JPH06182159A - Device for removing electrolyte component - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a compact, portable device for removing electrolyte component, which is easy to maintain. CONSTITUTION:The device for removing electrolyte components comprises a module in which hollow yarn membranes 18 are firmly fastened, tubular paths 28, 30 which supply an electrolyte solution to an area outside or inside the hollow yarn membrane, a reservoir 26, and a pump 24 which circulates the electrolyte solution between the reservoir and an area outside or inside the hollow yarn membrane 18. In addition, a metal coat is formed on the area outside or inside the hollow yarn membrane 18, and the areas outside and inside the hollow yarn membrane 18 are electrically charged reversely to each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for removing an electrolyte component in an electrolyte solution, and more particularly to a device for removing a hollow fiber membrane.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of removing devices of this type have been known, for example, The Chemical Society Japan, 59, 3347-3349 (19).
86).

This conventional example relates to removing alkali salts from an aqueous solution, and more specifically, an electrode chamber in which a central carbon electrode (positive electrode) and activated carbon are provided in a porous ceramic tube, and potassium sulfate. And a circulation pump for circulating an electrolyte solution containing sodium sulfate between the electrode chamber and the sulfuric acid reservoir, and a platinum cathode electrode winding the electrode chamber, and the electrolyte solution is contained in the activated carbon (collector). In this method, sodium ions and potassium ions in the solution are trapped and concentrated, and sulfate ions are concentrated in the cathode chamber to remove the electrolyte component from the solution.

[0004]

However, in the above conventional removal device, a large amount of activated carbon is stored in the electrode chamber, and the electrode chamber is wound to provide the platinum electrode. There was a problem that it became relatively large. In addition, the activated carbon must be replaced after a certain period of time, which is a maintenance problem.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte component removing device having a compact device configuration, excellent portability, and easy maintenance.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a removing apparatus according to the present invention supplies a module to which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are fixed and an electrolyte solution to the inside or outside of the hollow fiber membranes. A pipe line, a reservoir for storing a solution, and a pump for circulating the electrolyte solution between the reservoir and the inside or outside of the hollow fiber membrane, and a metal coating on the inside and outside of the hollow fiber membrane. And charging the inside and the outside of the hollow fiber membrane with charges opposite to each other.

By reversing the electric charges applied to the inside and outside of the hollow fiber membrane, the electrolyte component trapped in the hollow fiber membrane can be desorbed from the hollow fiber membrane.

[0008]

According to the present invention, since the inside and outside of the hollow fiber membrane are coated with metal, if the inside and outside of the hollow fiber membrane are charged with opposite charges,
It is possible to remove the electrolyte component in the electrolyte solution. At this time, the hollow fiber membrane can trap and concentrate the cation component or the anion component of the electrolyte component in the treatment liquid in its pores. Therefore, the scavenger for the electrolyte component (activated carbon) in the conventional device can be replaced by the hollow fiber membrane, and the metal-coated hollow fiber membrane can also be used as an electrode, so that the hollow fiber membrane and the electrode can be integrated. Can be converted. As a result, it is possible to provide an electrolyte component removal device having a compact device configuration and excellent portability.

The electrolyte component trapped in the hollow fiber membrane can be easily desorbed from the hollow fiber membrane by backwashing the hollow fiber membrane or by reversing the charges applied to the inside and the outside of the hollow fiber membrane. Therefore, it is also excellent in maintainability.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, the removing device 10 includes a container 12, and in the container 12, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 18 (modules), both ends of which are fixed to substrates 14 and 16 by a resin, are provided.

Two isolated liquid chambers 20 and 22 are formed between the substrates 14 and 16 and the end face of the container 12,
Both liquid chambers are communicated with each other through the inside of the hollow fiber membrane 18.

A conductive metal is directly deposited on the inner surface of each hollow fiber membrane 18 so that the metal coating can be positively or negatively charged through the substrates 14 and 16. Has become. That is, a printed circuit made of copper is formed on the substrates 14 and 16 to which the hollow fiber membranes are fixed and which is connected to a power source means (not shown) such as a battery.
This printed circuit is electrically connected to the metal coating of the hollow fiber membrane. Therefore, it is possible to charge the inner metal coating of the hollow fiber membrane with electric charges of a desired polarity through the power supply means and the printed circuit. The metal coating can be formed by selectively chemically plating the inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane.

A circulation pump 24 for an electrolyte solution (for example, potassium sulfate, sodium sulfate, etc.) and a reservoir 26 for the electrolyte solution are provided outside the container 12. The circulation pump 24 circulates the electrolyte solution stored in the reservoir 26 into the liquid chambers 20 and 22 and the hollow fiber membrane via the conduits 28 and 30.

Further, outside the container 12, a reservoir 32 for storing pure water containing no electrolyte component supplied to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 18, the reservoir 32 and the container 1 are provided.
A circulation pump 34 that circulates pure water between the two and a circulation pipe 36 are provided. Reference numeral 38 shown in this pure water circulation system is an opening / closing valve of the conduit 36, and reference numeral 40.
Is a drain valve for taking the aqueous solution in the conduit 36 out of the system. Further, reference numeral 42 is an air pump for introducing air into the container 12, and the introduced air is discharged to the outside of the container by the air drain valve 44.

