KR20080032024A - Method for cleaning, sterilising and disinfecting dishes and other kitchen utensils and cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for cleaning, sterilising and disinfecting dishes and other kitchen utensils by means of a wash liquid (5). In order to permit an economically and technically advantageous cleaning, an electrical current is directly applied to an electrode (15, 16), arranged in the wash liquid (5) and embodied as a diamond and/or lead-tin electrode, to generate OH radicals (14) in said wash liquid (5), which permit cleaning, sterilising and disinfecting of dishes and other kitchen utensils. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method, wherein an electrolytic cell (20) with a pair of electrodes (15, 16), comprising a diamond electrode for generating OH radicals (14), is directly integrated into a wash water circuit of a dishwasher (1).

Description

Method for cleaning, sterilising and disinfecting dishes and other kitchen utensils and cleaning device}

The present invention relates to a method for cleaning, sterilizing and disinfecting dishes and other household articles according to the general definition of claim 1 and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Methods and devices for cleaning various types of household items, dishes or other kitchen utensils are already known. In order to clean the article very cleanly, its surface must be free of stains, bacteria or bacteria. This can be done in a relatively simple manner, for example by washing with a household appliance or an electronic dishwasher. To do this, the stained dishes are placed in contact with the cleaning liquid in the dishwasher.

The stained item or dish is first placed in the dishwasher. Then, in particular, tap water or domestic water and a powder or liquid detergent, for example, are added. By means of a heating device, for example, according to a preselected program, water or wash liquor is brought to a predetermined temperature or the wash liquor or water is mixed with a detergent. A chemical or physical dissolution process takes place, so that the surfaces of the washed dishes are freed of stains, bacteria and bacteria or they migrate to the wash solution. After the actual cleaning operation, the surface of the dish or kitchen utensil can be washed with clean water, for example. The washing or drying operation ends after drying of the treated or washed dishes or kitchen utensils.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is a method or apparatus for further improving the cleaning of household items, dishes or the like or other kitchen utensils or making them advantageous from an economic and technical standpoint.

This object is solved by the claims 1 to 11. Suitable variants of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

On the other hand, the present invention is based on a method of washing, sterilizing and disinfecting dishes and kitchen utensils with a washing liquid. One essential aspect of the present invention is the fact that OH radicals are generated in the wash liquid which cleans, sterilizes and disinfects dishes and other kitchen utensils by applying a current directly to the electrode embodied in diamond and / or lead-tin electrode and arranged in the wash liquid. Is in. This allows for an effective and reliable cleaning or sterilization and disinfection of dishes and kitchen utensils. In particular, large amounts of OH radicals can occur with the aid of the method according to the invention or the proposed electrode. In particular, the OH radicals generated allow for washing without further necessary detergents or washing additives. It is very advantageous to have sufficient water or beverage as a washing liquid with OH radicals generated by the proposed electrode. OH radicals excel among others by their high activity and reactivity or oxidizing power compared to oxidizing materials. In addition, cell-killing effects on microorganisms, bacteria and bacteria can be obtained with the OH radicals.

It is also an advantage that a generally used current is used in the method according to the invention. For this method, current is applied directly to the electrodes in the dishwasher. The electrodes are preferably located in circulating water and in particular connected to several power supplies. Thus, the electrode may be in fairly strong contact with the wash liquor or water, or if acceptable, other materials contained therein may be cleaned around the electrode. The associated ability to react with hydrogen and oxygen, which occurs arbitrarily, is well known equipment, for example by using semipermeable membranes, which can easily be taken into account or possible risks can be reliably eliminated.

Another important advantage of using diamond or lead-tin electrodes is that they do not cause any detrimental effects as may occur when other electrode materials are used in aqueous systems. In the case of known electrodes, in particular electrodes containing metals, for example electrodes consisting of platinum, some or small amounts of such metals, for example traces of platinum or platinum containing materials, can be dissolved in the wash liquor or the surrounding water. And can cling to the surface of dishes and kitchen utensils. From there, platinum can be picked up by the person using the dish that holds the food. However, particularly low amounts of platinum are substances that are harmful to health or contaminate cells. According to the invention, the dangerous use of the platinum electrode can be avoided.

