JPH1176383A - Sterilization method using electrolytic water - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a sterilization method which is excellent in cost effectiveness and workability by forming acidic electrolytic water having pH of a prescribed value or below and oxidation reduction potential of a prescribed value or above, diluting the same to a prescribed range by water and executing sterilization with the dilute acidic electrolytic water. SOLUTION: The acidic electrolytic water having the pH of <=2.5 and the oxidation reduction potential of >=1100 mV is previously formed and is used by diluting the same 10 to 40 times with water in a desired place in the sterilization method. If the pH is larger than 2.5 and the reduction potential is below 100 mV, the diluted acidic electrolytic water cannot exhibit a desired sterilization effect and if the dilution rate is smaller than 10 times, the effect relating to transportation work, transportation cost and sterilization workability is not sufficiently obtainable. If, conversely, the dilution rate is larger than 40 times, the dilute acidic electrolytic water cannot exhibit the desired sterilization effect. City water, reverse osmosis water, pure water and the city water subjected to a softening treatment are usable as the water to be used for the dilution. The increase in the pH when the water is diluted may be prevented by previously adding an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, to the acidic electrolytic water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sterilization method using acidic electrolyzed water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various machines and instruments used for medical and hygienic purposes such as sterilization and disinfection of fingers, dentures, eyeglasses, and endoscopes, floors and walls of medical sites such as hospitals, and fibers of clothes and sheets. 2. Description of the Related Art As a method for disinfecting various machines and appliances used in eating habits such as articles, tableware and cooking utensils, methods using disinfectants and disinfectants have been widely used.

[0003] However, in the conventional disinfection method using a disinfectant or a disinfectant, there are side effects on the human body and problems of waste liquid treatment.
There is a problem that a separate post-processing operation is required to wash out the chemicals, and the odor of the chemicals is unpleasant.

The applicant of the present application has focused on the fact that strongly acidic electrolyzed water having a pH of about 2.7 has the property of killing bacteria by the action of active oxygen, chlorine, etc., which are contained in a large amount. A sterilization method using strongly acidic electrolyzed water was proposed first.

[0005]

However, when sterilizing floors and walls at medical sites using this kind of strongly acidic electrolyzed water, it is necessary to install an electrolyzed water generator capable of generating strongly acidic electrolyzed water at the site. Alternatively, it was necessary to transport strongly acidic electrolyzed water generated in another place to the site.

[0006] In the former case, it takes a long time to prepare the strongly acidic electrolyzed water because the purchase cost and the installation cost of the device are burdened and the strongly acidic electrolyzed water must be generated on site. In addition, a device capable of producing a large amount of strongly acidic electrolyzed water has a problem that workability is poor because it is extremely large. Furthermore, later maintenance was troublesome. Also in the latter case, there is a problem that a transport operation and a transport cost for transporting a large amount of strongly acidic electrolyzed water are required.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a sterilization method which is excellent in economy and workability.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the sterilization method of the present invention produces acidic electrolyzed water having a pH of 2.5 or less and an oxidation-reduction potential of 1100 mV or more, which is added to water by 10%. It is characterized in that it is diluted up to 40 times (volume ratio) and sterilized using the diluted acidic electrolyzed water.

[0009] In the sterilization method of the present invention, a pH of 2.5
Hereinafter, a strongly acidic electrolyzed water having an oxidation-reduction potential of 1100 mV or more is generated, and the obtained water is diluted with water at a target location.
Since it is used after being diluted by a factor of up to 40 times, there is no need for a transportation operation or transportation cost, and the sterilization operation can be performed efficiently.

[0010] In the sterilization method of the present invention, the strongly acidic electrolyzed water before dilution has a pH of 2.5 or less and an oxidation-reduction potential of 1000 or less.
It is preferably at least mV, more preferably at least 1100 mV, and the dilution ratio is preferably 10 to 40 times.
pH greater than 2.5 and redox potential of 1000
If it is less than mV, the diluted acidic electrolyzed water cannot exhibit a desired sterilizing effect. On the other hand, if the dilution ratio is smaller than 10 times, the above-mentioned effects on the carrying operation, the carrying cost, and the sterilization workability cannot be sufficiently obtained. Conversely, if the dilution ratio is 40
If it is more than twice, the diluted acidic electrolyzed water cannot exhibit a desired sterilizing effect.