Further, by covering the hollow fiber membrane 18 with a conductive metal (for example, carbon cloth, platinum wire, direct metal deposition, etc.), a metal coating is formed on the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 18, This metal coating is connected to the power supply circuit (not shown) so that the metal coating on the inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane can be charged with an opposite electric charge. Reference numeral 50 is a valve for taking out the processing liquid from the conduit 30, and reference numeral 52 is a valve for opening and closing the conduit 30.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described by taking the treatment of potassium sulfate and sodium sulfate electrolyte solutions as an example.
When the valve 50 is closed, the valve 52 is opened, and the circulation pump 24 is operated, the electrolyte solution in the reservoir 26 becomes the conduit 30, the liquid chamber 20, the inside of the hollow fiber membrane, the liquid chamber 22, and then the conduit 28. Cycle in sequence. When the valve 38 is opened, the valves 44 and 40 are closed, and the circulation pump 34 is operated, the pure water in the reservoir 32 is circulated and supplied to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 18 in the container 12. It

At this time, if the metal coating formed on the inside of the hollow fiber membrane 18 is positively charged and the metal coating on the outside of the hollow fiber membrane is negatively charged, a large number of fine particles formed on the hollow fiber membrane are formed. Electrolyte components (for example, calcium ions and potassium ions) in the electrolyte solution are trapped and concentrated in the pores in the form of hydroxide, whereby the cation components can be removed from the treatment liquid.

On the other hand, the sulfate ions are leached from the inside of the hollow fiber membrane to the outside through the pores of the hollow fiber membrane, and in the state of sulfuric acid are mixed in the pure water circulated and supplied. Therefore, as the treatment progresses, the sulfuric acid concentration of the solution circulated and supplied in the pipe 36 and the container 12 increases. By opening the valve 36, the sulfuric acid solution in the conduit 36 can be taken out. Then, by adding new pure water into the reservoir 32, the sulfuric acid concentration can be reduced and the removal of sulfuric acid can be efficiently advanced.

The solution in the reservoir 26 can be purified to the state of pure water in which the concentration of the electrolyte component gradually decreases and finally does not contain the electrolyte. The solution thus purified can be taken out from the conduit 30 by opening the valve 50. The electrolyte solution to be treated can be added to the reservoir 26. By controlling the opening degree of the valve 50, the discharge amount of the pump 24, and the addition amount of the electrolyte to the reservoir 26, it is possible to continuously process the electrolyte solution.

When the valves 30, 38, 40 and 50 are closed and the valve 44 is opened and the air pump 42 is operated to supply compressed air into the container 12, the electrolyte component trapped in the hollow fiber membrane 18 is backwashed. Thus, it can be desorbed (removed) from the pores of the hollow fiber membrane. In addition, the metal coating formed on the inside of the hollow fiber membrane and the conductive metal on the outside of the hollow fiber membrane are charged with an electric charge that is opposite to that in the treatment for removing the electrolyte component, so that the electrolyte trapped in the hollow fiber membrane is removed. It can also be forcibly detached from the hollow fiber membrane. The desorption of the trapped electrolyte component prevents the reduction of the electrolyte component removal efficiency and enables the trapped electrolyte component to be recovered.

According to the removing apparatus of this embodiment, a hollow fiber membrane replaces a large amount of the electrolyte component scavenger (activated carbon), which is required in the conventional apparatus, and the electrode is formed by directly coating the hollow fiber membrane. Therefore, the hollow fiber membrane and the electrode can be integrated to simplify the device configuration, reduce the size and weight, and improve the portability. Therefore, when this device is applied to a living body (processing for blood or the like), it is compact and preferable.

Further, since the electrolyte component trapped in the hollow fiber membrane can be easily removed from the hollow fiber membrane by backwashing or applying a reverse charge, the need for replacement of the repair material is reduced and the maintainability is improved. Can also be improved.

In the above embodiment, the inner metal coating of the hollow fiber membrane was charged to a positive charge and the outer coating was charged to a negative charge. However, by reversing this, an anionic component is trapped and concentrated in the hollow fiber membrane. can do. Further, the electrolyte component is not limited to the above-mentioned sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate and the like, and includes known salts such as sulfates, nitrates, hydrochlorides, carbonates and phosphates of other alkali metal salts, other than alkali metal salts. Other metal salts such as alkaline earth metals may be used.
Further, it may be a mixed solution of a plurality of types of electrolyte components. Further, the electrolyte solution may be supplied to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an electrolyte component removal device having a compact device configuration, excellent portability, and easy maintenance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an electrolyte component removing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of Codes] 10 Removal Device 18 Hollow Fiber Membrane 24 Circulation Pump for Electrolyte Solution 26 Reservoir for Electrolyte Solution 28, 30 Supply Line for Electrolyte Solution

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Nobuo Katsuura 2-23-3 Nishihashimoto, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Hikko Kogyo Co., Ltd. R & D Center (72) Inventor, Hajime Igarashi 2-23, Nishihashimoto, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture No. 3 Hikko Kogyo Co., Ltd. R & D Center (72) Inventor Atsushi Nakayama 2-33 Nishihashimoto, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Hikko Kogyo Co., Ltd. R & D Center

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A module to which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are fixed, a conduit for supplying an electrolyte solution to the inside or outside of the hollow fiber membranes, a reservoir for storing the electrolyte solution, the reservoir and the hollow fiber membranes. A pump that circulates the electrolyte solution between the inside and the outside of the hollow fiber membrane, forms a metal coating on the inside and the outside of the hollow fiber membrane, and charges the inside and the outside of the hollow fiber membrane with mutually opposite charges. A device for removing electrolyte components that charges. 2. The electrolyte component in the treatment liquid trapped in the hollow fiber membrane is desorbed from the hollow fiber membrane by reversing the charges applied to the inside and the outside of the hollow fiber membrane. 1. The electrolyte component removing device according to 1.