It has also been proposed to use diamond and / or lead-tin anodes. By using synthetically produced diamond electrodes and / or lead-tin electrodes, for example, highly effective OH radicals can occur during electrolysis, which mainly occurs at the anode. In particular, one or several positive electrode (s) made of the proposed material may be provided in the cleaning liquid.

The cleaning solution is preferably mixed with materials which increase the electrical conductivity, in particular cleaning agents. In order to increase the electrical conductivity of the cleaning solution or water detergents around the electrodes, the corresponding substances can enter or dissolve in the cleaning solution. For example, commercially available cleaning and / or inorganic salt solutions that are not degradable may be used to increase electrical conductivity or may be used as electrolyte. For example, Na ₂ SO ₄ , Na ₃ PO ₄ , NaCl, H ₃ BO ₃ or mixtures of these salts can be used. These substances or detergents are placed in the dishwasher, in particular through well-known devices. Thus, for example, cleaning, sterilization or disinfection of the surface of the product to be cleaned may be possible with commercially available cleaning solutions. On the one hand, the wash solution or wash solution acts as an electrolytic solution which applies current to the solution, and on the other hand, as a wash solution for chemical dissolution of stains or electrochemical sterilization, washing and disinfection of the surface of the dish. The generation of OH radicals on the anode or the possible simultaneous generation of oxygen and / or ozone, which are strong oxidants, replaces most of the possible additives, especially for the removal of stains by chemical dissolution or washing solution.

It is particularly preferable that a pulsating current or continuous current is applied directly to the electrode disposed in the cleaning liquid. Thus, the required concentration or volume of OH radicals in the wash liquor can occur reliably. In particular, the application of a pulsating current can generate significantly more OH radicals than when the applied current is not pulsating. Thus, one extremely important point of the present invention is seen in the fact that a direct current applied on the electrode is applied to the electrode, preferably in a direct or pulsed manner. As a result, the significantly higher OH radical incidence or the significantly higher OH radical concentration obtained, the number of washes or the number of wash cycles obtained in the wash liquor can be clearly reduced compared to the known processes or apparatus used in the past. This is due in particular to the simultaneous chemical and / or physical washing and sterilization during the generation or washing process of very effective OH radicals on the anode. The pulsating current application can basically occur, for example, in line with one of the other profiles which can be manipulated according to the wavy or sinusoidal, ramped or spike profile as a function of time. Alternating current is preferably applied directly to the electrode disposed in the wash liquid. By applying alternating current to the electrode, in particular, the polarity is converted from positive to negative or the electrical polarity is reversed, in particular, it is possible to effectively generate OH.

It has been proposed to use mixtures of commercially available organic and / or inorganic cleaning solutions for washing, sterilizing and disinfecting dishes or other kitchen utensils. Additional positive effects during the cleaning process can be realized in this way. For example, surface-active or enzymatically active materials can certainly enhance the cleaning effect. The process according to the invention is preferably used with the use of commercially available detergents.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the dish is washed by chemical and physical removal of OH radicals and simultaneously occurring stains.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the washing liquid for washing, sterilizing and disinfecting dishes and other kitchen utensils is water and Na ₂ SO ₄ or sodium sulfate, Na ₃ PO ₄ or sodium phosphate, NaCl or sodium chloride and / or H _It consists of a mixture of inorganic salts and / or mixtures of individual components such as ₃ BO ₃ or boric acid. Particularly high cleaning performances can be obtained by the process according to the invention, as a mixture of these substances or possibly individual components. Thus, the electrolyte solution may be provided in an aqueous alkali solution or in a conventional detergent or a mixture of the aforementioned salts.

