 A / m ^{2 or} less.

In addition to the iron rust removal filter, the water purifier can be provided with a water purification treatment structure using various filters such as the above-mentioned activated carbon. The iron rust removal filter is
It may be provided at any position in the water passage. However, if an activated carbon storage unit that removes organic substances is provided, arrange the activated carbon storage unit upstream of the iron rust removal filter to send water after the iron rust has been removed to the activated carbon storage unit. By removing the organic substance, the water purification treatment can be performed more efficiently, and both the iron rust removal filter and the activated carbon can exhibit good water purification performance.

The material and the structure of the activated carbon contained in the water purifier are such that the water passing through the water purifier passes through the activated carbon accommodation section and the harmful components such as organic substances in the water are adsorbed and removed by the activated carbon. If so, it may be the same as in the case of a normal water purifier. An activated carbon regeneration processing means can be provided in the activated carbon accommodating portion. The activated carbon regeneration treatment is a treatment for regenerating the water purification function of the activated carbon by decomposing and removing the organic substance adsorbed on the activated carbon. This regeneration treatment can be performed by taking out the activated carbon from the water purifier and treating it outside, but it is preferable if the activated carbon is regenerated in the water purifier.

As a means for regenerating the activated carbon provided in the water purifier, an anode is provided in the accommodating portion of the activated carbon, a cathode separated from the anode and the accommodating portion of the activated carbon by an electrolytic diaphragm, and a voltage is applied between both electrodes. It is possible to adopt a method in which an active chemical species is generated on the anode side by the electrolysis action generated at this time, and the active chemical species is allowed to act on the activated carbon to decompose and remove the organic substance and the like adsorbed on the activated carbon. The material and structure of each electrode and the electrolytic diaphragm may be the same as those of the electrolytic device portion in the iron rust removal filter accommodating portion or various ordinary electrolytic devices. However, it is different in that an iron rust removal filter is provided with a cathode in the accommodating portion to cause a reduction reaction, while an anode is provided in the activated carbon accommodating portion to generate an active chemical species as an oxidant. There is.

In the case where the water purifier is provided with the iron rust removal filter and the activated carbon accommodating portion at the same time, when the iron rust component accumulated in the iron rust removal filter is removed, the iron rust component is clogged in the activated carbon accommodating portion. When activated, the water purification function of activated carbon may be impaired. Therefore, if the water supplied to the accommodating portion of the iron rust removal filter is provided with a drainage means capable of discharging the water without passing through the accommodating portion of the activated carbon, the above problem can be solved. Specifically, in combination with a switching valve and a bypass water passage, the water supplied to the water purifier is sequentially discharged through the storage portion of the iron rust removal filter and the storage portion of activated carbon and is discharged from the discharge port, It is possible to selectively switch between a state in which the communication between the housing part of the iron rust removal filter and the housing part of the activated carbon is cut off, and the water supplied to the housing part of the iron rust removal filter can be directly discarded to the outside of the water purifier. You can leave it as it is.

[0014]

Function Normally, when water is electrolyzed, oxygen and hydrogen are produced, but various elementary reactions other than this occur at the anode and the cathode. It is known that a reduction reaction occurs on the cathode side. According to the present invention, a cathode is provided in the accommodating portion of the iron rust removing filter, and an electrolytic action is caused between the cathode and the iron rust removing filter made of a conductive material and the anode provided via the electrolytic partition. Then, the above-described reduction reaction occurs on the iron rust removal filter and the cathode side, and the iron rust attached to the iron rust removal filter is reduced.

An example of the reaction at this time is as follows. Fe ₂ O ₃ + 2e ⁻ + H ₂ O → 2FeO + 2OH ⁻ FeO + H ₂ O → Fe ^{2 +} + 2OH ^{− The} reduced iron rust component dissolves in water and is easily discharged to the outside together with water that passes through the iron rust removal filter. Will end up. That is, iron rust adheres to the iron rust removal filter as an insoluble molecule such as Fe ₂ O ₃ , but since it changes to a water-soluble state like Fe ^{2 +} ions, iron rust is removed. It easily passes through the filter gap and flows out with the water.

In the present invention, since the iron rust removing filter itself has conductivity and functions as a cathode, the iron rust adhering to the surface of the iron rust removing filter can be efficiently reduced, and Iron rust adhering to the inside or inside of the rust removal filter can also be solubilized well and removed.

[0017]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Inside the water purifier 1 having a substantially cylindrical shape, a cylindrical activated carbon accommodating portion 30 is provided on the upper side, and a cylindrical iron rust removing filter accommodating portion 20 on the lower side is also provided. ing. The activated carbon accommodation portion 30 is filled with activated carbon 32, and the support nets 34 are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the activated carbon accommodation portion 30 so that the activated carbon 32 does not escape.
34 is attached. The iron rust containing portion 20 is filled with an iron rust removing filter 22 made of glassy carbon, and the support net 24 is also provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the iron rust containing portion 20 so that the iron rust removing filter 22 does not come out. Two
4 is attached.

