JPH07155770A - Infection preventing method, device therefor and production of sterilized drinking water and sterilized air-conditioning cooling water utilizing the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To exhibit a strong sterilizing force with a simple method by dissolving gaseous chlorine generated by the electrolysis of brine and sterilizing water with the aq. hypochlorus acid obtained thereby. CONSTITUTION:This infection preventing device consists of a closed electrolytic cell 1 and a sterilizing tank 2, and the cell and tank are connected by a connecting pipe 3 having a circulating pump 6 and a static mixer 7. In the cell 1, an electrode 5 is energized to start electrolysis, gaseous chlorine generated by the electrolysis is dissolved in water in the mixer 7 and introduced into the tank 2, and the aq. HClO in the tank 2 is refluxed by the pump 6. A medical fiberscope 8 entraining a thin tube, for example, is dipped in the tank 2, a connector 9 is connected to the fiberscope, the aq. HClO is passed through the tank 2, and the fiberscope is cleaned and sterilized at the same time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an infection prevention method and an infection prevention apparatus using chlorine gas generated by electrolysis of salt, and production of sterilized drinking water and air conditioning cooling water using the same. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a so-called disinfection method for killing pathogenic microorganisms to prevent infection, a physical disinfection method such as ultraviolet irradiation, flame disinfection, incineration, heat-sensitive disinfection, wet heat disinfection or immersion in a chemical agent is used. There are chemical disinfection methods such as cleaning with chemicals. In the hospital, a physical disinfection method and a chemical disinfection method by heat sterilization are mainly performed.

Recently, however, the problems of nosocomial infection and AIDS infection of MRSA have been highlighted, and conventional heat sterilization is not sufficient to prevent such infection. Therefore, the World Health Organization ( WHO), 12
Disinfection with high pressure steam at 1 ° C. for 20 minutes is encouraged, but such a method not only takes a long time, but the high pressure steam may cause the instrument to lose durability. In addition, disinfectants such as alcohol, carboxylic acid, chlorhexidine, and quaternary ammonium salts are used as the chemical disinfection method, but this method is difficult to control the concentration of the agent to be used, and in particular, the equipment is immersed in the disinfectant solution. Since the sterilizing method performed by the method is repeatedly used, the bactericidal effect is gradually reduced, and it is difficult to perform the check. Further, ethylene oxide gas is used for sterilization of medical fiberscopes (gastric camera, heart catheter, intestinal scope, etc.) with a biopsy (biopsy collection) thin tube. It is difficult to manage because poisonous gas is used. (2) It takes a long time for the gas to diffuse into the narrow tube due to bacteria. (3) To wait for the severe toxicity to dissociate from the device due to diffusion after sterilization. It had the drawback of requiring a long time.

Recently, a method has been proposed in which salt is mixed with water and electrolyzed to make it contain hypochlorous acid (HCLO) at an appropriate concentration, and this solution is directly used as a disinfecting solution. However, since the electrolytic solution produced by this method is strongly alkaline, it must be used after being neutralized with an acid such as hydrochloric acid, and therefore, this method requires pH control for neutralization. This complicates the process and equipment. In addition, although water is conventionally disinfected with ozone gas, the ozone generator can sterilize only a small amount in comparison with a large scale, it is expensive, and due to the toxicity of ozone, the legal regulation is strict. However, there is a drawback in that the device is expensive.

[0005]

Therefore, the present inventor has completed various aspects of the present invention as a result of various examinations regarding simpler and more powerful methods and apparatuses for preventing infection, and the object of the present invention is to provide a simple method. And a method and apparatus for preventing infection having a strong bactericidal power. In addition, similarly, the water is disinfected and detoxified by a simple method and device, and the obtained sterilized water is used as a beverage and cooling water for air conditioning.

[0006]

The summary of the present invention is as follows.
Chlorine gas generated by electrolysis of saline solution is introduced into water and absorbed by water to obtain a method of preventing infection, which is characterized by using hypochlorous acid water. An infection preventive device comprising a connecting pipe connecting the both, wherein salt water is electrolyzed in an electrolytic bath to generate chlorine gas, and the chlorine gas is introduced into the water in the sterilization bath by the connecting pipe to redissolve it. The infection preventing apparatus is characterized in that HClO-containing water is used, and the obtained HClO-containing water is passed or refluxed, and an instrument is immersed in the HClO-containing water for disinfection. Further, the re-dissolved aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid generated here is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to decompose the hypochlorous acid, and the obtained water is used as drinking water, and the HClO-containing water is used as cooling water for air conditioning. To do. The process of generating hypochlorous acid by electrolysis of saline solution is shown by the following chemical formula.