In particular, the cleaning, sterilization and disinfection of dishes and other kitchen utensils may be carried out with water and commercially acceptable detergents and / or Na ₂ SO ₄ or sodium sulfate, Na ₃ PO ₄ or sodium phosphate, NaCl or sodium chloride and / or H ₃ BO ₃ Or a mixture of one of inorganic salts such as boric acid and / or a mixture of individual components and / or a mixture of organic / inorganic aqueous solutions used as electrolyte. The process according to the invention can be realized effectively and reliably with this electrolyte.

The current density on the electrode is set in amperes per unit area of the material to be washed in detail, the current density square decimeter (A / dm ²⁾ 5 amperes to the square decimeter (A / dm ²⁾ that is 300 amperes per per Has proved to be particularly advantageous. The significantly higher efficiency of the process according to the invention can be seen in the above current density ranges.

The present invention is also based on an apparatus capable of performing the above method. One essential aspect lies in the fact that electrolysers with electrode pairs comprising diamond electrodes for the generation of OH radicals are integrated directly into the wash water circuit of the dishwasher. In the device thus formed, the above advantages can be realized in a dishwashing device or dishwasher.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention there is an electrically insulated spacer which prevents an electrical short between the positive and negative electrodes. Thus, the device according to the invention can meet the safety criteria required when using current in an electrolytic cell. The presence of electrically insulated or insulating spacers on the corresponding areas of the electrolyzer can eliminate the adverse effects of electrical shorts, in particular of the electrode pairs, in the pressurized state.

In the case of other advantageous embodiments according to the invention, it is proposed that the electrolyzer is filled by the wash water canister through the circulation pump and the dish is contacted via the spray arm. In this way, the electrolyte or wash liquor collected in the wash water reservoir is provided to the electrolyser tightly and reliably by a fairly strong circulation pump. Through a pressurized electrode or electrolyzer, OH radical concentration will occur as above and then the wash liquid will come into contact with the object or dish to be cleaned by the circulation pump via a spray arm or a corresponding type of mixing device.

It is proposed that the anode be made of a material that generates OH radicals by tolerating the overvoltage of the anode. By means of a correspondingly designed anode or corresponding anode material, with respect to the voltage applied to the anode, the voltage can be obtained in such a way that OH radical generation is possible or in a way in which a considerable amount of OH radical generation can be realized.

It has been proposed that the anode comprises a synthetically produced diamond. All dimensions, shapes or compositions of diamond electrodes can be made reproducible with synthetically produced diamonds. For example, synthetically produced diamonds can be used in other suitable substrate materials such as titanium sheets or plastics.

Preferably, the diamond material, in particular the synthetic diamond material, may be doped with a particular material or compound. For example, other metals may be mixed into the synthetic diamond. In particular, synthetic diamond doped with boric acid exhibits particularly advantageous properties with respect to the overvoltage of the anode thus formed. As a result of doping synthetic diamond, the diamond becomes conductive or electrically conductive.

A special property of diamond electrodes is the decomposition of water. Water is mainly composed of electrolytes decomposed into hydrogen (H ₂ ) and oxygen (O ₂ ), and diamond electrodes are used in place of highly reactive oxygen or oxidative hydroxy radicals or OH radicals and / or ozone or O ₃ which are intermediate or decomposition products. Supply the operating range.

For example, sterilization of the beverage can be made. In particular, the chemical or chemical measurements or CSB values of the sewer can be reduced. In this application, publications were issued in Germany by Wago, Condias and Gerus companies. There, the use of diamond electrodes is widely discussed for the sewage or beverage industry.

It is proposed that the anode consists of a platinum-plated electrode. Strong or electrochemically particularly elastic electrodes can be provided in the form of platinum-plated metal electrodes. In addition to diamond electrodes which are fairly stable with regard to aggressive in particular alkalis, cleaning liquids, platinum-plated metal electrodes can be particularly advantageously used as anodes.

Referring to the drawings, other features and advantages of the present invention are shown in the drawings.