The upper part of the activated carbon accommodating portion 30 is connected to the discharge nozzle 12 for taking out the purified water. A water passage 26 extends at a lower portion of the iron rust removal filter housing portion 20, and an outer water passage space 16 of the iron rust removal filter housing portion 20 is passed through a water intake valve 44 provided in the water passage 26.
Connected to. This outside water passage space 16 is the water purifier 1
It is also connected to the raw water supply pipe 14 at the lower part of the. Also,
A drain pipe 19 is connected to the water passage 26 via the drain valve 18, and the drain pipe 19 is open to the outside of the water purifier 1.

The activated carbon accommodating portion 30 and the iron rust removing filter accommodating portion 20 are vertically communicated with each other, and the activated carbon accommodating portion 30 side and the iron rust removing filter accommodating portion 2 are located in the middle of the communicating portions.
A three-way cock 40 capable of arbitrarily switching the three-way communication state with the 0 side and the regeneration water intake 42 side connected to the outer water passage space 16 is attached. Inside the iron rust removal filter accommodating portion 20, a cathode 50 made of a mesh-like glassy carbon formed in a cylindrical shape is attached to the lateral outer periphery of the iron rust removal filter 22, and the outside of the cathode 50 is also the same. An electrolytic diaphragm 50 made of a cylindrical unglazed body is provided, and an anode 70 made of a cylindrical magnetite plate is provided in close contact with the outside of the electrolytic diaphragm 50. The cathode 50 and the anode 70 are connected to a constant current device 80 provided on the upper portion of the water purifier 1.

Normally, when using the water purifier 1, the intake valve 44 is opened and the drain valve 18 is closed. 3-way cock 40
Is the activated carbon storage portion 30 and the iron rust removal filter storage portion 20.
Are communicated with each other, and are switched to a state of being disconnected from the outer water passage space 16. When the water is supplied from the supply pipe 14 to the water purifier 1, the water enters the iron rust removal filter accommodating portion 20 through the water intake valve 44 and the water passage 26, and the iron rust removal filter 22 removes the iron rust from the water. After being removed, it enters the activated carbon accommodating portion 30, where organic substances and the like are removed by the activated carbon 32, and the water thus purified is discharged into the discharge nozzle 12
It is used for various purposes.

While the water purifier 1 is used, iron rust is accumulated in the iron rust removal filter 22, and the water purification capacity is reduced. Therefore, the iron rust removal filter 22 is regenerated. At this time, the water intake valve 44 is closed, the drain valve 18 is opened, and the three-way cock 40 is connected to the water intake port 42 during regeneration and the iron rust removal filter housing portion 20 side, and the activated carbon housing portion 30.
Switch to the state of being cut off from the side. In this state, the water introduced from the supply pipe 14 enters the iron rust removal filter housing portion 20 from the opposite direction to the iron rust removal filter 22 through the regeneration water intake 42 from the outer water passage space 16. After passing, it flows from the water passage 26 to the drain valve 18 and the drain pipe 19, and is discarded to the outside of the water purifier 1.

When a current is passed between the cathode 50 and the anode 70 in the constant current device 80 described above, the electrolysis of water is performed.
An oxidation reaction occurs at the anode 70, and a reduction reaction occurs at the cathode 50. The reduction reaction also occurs on the surface of the iron rust removing filter 22 that is in contact with the cathode 50. By the reduction reaction on the surface of the iron rust removal filter 22, the insoluble iron rust adhering to the iron rust removal filter 22 is reduced and solubilized. The solubilized iron rust component is carried along with the water flow, is discarded from the water passage 26 through the drain pipe 19, and does not flow into the activated carbon accommodation unit 30. In addition, since water flows in the iron rust removal filter 22 in the direction opposite to that in the normal use of purified water, the iron rust clogged in the iron rust removal filter 22 can easily come out.

After the iron rust has been sufficiently removed, if the valves 44, 18, 40 are switched again, the regenerated iron rust removal filter 22 can restore the good water purification function. Next, more specific examples will be described. -Example- The water purifier 1 of the said structure shown in FIG. 1 was used. The iron rust removal filter accommodating portion 20 has a capacity of 150 cc, and the inside thereof is filled with an iron rust removal filter 22 made of glassy carbon having a diameter of 5 cm, a height of 5 cm and a porosity of 97%, and the outside thereof. A cathode 50 made of reticulated glassy carbon formed into a cylindrical shape having a diameter of 5.4 cm, a height of 5 cm, and a thickness of 2 mm is attached to the outside of the cathode 50, and a diameter of 6 cm, a height of 5 cm, and a thickness of 3 mm. Cylindrical unglazed electrolytic diaphragm 60
Is attached, and further on the outer side thereof, an anode 70 made of a magnetite plate is attached.

