JPH1133552A - Water treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water treatment apparatus capable of increasing the electrolytic efficiency of an electrolytic cell when weak acidic softened water is formed by passing tap water through the electrolytic cell, reducing electrode load and power consumption and suppressing the precipitation of a precipitate such as calcium carbonate or the like on a cathode. SOLUTION: A cation exchange membrane 4 is interposed between the anode 2 and cathode 3 of an electrolytic cell 1 and citric acid and ascorbic acid are added to the water supplied toward the anode as an alkalinity removing material. The water to which these water-soluble org. acids are added is introduced into the anode chamber 5 and cathode chamber 6 of the electrolytic cell 1 to be electrolyzed. Weak acidic water is generated in the anode chamber 5 by electrolysis and, since hardness components such as calcium, magnesium or the like in water move toward the cathode through the cation exchange membrane 4, weak acidic softened water is obtained from the anode chamber 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus for converting tap water into weakly acidic soft water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, water includes acidic water and alkaline water, and hard water containing a large amount of calcium and magnesium and soft water containing a small amount of these. Among such waters, particularly weakly acidic soft water is less irritating to the skin and hair, for example, is good for beauty, and further reduces the adhesion of dirt to vanities, bathtub facilities, toilets, system kitchens, etc. In addition, since soap has good foaming and has a bacteriostatic effect, it is desired that soap can be easily and safely used at home.

Conventionally, in a water electrolysis method, water is passed through an electrolytic cell, a voltage is applied to an electrode to perform electrolysis, and weakly acidic water is generated on the anode side of the electrode and alkaline water is generated on the cathode side. Met. In addition, in order to generate water that is weakly acidic and soft water, the terminal of the functional group has been obtained by a method of passing tap water through a hydrogen-type cation exchange resin.

[0004]

In the conventional water electrolysis method, weakly acidic water is obtained on the anode side of the electrode, and cations in the water move to the cathode side during electrolysis, so that the water is somewhat softened. You.

However, electrolysis alone is very inefficient.
When used for applications such as vanities or bathtub facilities, a large flow of weakly acidic soft water is required. Since it is inevitable, the load on the electrodes is large, and as a result, power is significantly consumed. In the conventional water electrolysis only method, as the electrolysis proceeds, deposits such as calcium carbonate adhere to the cathode,
Electrolytic efficiency was significantly reduced.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a simple and highly efficient water treatment apparatus for converting tap water into weakly acidic soft water.

[0007]

According to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, a means for removing alkalinity in tap water and an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing inflowing tap water are provided.

[0008] With this configuration, the acidic water can be obtained not only by the electrolytic cell but also by the alkalinity removing means, so that the load on the electrolytic cell is reduced, and as a result, the power consumption can be reduced. In order to suppress the attachment of precipitates such as calcium carbonate to the cathode, the desired weakly acidic soft water can be supplied stably.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the electrolytic cell for electrolyzing inflowing tap water is disposed downstream of the means for removing alkalinity in tap water.

[0010] By disposing the electrolytic cell downstream of the means for removing alkalinity in tap water, the alkalinity removing material becomes an electrolyte, so that the electrolytic efficiency of the electrolytic cell is increased and the electrode load is reduced. In addition, precipitates such as calcium carbonate on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell can be suppressed.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means for removing alkalinity in tap water is an acid.

As the acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid,
Succinic, malic, tartaric, maleic, fumaric,
Organic acids such as acetic acid; and inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid. Preferably, it is one or more selected from water-soluble organic acids such as citric acid, ascorbic acid, and succinic acid.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means for removing alkalinity in tap water is composed of one or more water-soluble organic acids such as citric acid, ascorbic acid and succinic acid. .

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the water treatment apparatus circulates water generated in the cathode chamber on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell through a means for removing alkalinity in tap water.

By circulating water generated in the cathode chamber on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell through means for removing alkalinity in tap water, precipitation of calcium carbonate and the like on the cathode can be reduced. You don't have to throw away water.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a water treatment apparatus according to the present invention, in which a cation exchange membrane 4 is provided between an anode 2 and a cathode 3 of an electrolytic cell 1, and water flowing to the anode side is cited as an alkalinity removing material. The acid, ascorbic acid, was added. The water to which these water-soluble organic acids are added is introduced into the anode chamber 5 and the cathode chamber 6 of the electrolytic cell 1 to be electrolyzed. In the anode chamber 5, weakly acidic water is generated by electrolysis, and hardness components such as calcium and magnesium in the water move to the cathode side through the cation exchange membrane 4, so that weakly acidic soft water is obtained from the anode chamber 5. Here, a cation exchange membrane was used as the diaphragm,
A membrane that transmits both positive and negative ions may be used.