1 is a very schematic cross-sectional view of a cleaning device with a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view schematically illustrating the details of FIG. 1.

<Detailed Description of Drawings>

1: dishwasher 2: electrolysis device

3: housing 4: wash water pail

5: washing electrolyte 6: receiving device

7: dish rack 8: injector

9: spray nozzle 10: dispensing strip

11: circulation pump 12: line

13: electrode pair 14: OH radical

15: anode 15a: anode arm

16: cathode 16a: cathode arm

17: line 18: rectifier

19: filling funnel 20: electrolyzer

21: spacer

1 shows a particularly commercially available dishwasher 1 with an electrolysis device 2 corresponding to the invention. In FIG. 1, the electrolysis device 2 is provided only schematically and in particular outside the housing 3 of the dishwasher 1. As a rule, the electrolysis device 2 is especially integrated directly in the dishwasher. The dishwasher 1, shown in vertical section with the individual parts omitted, includes a wash water reservoir 4 in the bottom inner region and collects the washing electrolyte 5 therein. The required area inside the dishwasher 1 is occupied by a storage device 6 for the article to be cleaned; For example, the receiving device 6 may consist of a dish shelf 7. For example, an injection device 8 in the form of a spray arm is provided in the upper region of the dishwasher 1 for dispensing or applying the cleaning electrolyte 5 over an article (not shown) contained in the dish shelf 7. . For this purpose, the injection device 8 may comprise several injection nozzles 9, for example on a distribution strip. The circulation pump 11 is integrated in the line 12 to circulate the washing electrolyte 5 or to carry it from the washing water bottle 4 to the spraying device 8. In addition to the electrolysis device 2, the circulation pump 11 and the line 12 are generally housed in the housing 3 of the dishwasher 1.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an electrode pair for generating OH radicals represented by dots to illustrate the present invention. For the generation of OH radicals 14, for example, an electric direct current is applied via electrical contact over an anode comprising an electrical anode and a cathode 16 comprising an electrical cathode. While the dishwasher 1 is operating or during electrolysis, the washing liquid or washing electrolyte 5 washes around the electrodes 15 and 16. The electrical lead wire 17 and the electrodes 15 and 16 are connected to the variable rectifier 18. Particularly due to the use of the anode 15 as a synthetically produced diamond electrode, during electrolysis in the electrolysis device 2, a fairly effective generation of OH radicals occurs on the anode 15. The cleaning electrolyte 5 may in particular comprise ordinary household water. With normal tap water already containing a certain amount of conductivity, OH radical generation is basically possible. To impart higher conductivity to household water, for example, commercially available dishwashing agents or other salts which generate ions in aqueous solution after dissolution, for example, are charged over the upper part of the dishwasher 1. Can be added via funnel. The thus formed cleaning electrolyte 5 which is electrically conductive or contains ions is supplied through the circulation pump 11 from the cleaning pump 4 to the electrolytic cell 20. OH radicals are generated, particularly at the anode 15, when a current is applied to the electrode. For example, chemical or physical dissolution of stains by the cleaning electrolyte 5, by OH radicals reaching the dish in the dishwasher 1 via the line 12, the dispensing strip 10 and the spray nozzle 9. Can occur completely or almost completely. OH radicals 14 are carried by line 12 through the cleaning electrolyte 5 in the flow direction from the electrolyzer 20 to the spray nozzle and from there to the article to be cleaned. The spraying device 8 or the spray nozzle 9 is made so that a complete wetting or elaborate ejection of the cleaning electrolyte takes place so that the cleaning effect can occur on the surface of the article to be cleaned. After the actual washing process, the washing electrolyte 5 is washed in the material contained therein and collected by gravity into the wash water tank 4 and, as described above, to the OH radicals 14 via the electrolysis device 2. Once again, it can be mixed out of the protruding area of the collected wash electrolyte. The electrolysis device of FIG. 1 is provided in greater detail in FIG. 2 in an enlarged and very schematic form. According to the arrow P1, the washing electrolyte 5 passes through the electrolytic cell 20 through the line 12 by the circulation pump 11. OH radicals 14 are generated at the anode 15. In this process, the washing electrolyte 5 is enriched with oxygen or ozone. Such materials acting as oxidant carriers support or accelerate the cleaning or cleaning on the surface of the article or dish to be cleaned. Direct current is generated by the variable rectifier 18 and is in conductive contact with the positive electrode 15 or the negative electrode 16 via the supply cable or lead wire 17. An electrically insulated spacer 21 is provided to electrically insulate the anode arm 15a extending vertically downwards, which is alternated between the anode arm and the cathode arm. Is located. Spacer 21 prevents electrical shorts, particularly between anode arm 15a and cathode arm 16a, during electrolysis. As OH radicals that reach the surface of the dish to be washed, it can cause an oxidizing effect.