Using the water purifier 1 having the above-described structure, first, each valve was set to a normal water purification state and water was supplied from the supply pipe 14, and the iron rust removal filter was discharged from the discharge nozzle 12. Water was obtained that was well purified with 22 and activated carbon 32. When the iron rust removal filter 22 was used for a certain period of time and the water purification function of the iron rust removal filter 22 deteriorated, the regeneration treatment was performed according to the procedure described above. With the constant current device 8, the current of 100 mA is 3
The power was turned on for 0 minutes. The voltage at this time was 20V. As a result, the iron rust adhering to the iron rust removal filter 22 was reduced and solubilized, and was discharged from the discharge nozzle 12. After that, when it is subjected to normal use, water that has been satisfactorily purified is obtained, and the iron rust removal filter 22
It was confirmed that the water purification function of was sufficiently regenerated.

[0025]

As described above, the water purifier with the iron rust removal filter according to the present invention reduces the iron rust using the electrolytic action with respect to the iron rust removal filter housed in the water purifier. By solubilizing, iron rust can be easily and efficiently removed from the iron rust removal filter, and the water purification function of the iron rust removal filter can be regenerated. Moreover,
The structure required to regenerate the iron rust removal filter is relatively simple and does not occupy space, such as electrodes and electrolytic diaphragms, so it is compact and compact even when installed in a water purifier.

If the water purifier has a function of regenerating the iron rust removal filter, it is not necessary to replace the iron rust removal filter or regenerate the iron rust removal filter to the outside, so that the water purifier can be used. It is easy to maintain and manage, and easy to handle. Therefore, it is extremely useful as a household water purifier for which it is difficult to perform sufficient maintenance work, and can greatly contribute to the spread of the water purifier and the expansion of its uses.

If the water purifier is provided with the iron rust removal function of the iron rust removal filter and the organic substance removal function of the activated carbon, the water can be purified more favorably. By removing iron rust in water with the iron rust removal filter and then removing organic substances with activated carbon, both the iron rust removal filter and the water purification function of the activated carbon can be effectively utilized, and the iron rust removal filter is regenerated. Processing can be performed efficiently.

When the iron rust removal filter is regenerated,
If the solubilized iron rust component is prevented from flowing into the activated carbon, the solubilized iron rust component will not be clogged with the activated carbon and can be reliably discarded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional structural view of a water purifier showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water purifier 12 Discharge nozzle 14 Supply pipe 20 Cathode chamber (iron rust removal filter storage part) 22 Iron rust removal filter 30 Activated carbon storage part 50 Cathode 60 Electrolytic diaphragm 70 Anode 80 Constant current device

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 2, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The activated carbon accommodating portion 30 and the iron rust removing filter accommodating portion 20 are vertically communicated with each other, and the activated carbon accommodating portion 30 side and the iron rust removing filter accommodating portion 2 are located in the middle of the communicating portions.
A three-way cock 40 capable of arbitrarily switching the three-way communication state with the 0 side and the regeneration water intake 42 side connected to the outer water passage space 16 is attached. Inside the iron rust removal filter accommodating portion 20, a cathode 50 made of a mesh-like glassy carbon formed in a cylindrical shape is attached to the lateral outer periphery of the iron rust removal filter 22, and the outside of the cathode 50 is also the same. An electrolytic diaphragm 60 made of a cylindrical unglazed body is provided, and an anode 70 made of a cylindrical magnetite plate is provided in close contact with the outside of the electrolytic diaphragm 60 . The cathode 50 and the anode 70 are connected to a constant current device 80 provided on the upper portion of the water purifier 1.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Atsuko Kishimoto 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a water purifier in which an iron rust removal filter is housed in a water passage, the iron rust removal filter is made of a conductive porous body, and a cathode is connected to the iron rust removal filter to remove these iron rust removal filters. A water purifier with an iron rust removal filter, characterized in that an anode is provided between a filter and a cathode via an electrolytic diaphragm, and a voltage can be applied between the cathode and the anode. 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein an iron rust removal filter is provided at a position different from the accommodation part of the iron rust removal filter, and the activated carbon accommodation part is provided upstream of the water passage. Water purifier. 3. The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein the water supplied to the housing portion of the iron rust removal filter is provided with a drainage means capable of discharging the water without passing through the housing portion of the activated carbon. Water purifier.