In the sterilization method of the present invention, the water used for dilution may be tap water, reverse osmosis water, pure water, or tap water treated with soft water. Further, an acid such as hydrochloric acid may be added in advance to prevent an increase in pH when diluted.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Example 1 Strongly acidic electrolyzed water was generated using the batch type electrolyzed water generator 1 shown in FIG. This batch-type electrolyzed water generator has a total capacity of 24 liters (12 liters on one side) and electrode plates 2 and 3.
Size is 300mm x 200mm, distance between electrode plates is 4
mm, and add 12 liters of purified water to each,
After 0.1% by weight of salt was added, a current of 20 A was passed for 1 hour. The pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen amount (DO), and electric conductivity (E)
Table 1 shows the measurement results of C), the residual chlorine concentration, and the water temperature.

Next, 0.3% hydrochloric acid was added to the strongly acidic electrolyzed water, and this was diluted 10 times, 20 times and 30 times with tap water. In addition, 10 times, 20 times, 30 times using purified water
It was diluted 1 and 40 times. The pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and dissolved oxygen amount (D
O), electrical conductivity (EC), residual chlorine concentration, and water temperature are shown in Table 1.

[0014]

[Table 1] Example 2 A stock solution and diluted electrolyzed water were produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the amount of salt added was 0.2% by weight and the concentration of hydrochloric acid was 0.2%. Table 2 shows the properties of the obtained electrolyzed water.

[0015]

[Table 2] Example 3 A stock solution and diluted electrolyzed water were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount of salt added was 0.2% by weight. Table 3 shows the properties of the obtained electrolyzed water.

[0016]

[Table 3] Example 4 A stock solution and diluted electrolyzed water were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount of salt added was 0.3% by weight and the concentration of hydrochloric acid was 0.2%. Table 4 shows the properties of the obtained electrolyzed water.

[0017]

[Table 4] Example 5 A stock solution and diluted electrolyzed water were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount of salt added was 0.3% by weight. Table 5 shows the properties of the obtained electrolyzed water.

[0018]

[Table 5] Example 6 A stock solution and diluted electrolyzed water were produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the amount of added salt was 0.4% by weight and the concentration of hydrochloric acid was 0.1%. Table 6 shows the properties of the obtained electrolyzed water.

[0019]

[Table 6] Example 7 An undiluted solution and diluted electrolyzed water were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount of salt added was 0.4% by weight and the concentration of hydrochloric acid was 0.2%. Table 7 shows the properties of the obtained electrolyzed water.

[0020]

[Table 7] Example 8 A stock solution and diluted electrolyzed water were produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the amount of added salt was 0.4% by weight and the concentration of hydrochloric acid was 0.3%. Table 8 shows the properties of the obtained electrolyzed water.

[0021]

[Table 8] Example 9 1.2 L of purified water was put into an electrolytic cell of the same batch type electrolyzed water generator as in Example 1, 0.25% by weight of sodium chloride was added, and a current of 20 A was passed for 2 hours. Table 9 shows the measurement results of the pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen amount (DO), electric conductivity (EC), residual chlorine concentration, and water temperature of the obtained strongly acidic electrolyzed water.

Next, this strongly acidic electrolyzed water was diluted 20 times with tap water, and the pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen amount (DO), electric conductivity ( Table 9 shows the measurement results of EC), residual chlorine concentration and water temperature.

As is clear from the results of Examples 1 to 9, the pH and ORP effective for sterilization and washing can be maintained even when diluted 40-fold.

[0024]

[Table 9] Example 10 The bactericidal activity of the diluted acidic electrolyzed water was confirmed using Aspergillus niger and spores. The diluted acidic electrolyzed water used was 20 times diluted tap water of Example 4. Table 10 shows the numbers of Aspergillus niger and spores which are said to take a long time to sterilize after contact with diluted acidic electrolyzed water.

[0025]

[Table 10] From the results of this example, it was confirmed that the sterilizing effect was immediately exhibited when the diluted acidic electrolyzed water according to the present invention was brought into contact.

The embodiments described above are described for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiments is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a large amount of strongly acidic electrolyzed water is required, it can be diluted and used at the target site, so that the transportation work and transportation costs are not required. It is also excellent in economy and workability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an electrolyzed water generating apparatus used in an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Electrolyzed water generator 2, 3 ... Electrode plate

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI C02F 1/50 550 C02F 1/50 550D 560 560F

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) a pH of 2.5 or less and an oxidation-reduction potential of 110
0 mV or more of acidic electrolyzed water is generated, and this is
A sterilization method characterized by diluting to 0-fold (volume ratio) and performing sterilization using the diluted acidic electrolyzed water.