Since the proposed apparatus or method according to the present invention can reduce commercially available detergents containing tensides, phosphates or other additives, it not only saves costs but also protects resources and prevents wastewater contamination from cleaning equipment. Can be reduced to relieve the environmental burden, or a reduced cleaning time can be realized to reduce the overall energy.

Included in the context of the present invention

Claims (16)

By applying a current directly to the electrodes 15, 16 comprising diamond and / or lead-tin electrodes arranged in the wash liquor, the OH radicals 14, which allow for cleaning, sterilization and disinfection of dishes and other kitchen utensils, A method for cleaning, sterilizing and disinfecting dishes and kitchen utensils, characterized in that it occurs in the washing liquid (5). The method of claim 1, Diamond and / or lead-tin anodes. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The cleaning liquid (5) is characterized in that it is mixed with means for increasing the electrical conductivity, in particular dishwashing agent. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A pulsating current or continuous current is applied directly to the electrodes (15, 16) arranged in the cleaning liquid (5). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Alternating current is applied directly to the electrodes (15, 16) arranged in the washing liquid (5). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A mixture of organic and / or inorganic cleaning solutions, such as commercially available detergents, used for cleaning, disinfecting and disinfecting dishes and other kitchen utensils. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The dish is characterized in that the dish is washed by OH radicals (14) and at the same time by chemical and physical removal of the stain. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, Washing liquids for washing, sterilizing and disinfecting dishes and other kitchen utensils include water and inorganic salts such as Na ₂ SO ₄ or sodium sulfate, Na ₃ PO ₄ or sodium phosphate, NaCl or sodium chloride and / or H ₃ BO ₃ or boric acid and And / or a mixture of a mixture of individual components. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, For cleaning, disinfection and disinfection of dishes and other kitchen utensils, the cleaning liquid may be water and / or commercially available detergents and / or Na ₂ SO ₄ or sodium sulfate, Na ₃ PO ₄ or sodium phosphate, NaCl or sodium chloride and / or Or a mixture of one of inorganic salts such as H ₃ BO ₃ or boric acid and / or a mixture of individual components and / or a mixture of organic / inorganic aqueous solutions used as electrolyte. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The current density on the electrodes (15, 16) is specifically set to amperes per unit area for the material to be cleaned and the current density is from about 5 A / dm ² to about 300 A / dm ² . An apparatus for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the electrolyzer with electrode pairs comprising diamond electrodes for OH radical generation is integrated directly into the wash water circuit (1). The method of claim 10, An electrically insulated spacer (21) is provided to prevent an electrical short between the anode (15) and the cathode (16). The method of claim 10 or 11, The electrolytic cell (20) is characterized in that it is filled by the wash water pail (4) by the circulation pump (11) and the dish can be contacted through the spray arm (10). The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, The anode (15) is characterized in that it is made of a material that allows the overvoltage of the anode to generate OH radicals. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, The anode (15) is characterized in that it comprises a synthetically produced diamond. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, The anode (15) is characterized in that it comprises a platinum-coated metal electrode.

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