JPH08132053A - Bacteriostatic filter for fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To keep the filter sanitary even when not in use by incorporating a bacteriostatic medium holding a bacteriostatic substance to suppress the propagation of microorganism into the microporous cylindrical filter placed in a passage formed between the fluid inlet and outlet in the container and used to filter a fluid. CONSTITUTION: Raw water is injected from an inlet 11, introduced into a space 19 formed between the inner periphery of a container 10 and the outer periphery of a cylindrical filter 20 and passed through the filter 20 to filter off the contained fine solid and microorganism. The filtered water is passed through a spare filter 30 and discharged to the outside from an outlet 15. The filter 20 is formed by laminating a filter main body 23 on the outer periphery of the cylindrical core 22 having many through-holes 21 and forcing a cap 24 into the one end face of the core 22. In this case, the main body 23 is formed with fibrous activated carbon, and a bacteriostatic medium covered with a bacteriostatic substance suppressing the propagation of the microorganism is incorporated into the main body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an antibacterial filter for fluids, which is incorporated in a purifier for tap water, air, etc.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the mixing of minute solids, mainly rust, due to intermittent water flow due to aging pipes and abnormal water shortage. Further, due to insufficient management of the intermediate water supply tank provided as the building becomes taller, tiny solids such as rust are more likely to be mixed into the tap water. On the other hand, with the recent deterioration of water quality in rivers, tap water supplied to general households contains a large amount of chlorine and micro-solids such as bacteria, algae cell colonies, spores and other microorganisms that cause an unpleasant taste and odor. There is a problem that it is included in things.
In order to solve such a problem, for example, a microporous filter made of fibrous activated carbon having a high ability to adsorb free chlorine and odorous components is used. Therefore, by passing the tap water through the microporous filter made of fibrous activated carbon, not only the fine solids and microorganisms in the water,
Purified water obtained by filtering free chlorine and odorous components is obtained. Therefore, minute solids and microorganisms remain in the gaps between the fibrous activated carbons together with a trace amount of water.

[0003]

However, the fibrous activated carbon adsorbs free chlorine having a bacteriostatic action from water,
Remove to reduce free chlorine concentration in water. For this reason,
Microorganisms in the water remaining in the gaps between the fibrous activated carbons easily grow. In particular, if there is a long period of non-use after passing water, there is a problem in that it is likely to become unsanitary due to the remarkable growth of microorganisms. Such a problem also exists in an air purifier that adsorbs dust and microorganisms floating in the air.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hygienic antibacterial filter for fluids, which does not cause growth of microorganisms even after a long period of non-use after being used once.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a bacteriostatic antibacterial filter for a fluid according to the present invention, a storage container having a flow path formed between an inlet and an outlet of the fluid, and the storage container. A microporous tubular filter made of fibrous activated carbon housed in the channel of the container, the fluid flowing from the inlet of the housing container is filtered by the microporous tubular filter, and flows out from the outlet. In antibacterial filter for fluid,
The microporous cylindrical filter is configured to contain a bacteriostatic medium that holds a bacteriostatic substance that suppresses the growth of microorganisms. Further, the microporous tubular filter may have a structure in which a bacteriostatic layer made of a bacteriostatic substance that suppresses the growth of microorganisms is provided on at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface. Furthermore, the microporous tubular filter contains a bacteriostatic medium coated with a bacteriostatic substance that suppresses the growth of microorganisms, and at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface thereof is a microorganism. Alternatively, a bacteriostatic layer made of a bacteriostatic substance that suppresses the proliferation of the bacterium may be provided. The storage container may be transparent.

As shown in FIG. 1, a storage container 10 according to the present invention has a first divided body 13 having an inlet 11 at one end and a joint 12 at an opening edge portion at the other end. And a second split body 16 having a joint receiving portion 14 at the opening edge portion on one end side and an outflow port 15 at the other end side. The joint portion 12 and the joint receiving portion 14 are joined and integrated. It is a transparent plastic tubular body having a circular cross section that is formed. However, the storage container 10 does not necessarily have to be made of transparent plastic, and may be a plastic that does not have a light-transmitting property. However, when the bacteriostatic substance is excited by light, it is always transparent plastic. Need to be formed in.

The first divided body 13 is provided with a plurality of ribs 17 for positioning one end of a cylindrical filter 20 described later at the corners of the inner peripheral surface thereof, while the second divided body 16 is provided.
Is a cylindrical filter 2 to be described later at the inner edge of the outlet 15.
The annular rib 18 into which the cylindrical core 22 of 0 is press-fitted is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the microporous tubular filter 20 has a filter body 2 on the outer peripheral surface of a metallic or plastic tubular core 22 having a large number of through holes 21.
3 is laminated and integrated into a uniform thickness, and a cap 24 having a hat-shaped cross section is press-fitted into one end of the cylindrical core 22 to seal the same.