[0007]

[Chemical 1]

The present invention utilizes the sterilizing power of hypochlorous acid generated by re-dissolving chlorine generated by the chemical formula (1) in water (see chemical formula (2)). Also, the water generated by the chemical formula (3) by irradiating this with ultraviolet rays is used as drinking water.

The present invention will be described in detail. The electrolysis of saline in the present invention is no different from the usual electrolysis of salt. That is, about 1 to 5% of saline is electrolyzed under the condition of 0.1 to 2A. The generated chlorine gas is absorbed by water. Distilled water is not required as water to be absorbed, and tap water can be used. The chlorine concentration in water is about 1 to 5 ppm, and when the chlorine content is 3 ppm, the disinfection is completed by immersing the instrument to be disinfected for about 3 minutes.

The method of utilizing hypochlorous acid generated by electrolysis described above as the prior art is different from the method of the present invention. That is, the above-mentioned conventional method mixes salt with water and electrolyzes it so as to contain hypochlorous acid (HClO) at an appropriate concentration (see chemical formulas (1) and (2)) and directly It is used as disinfecting water. Since this solution produced by electrolysis is a strong alkali, it must be neutralized with an acid such as HCl before use (see chemical formula (4)). Therefore, this method requires pH control for neutralization, and since sodium ions and chlorine ions required for electrolysis remain in the liquid, they are not suitable for drinking as they are and corrode metal. In addition, it must be supplemented with water and salt every time electrolyzed water is taken out as disinfecting water.

On the other hand, in the present invention, chlorine gas generated by electrolyzing water is redissolved in other water and used as water containing hypochlorous acid having a concentration of several ppm (see chemical formula (2)). Therefore, in the method of the present application, the electrolysis solution is not taken out, so that the electrolysis solution can be electrolyzed under the same conditions for a long period of time. Further, the hypochlorous acid-containing water obtained by re-dissolving chlorine gas is easily decomposed by irradiation of ultraviolet rays, and the resulting water is sterilized by hypochlorous acid, so that it is suitable as sterilized drinking water. Is. Further, the water itself sterilized with chlorous acid is suitable as cooling water for air conditioning.

Illustrative examples of the bacterium to which the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid of the present invention effectively acts include Escherichia coli, green concentrated bacterium, Legionella bacterium and Bacillus subtilis. Specific examples of infection prevention by a hypochlorous acid aqueous solution include the following. Dental cross-contamination prevention device Sterilizer for medical equipment such as gastrocamera, heart, catheter, intestinal scope, etc. with thin tubes for biopsy collection Sterilizer for medical instruments such as scalpel, cans, tweezers Hand wash water, gargle Disinfection water manufacturing equipment for water, cleaning and cleaning water Root canal clean water supply equipment Sterilizing and cleaning the inside of thin tubes of food manufacturing and processing equipment

Further, the hypochlorous acid aqueous solution of the present invention can be used not only for disinfection of the above-mentioned equipment by irradiation of ultraviolet rays, but also for the following infection prevention as a drink. Sterilized water production equipment for beverages Sterilized water pot Sterilized water bottle Also has a disinfecting action on the cooling water used for air conditioning. (10) Cooling water sterilizer for air conditioning

An example of the infection prevention device of the present invention is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the infection prevention device of the present invention comprises a closed electrolytic bath 1 and a sterilization bath 2, which are connected by a connecting pipe 3. An electrolytic solution 4 is placed in the closed electrolytic bath 1, and an electrode (carbon electrode) 5 is inserted therein. A circulation pump 6 and a static mixer 7 are installed in the connecting pipe 3, the generated chlorine gas is dissolved in water and introduced into the sterilization tank 2, and the HClO water in the sterilization tank 2 is refluxed by the circulation pump. The sterilization tank 2 is a closed type, and a gas absorption tank 7 that absorbs excess chlorine gas is provided. In such a device, the electrode (carbon electrode) 5 is energized to start electrolysis. Chlorine gas generated by electrolysis passes through the connecting pipe 3 and is introduced into the water in the sterilization tank 2 to produce HClO-containing water as a sterilizing solution. The excess chlorine gas is absorbed by the gas absorption tank 7. The HClO-containing water in the sterilization tank 3 is refluxed by the reflux pump 6 as needed. Then, the medical fiberscope 8 with the thin tube to be disinfected is connected to the connector 9 provided in the sterilization tank and immersed for 5 minutes. The use of such a device has the advantage that the instruments can be cleaned and sterilized simultaneously.