FIG. 2 shows the results of the pH behavior of the weakly acidic soft water generated from the anode compartment 5 and the pH behavior of the water generated from the cathode compartment 6 using the apparatus of FIG. Here, the pH of the weakly acidic soft water discharged from the anode chamber 5 was adjusted to 4.5. In addition, citric acid and ascorbic acid were added so as to be 50 mg / l in total.

FIG. 3 shows an apparatus for producing weakly acidic soft water according to another embodiment of the present invention. A water tank 7 to which citric acid and ascorbic acid were added was connected to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 on the cathode side, and the cathode chamber 6 and water in the water tank were circulated by a pump. By doing so, precipitation of calcium carbonate and the like on the cathode can be reduced.

FIG. 4 shows the results of the pH behavior of the weakly acidic soft water produced from the anode compartment 5 and the pH behavior of the water produced from the cathode compartment 6 using the apparatus shown in FIG. Here, the pH of the weakly acidic soft water discharged from the anode chamber 5 was adjusted to 4.5. In addition, citric acid and ascorbic acid were added to the anode side so that the total amount became 50 mg / l.
g / 200 ml was added.

A water tank 7 to which citric acid and ascorbic acid are added is connected to the cathode side, and water in the cathode chamber 6 and the water tank is circulated by a pump, thereby further suppressing an increase in pH on the cathode side.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional water treatment apparatus having a cation exchange membrane 4 between an anode 2 and a cathode 3 of an electrolytic cell 1.

FIG. 6 shows the pH behavior of the weakly acidic water generated from the anode chamber 5 when no alkalinity removing material is added to the water flowing to the anode side using the apparatus of FIG. It is a result of the pH behavior.

If the pH of the water on the cathode side does not decrease and the amount of water passing is increased as it is, deposits such as calcium carbonate tend to adhere to the cathode 3.

The calcium carbonate to the cathode 3 has a pH of about
When the water is passed through the conventional water treatment apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the pH is 7 or more when the water is passed. on the other hand,
In the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 3 of the present invention, the pH is lowered,
In particular, in the case of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, an increase in pH on the cathode side can be suppressed, and the amount of water flow can be greatly increased.

[0026]

As described above, according to the water treatment apparatus of the present invention, the combination of the alkalinity removing material and the electrolytic cell increases the electrolytic efficiency of the electrolytic cell and reduces the load on the electrodes. Further, the electrolytic cell is disposed downstream of the means for removing alkalinity in tap water, and water generated on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell is circulated through means for removing alkalinity in tap water, and By adding an alkalinity-removing material to the water that passes through the process, deposits such as calcium carbonate on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell can be suppressed, and the amount of weakly acidic soft water generated can be greatly increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a water treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the pH behavior of weakly acidic soft water generated from an anode chamber and the pH behavior of water generated from a cathode chamber using the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a water treatment apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the pH behavior of weakly acidic soft water generated from an anode chamber and the pH behavior of water generated from a cathode chamber using the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional water treatment apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the pH behavior of weakly acidic water generated from an anode chamber and the pH behavior of water generated from a cathode chamber using the apparatus of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrolysis tank, 2 ... Anode, 3 ... Cathode, 4 ... Cation exchange membrane, 5 ... Anode compartment, 6 ... Cathode compartment, 7 ... Water tank.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takuo Imasaka 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Totoki Kiki Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A water treatment apparatus comprising: means for removing alkalinity in tap water; and an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing inflowing tap water. 2. The water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A water treatment apparatus, wherein an electrolyzer for electrolyzing inflowing tap water is disposed downstream of a means for removing alkalinity in tap water. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for removing alkalinity in tap water is an acid. 4. The water treatment apparatus according to claim 3,
The means for removing alkalinity in tap water is one or more selected from water-soluble organic acids such as citric acid, ascorbic acid, and succinic acid. 5. The water treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water treatment apparatus removes water generated in the cathode chamber on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell through means for removing alkalinity in tap water. A water treatment device characterized by being circulated.