The filter body 23 is made of fibrous activated carbon and contains a bacteriostatic medium coated with a bacteriostatic substance that suppresses the growth of microorganisms.

The fibrous activated carbon is added in order to efficiently adsorb and remove not only fine solid substances in the fluid but also unpleasant harmful components such as free chlorine and odorous components such as trihalomethane. It may be either a fiber or a solid fiber. The length and diameter of the fibrous activated carbon can be arbitrarily selected according to need, but the diameter is 6 to 15 μm, particularly 12
A thickness of around μm is preferable.

The bacteriostatic medium is added to suppress the growth of microorganisms remaining in the spaces between the fibrous activated carbons, and a bacteriostatic substance for suppressing the growth of microorganisms is attached to the surface of the base material. In some cases, the base material may directly contain a bacteriostatic substance. Not directly adding the bacteriostatic substance to the fibrous activated carbon as in the present invention, it is difficult to uniformly disperse the bacteriostatic substance alone, and even if added directly,
This is because the desired contact area cannot be obtained and the growth of microorganisms cannot be effectively suppressed.

The base material of the bacteriostatic medium is, for example, powder,
Granular and fibrous activated carbon, zeolite (trade name Zeomic, manufactured by Shinagawa Fuel Co., Ltd.), and silica gel can be mentioned.

The bacteriostatic substance is added in order to suppress the growth of microorganisms by the oligodynamie action, and examples thereof include metal components such as silver, copper and zinc.

The method of attaching the bacteriostatic substance to the surface of the base material or the method of incorporating the bacteriostatic substance into the base material may be the existing method, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. In addition, granular Zeomic (trade name, manufactured by Shinagawa Fuel Co., Ltd.) is a bacteriostatic medium in which silver and zinc are held in the zeolite as a base material.

Next, as a method for uniformly laminating the filter body 23 on the surface of the cylindrical core 22, for example, fibrous activated carbon, a bacteriostatic medium and a binder are charged and stirred to obtain a slurry. After immersing the tubular core 22 in the slurry, pulling it with a vacuum pump for papermaking,
There is a method of stacking the filter body 23 on the tubular core 22. Further, a sheet-shaped product may be wound to be laminated and integrated.

As the binder, a fibrous substance that easily fibrillates is preferable because it effectively entangles the fibrous activated carbon and the bacteriostatic medium, and examples thereof include polyester fibers specially prepared for this purpose.

The mixing ratio of the fibrous activated carbon, the bacteriostatic medium and the binder can be arbitrarily selected according to need.
The fibrous activated carbon is preferably 50 to 90% by weight. If it is less than 50% by weight, the retention of the antibacterial medium in the filter, which depends on the shape of the fibrous activated carbon, is insufficient.
If it exceeds 0% by weight, the purpose of antibacterial property may not be achieved.

Further, the bacteriostatic medium is preferably 10 to 50% by weight. This is because if it is less than 10% by weight, the purpose of antibacterial property may not be achieved, and if it exceeds 50% by weight,
This is because the antibacterial property is good, but the retention of the antibacterial medium in the filter, which depends on the shape of the fibrous activated carbon, is insufficient.

The binder is preferably 3 to 10% by weight. This is because if it is less than 3% by weight, the entanglement property with respect to the fibrous activated carbon and the bacteriostatic medium is insufficient, and if it exceeds 10% by weight, the filtration performance is deteriorated.

In the above-mentioned configuration, the case where the antibacterial medium is contained in the filter body 23 has been described, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and at least one of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical filter main body 23 is included. On one side, a bacteriostatic layer that suppresses the growth of microorganisms may be provided.

As a method of forming the bacteriostatic layer, a bacteriostatic substance may be directly applied to or sprayed on the surface of the cylindrical filter body 23 and fixed directly on the surface of the cylindrical filter body 23. Further, a sheet-shaped bacteriostatic medium, which is a fine net or a non-woven fabric coated with or sprayed with a bacteriostatic substance, may be wound around the surface of the filter body 23 to be laminated and integrated. In addition, a net or non-woven fabric made of a fiber material in which a bacteriostatic substance is kneaded, or a net or non-woven fabric made of a fiber material in which a bacteriostatic substance is kneaded and whose surface is coated or sprayed with a bacteriostatic substance The bacteriostatic layer may be formed by wrapping around the surface and integrating the layers.

Examples of the antibacterial substance include optical semiconductor ceramics such as titania in addition to the above-mentioned substances. Here, the opto-semiconductor ceramics refers to ceramics that exhibit photo-semiconductor characteristics when irradiated with light, and are excited by light,
A substance that decomposes organic components and suppresses the growth of microorganisms.