[0015]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. Example 1 “Preparation of HOCl Dissolved Water” Dissolution tank: Electrolyte: Salt solution 0.2 mol / 1, 1500 ml Electrode: Carbon Electrolysis conditions: Current 2 A, voltage 100 V Other conditions Dissolved water at 16 ml / min Circulation "Results" ~ 5ppm HOCl dissolved water 100 in 5 minutes
ml could be produced. The pH of the aqueous solution at this time was -5.

Example 2 "Effect of HOCl-dissolved water on Escherichia coli (K12 strain)" HOCl-dissolved water concentration 2.5 ppm, 1 ml sterilization time 5 minutes Bacterial concentration-3.1 x 10 ⁴ cells / ml HOCl-dissolved water having the above concentration The K12 strain was added to and kept for 10 minutes. Then, 10 μl was taken, placed on a flat medium, kept at 37 ° C. overnight, and evaluated by a colony counting method. H
When OCl was not added, colonies grew, but HO
When Cl was added, no colonies grew and the sterilization rate was 100%.

Example 3 "Effect of HOCl-dissolved water on concentrated green bacterium" Example 2
Similarly, the effect on P. aeruginosa was examined. Also in this case, similarly to Escherichia coli, the growth of colonies was not observed by adding HOCl, and the bactericidal rate was 100%.

Example 4 "Bactericidal effect of HOCl in the presence of protein" HOCl
10 μl of liquid medium (Muller Hilton medium) was added to 90 μl of 5.5 ppm of dissolved water, and the bactericidal effect against K12 strain and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined. The time for keeping the bacteria in the HOCl-dissolved water was 5 minutes. In both K12 strain and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, growth of colonies was observed when HOCl was not added, but growth of colonies was not observed when HOCl was added, and the bactericidal rate was 100%.

Example 5 "Decomposition treatment of hypochlorous acid-dissolved water by ultraviolet rays" Using a mercury lamp, hypochlorous acid-dissolved water, concentration 1.0 ppm, 20
The ml was exposed to UV light. It could be completely decomposed by irradiation for 20 minutes. Example 6 "Bactericidal effect against bacteria attached to gastrocamera" Escherichia coli (K12) liquid-roasted in the fiberscope of the gastrocamera
Strain, ~ 10 ⁸ cells / ml) was flown to attach the bacteria in the fiberscope. This was immersed in HOCl-dissolved water (~ 5 ppm) contained in a pallet of 50 x 30 x 10 cm ³ , and the HOCl-dissolved water was refluxed inside the fiber.
The treatment was carried out for about 5 minutes. Fiberscope HO
It was taken out from Cl-dissolved water, the inside of the fiberscope was washed with water, and the wastewater was applied to a solid medium and evaluated by a colony counting method. When the fiberscope was immersed in water containing no HOCl, colonies grew on the entire surface of the medium in the petri dish, but when HOCl was added, no colonies grew and the sterilization rate was 100%. Example 7 Hypochlorous acid-dissolved water (5PP) was added to the circulating water of the cooling tower for air conditioning.
M) was added and automatically controlled so that the concentration of hypochlorous acid was 0.01PPM in the cooling water. Slime (dirt by microorganisms) and adhesion of algae were prevented for 6 months including the summer, and cooling was performed. There was no decline in ability.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, chlorine generated by electrolysis is redissolved in water to form hypochlorous acid water, which can easily disinfect medical instruments. By allowing chloric acid water to flow through the thin tube, sterilization can be performed within a short time of several minutes, and cleaning can be performed together.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an infection prevention device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Electrolysis tank 6 Circulation pump 2 Sterilization tank 7 Static mixer 3 Connection pipe 8 Gas absorption tank 4 Electrolyte solution 9 Medical fiberscope 5 Electrode 10 Connector

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for preventing infection, which comprises using a hypochlorous acid water obtained by introducing chlorine gas generated by electrolysis of saline into water and dissolving it in water. 2. An infection prevention device comprising an electrolysis tank, a sterilization tank, and a connecting pipe connecting both of them, wherein salt water is electrolyzed in the electrolysis tank to generate chlorine gas, and the chlorine gas is connected. By introducing it into the water in the sterilization tank and re-dissolving it in HClO
An infection preventing device, characterized in that it is contained water, and the obtained HClO-containing water is passed or refluxed to immerse an instrument in the HClO-containing water for disinfection. 3. Chlorine gas generated by electrolysis of saline solution is introduced into water to be absorbed in water, and the hypochlorous acid water obtained by irradiating with ultraviolet rays is decomposed and used as drinking water. A method for producing sterilized drinking water, which is characterized. 4. A sterilized air conditioning cooling characterized in that chlorine gas generated by electrolysis of saline solution is introduced into water and dissolved in water to be used as air conditioning cooling water. Water production method.