As a material for forming the net or the non-woven fabric, a material which is harmless and contains a bacteriostatic substance and is easily adhered thereto is preferable. For example, synthetic fiber such as acrylic fiber, polyester fiber, polyolefin fiber, or cotton or hemp ，
Examples include natural fibers such as wool and silk.

Means for solving the above-mentioned problems include:
The case where the filter body 23 contains a bacteriostatic medium holding a bacteriostatic substance that suppresses the growth of microorganisms, or the case where a bacteriostatic layer is formed on the surface of the filter body 23 has been described, but not limited to this. The above-mentioned two may be used in combination, and thereby more excellent antibacterial property can be obtained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical microporous preliminary filter 30 is assembled in the cylindrical filter 20 so that its cross section is concentric. The cylindrical preliminary filter 30 is for preventing fine particles such as pulverized coal from flowing out from the cylindrical filter 20, but it may be provided as necessary and is not always necessary. Further, the preliminary filter 30 does not need to be a microporous one, and may be any one as long as it can prevent the outflow of fine particles.
It may be a fine net. The preliminary filter 30 is made of, for example, a polyolefin powder sintered body or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer sintered body.

Therefore, according to the filter having the above-mentioned structure, when water is injected from the inflow port 11, the storage container 10
The raw water that has flowed into the outer peripheral space portion 19 formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical filter 20 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical filter 20.
After passing 0, fine solids, microorganisms and the like are filtered to be filtered water, and the filtered water filtered through the preliminary filter 30 flows out from the outlet 15.

However, since the growth of the microorganisms remaining in the filter body 23 is suppressed by the oligodynamic action of a bacteriostatic substance such as silver, even if the unused period after passing water is prolonged, It does not become unsanitary due to abnormal growth. Further, if the bacteriostatic substance is an optical semiconductor ceramic such as titania, the redox power of the optical semiconductor ceramic excited by light energy suppresses the growth of microorganisms, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

[0028]

Therefore, according to the first to third aspects, the bacteriostatic medium or the bacteriostatic layer of the filter body suppresses the growth of microorganisms. Further, according to claim 4, not only can the internal filter be directly viewed from the outside of the storage container, but also light can be transmitted.

[0029]

【Example】

(Example 1) A fibrous activated carbon having an average diameter of 12 μm and a granular silver activated carbon that passed through a 32 mesh sieve and did not pass through a 60 mesh sieve were mixed in a weight ratio of 50.
The mixture was mixed in a ratio of 50 to 50 to obtain a mixture 100.
5 parts by weight of a polyester fibrous material that easily fibrillate was added as a binder together with fresh water to obtain a slurry. Length of 88.5m in this slurry
m, an outer diameter of 18 mm, and an inner diameter of 16 mm was dipped in a jig (not shown) together with a suction, paper-making was performed, and a filter body having a thickness of 5 mm was laminated and integrated on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical core. Then, a cap was press-fitted into one opening of the tubular core to obtain a tubular filter sealed.
Further, this cylindrical filter was stored in a transparent plastic storage container having the shape shown in FIG. 1 to obtain a sample.

(Comparative Example 1) Except that the filter body was formed only with fibrous activated carbon without containing granular silver activated carbon,
Others were subjected to the same treatments as those in Example 1 described above to obtain samples.

Each sample of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 was connected to a water faucet in Amagasaki City, and after intermittently passing water for one month,
After 100 ml of sterilized water was added to 1 g of the filter body and mixed by shaking, a supernatant was collected and cultured in a standard agar medium to measure the number of general bacteria.

The number of viable cells per 1 ml was 10 in the case of Example 1 and 250 in the case of Comparative Example. From this, it was found that Example 1 had a better antibacterial property.

When the surface of the filter body that had been allowed to pass water for one month was visually observed, no significant difference was observed in the degree of soiling between the two. Furthermore, a coloration test using an orthridine hydrochloric acid solution was performed on the filtered water filtered in each of the samples of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. Example 1
In all of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, yellow coloration based on residual chlorine was not recognized. From this, it was found that both Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 had a chlorine adsorption capacity.

(Example 2) Instead of the granular silver activated carbon in Example 1, granular Zeomic was used, and otherwise the same treatment as in Example 1 was carried out to obtain a sample.

(Comparative Example 2) The same sample as that used in Comparative Example 1 was used.

Then, the cells were cultured under the same conditions as in Examples 1 and Comparative Example 1 and the viable cell count per ml was measured. As a result, Example 2 was 15 cells and Comparative Example 2 was 250 cells.
From this, it was found that Example 2 was superior in bacteriostatic property.

The ability of the filters according to Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 to remove dirt and residual chlorine was measured in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.
Was similar to.

(Example 3) Whereas the above-mentioned Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are cases in which a bacteriostatic medium of a bacteriostatic substance is mixed in the filter main body, bacteriostatic control is performed on the surface of the filter main body. This is the case when stacking layers. That is, except that a non-woven fabric (trade name Saniter 30, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) made of polyester fibers in which granular Zeomic is kneaded is wound around the surface of the cylindrical filter body, the other processes are the same as those of the above-described Example 1. A sample similar to that of Example 1 was obtained by performing. The thickness ratio of the filter body to the antibacterial non-woven fabric was 70:30.

Comparative Example 3 The sample used in Comparative Example 1 was used as a sample.

Then, the cells were cultured under the same conditions as in Examples 1 and 1, and the viable cell count per ml was measured. As a result, 18 cells were obtained in Example 3 and 250 cells were obtained in Comparative Example 3.
From this, it was found that Example 3 was superior in bacteriostatic property.

The ability of the filters according to Example 3 and Comparative Example 3 to remove dirt and residual chlorine was measured in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.
Was similar to.

(Example 4) A case where a non-woven fabric made of a fibrous material in which a bacteriostatic substance is kneaded is wound around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical filter body to form a bacteriostatic layer is used as a sample. On the other hand, except that the bacteriostatic layer was formed by winding a non-woven fabric made of acrylic fiber and sprayed with titania on the surface around the outer peripheral surface of the filter body, the same treatment as in Example 3 was performed. The sample obtained was used as a sample. The thickness ratio of the tubular filter body to the non-woven fabric was 85:15.

Comparative Example 4 The sample used in Comparative Example 1 was used as a sample.

Then, the cells were cultured under the same conditions as in Examples 1 and Comparative Example 1 and the viable cell count per ml was measured. As a result, Example 4 was zero and Comparative Example 4 was 250 cells. From this, it was found that Example 2 was superior in bacteriostatic property.

The ability of the filters according to Example 4 and Comparative Example 4 to remove dirt and residual chlorine was measured in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.
Was similar to.

For the sake of convenience, the above results are summarized in Table 1 as follows.

[Table 1]

As is clear from the results shown in Table 1, the number of viable bacteria in the Example is always smaller than that in the Comparative Example. It was found that it is possible to effectively suppress the growth of the microorganisms remaining in the filter body. It is considered that this is because the oligodynamic action of silver or the like or the redox power of the optical semiconductor ceramics excited by light energy suppresses the growth of microorganisms remaining between the fibrous activated carbons.

[0048]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the bacteriostatic filter for fluids according to claims 1 to 3, the bacteriostatic substance can be used depending on the bacteriostatic substance even after a long period of non-use after being used once. A hygienic antibacterial filter for fluids in which microorganisms are unlikely to grow can be obtained. In particular, according to claim 4, since the storage container is formed of transparent plastic, it is possible not only to suppress the growth of microorganisms by the transmitted light, but also to visually check the internal condition of the storage container, which is convenient. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of an antibacterial filter for fluid according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a microporous tubular filter according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a microporous tubular filter according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Storage container, 11 ... Inflow port, 15 ... Outflow port, 20 ...
Microporous tubular filter, 21 ... Through hole, 22 ... Cylindrical core, 23 ... Filter body, 30 ... Preliminary filter.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location C02F 1/50 550 B 560 B C B01D 39/14 GM C02F 1/28 R 1/30

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage container having a flow path formed between a fluid inlet and a flow outlet, and a microporous tubular filter made of fibrous activated carbon stored in the flow path of the storage container. A bacteriostatic filter for fluid in which a fluid that has flowed in from the inlet of the storage container is filtered by the microporous tubular filter and flows out from the outlet, wherein the microporous tubular filter suppresses the growth of microorganisms. An antibacterial filter for fluid, which contains an antibacterial medium holding an antibacterial substance. 2. A storage container having a flow path formed between a fluid inlet and a flow outlet, and a microporous tubular filter made of fibrous activated carbon stored in the flow path of the storage container, A bacteriostatic filter for fluid in which a fluid that has flowed in from the inflow port of the storage container is filtered by the microporous tubular filter and flows out from the outflow port, wherein the microporous tubular filter has an outer peripheral surface and an inner surface. A bacteriostatic filter for fluid, characterized in that a bacteriostatic layer made of a bacteriostatic substance for suppressing the growth of microorganisms is provided on at least one of the peripheral surfaces. 3. A storage container having a flow path formed between a fluid inlet and a flow outlet, and a microporous tubular filter made of fibrous activated carbon stored in the flow path of the storage container. A bacteriostatic filter for fluid in which a fluid that has flowed in from the inlet of the storage container is filtered by the microporous tubular filter and flows out from the outlet, wherein the microporous tubular filter suppresses the growth of microorganisms. A bacteriostatic medium containing a bacteriostatic substance is provided, and a bacteriostatic layer made of a bacteriostatic substance for suppressing the growth of microorganisms is provided on at least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the bacteriostatic medium. An antibacterial filter for fluids characterized by: 4. The antibacterial filter for fluid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage container is transparent.