Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • US5858201A

    Uploaded by

    nthung115
    7 views37 pages
    Pat42222

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Pat42222

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    7 views37 pages

    US5858201A

    Uploaded by

    nthung115
    Pat42222

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 37
    USOOSSSE201A, United States Patent 115) (11) Patent Number: 5,858,201 Otsuka et al. [43] Date of Patent: Jan, 12, 1999 RILIZING LIQUID [52] US.CL 205/701; 205/742; 205/556; CONTAINING HYPOCHLOROUS ACID AT A. 205/500; 204 04/2 TOW CONCENTRATION, METHOD AND {58} Field of Search 205/701, 742, APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SAME, 3051356, Si) 204/275, 228 ‘AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND ° DISPENSING SAM (56) References Cited eer ae USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS Takeshita, Hitaca Nigahara; Ser, ———3519.29 61074 Kaeser ta ne Ando, all of Kitakyushu, Japan SGe1a8 $1988 Game a Sesrot 4788240 11/1988 Langlad ea 205/300 [73] Assignee: Toto, Ltd., Kitakyushu, Japan 5,308,507 S/1994 Robson 205/701 cae FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS, Ac317502. 12/1989. Japan (22) PCT Fited: Jul. 28, 1998 Rett "411000 Japan 5) PCE No - Resain9 1/1904 Japan [86] PCTN PCT/SP9s/01803 Perna pies pad $371 Date: Jan. 28, 1997 Riis F008 Tan eer eat Primary Exaniner—Acan S. Phase ee ‘Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Griffin, Butler, Whisenbunt & [87] PCT Pub. No: WOSWA3881 Saiph, LLP PCT Pub. Date: Feb. 18, 1996 157] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data AAstrong acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochiorous acid at a low concentration consists of electrolyzed salt water, Jol 29,1904 BP] pan eisorse 3,4 ow concentration consists of electolyzed salt w (220 198 BFL apa 6196149 Neen the pit of the Lig is 3 ox ess an the cooceata: echist oa Ur seeaa 216656 tion of the hypochlorous acid is 0.2 ppm to 2 ppm. (st) Intex cr ito 54 Claims, 17 Drawing Shoots ATER FAUCET REF Vie 100 vo oh i i ( FLOW SIONAL _Friow weTER P [SAT WATER TaN f MT rewpenarune | Meu Of po reerwsror p+ Orie RNG PORER Pie Alnwa vr i cacox vue Nn 0 de 400 os 1000 4000 e=426) ( 40000 CONCENTRATION OF Nacl (ppm) I; ELECTRIC CURRENT FOR ELECTROLYSIS (ELECTRIC CURRENT ACROSS THE ELECTRODES) E: VOLTAGE FOR ELECTROLYSIS (VOLTAGE ACROSS THE ELECTRODES) yuajed ‘S'N 6661 ‘ZL “ure L150 9 ways, TO7'8S8'S pH OF THE STRONG ACID ELECTROLYZED WATER ji4— Ne 25 24 — 401001 4000 40000 CONCENTRATION CC 400—, NY OF Nac! (ppm) 82A\ /1=3.52A 1A) 7 : I: ELECTRIC CURRENT FOR ELECTROLYSIS a) (28) (E3551 (ELECTRIC CURRENT ACROSS THE ELECTRODES) E: VOLTAGE FOR ELECTROLYSIS (VOLTAGE ACROSS THE ELECTRODES) FIG.9 yuajed ‘S'N 6661 ‘ZL “ure LT JO £ wus, TO7'8S8'S U.S. Patent Jan, 12, 1999 Sheet 8 of 17 5,858,201 NUMBER OF SURVIVING BACTERIA (NUMBER/m!) 108} .\ | (STERIUZING RATE, 0% ) BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY (S PRESENT 10° (STERILIZING RATE 89% ) 104 . 108. (STERILIZING RATE 99.7% ) 2 DETECTION LIMIT 10’ (50 BACTERIA/ml) sie (STERILIZING RATE 99.99% OR MORE) ee a aa 0.02 01 0.2 1.0 10.0 CONCENTRATION OF RESIDUAL HYPOCHLOROUS ACID (ppm) FIG.10 U.S. Patent Jan, 12, 1999 Sheet 9 of 17 5,858,201 U.S. Patent Jan, 12, 1999 Sheet 10 of 17 5,858,201 ELECTROLYZING AND 34— 7) SPRAYING UNIT HAND ‘SWITCH x 36 35 -—=| PUMP | | DRIVE A ( \) | [rae | ciRcUTT “| 38 ELECTROLYTIC cea CELL DRIVE TANK | /DC POWER| | CIRCUIT SUPPLY |" | PUMP DRIVE CIRCUIT cPU NOTES WIRE —— WATER TUBE FIG.1 3 U.S. Patent Jan, 12, 1999 Sheet 11 of 17 5,858,201 34 33) 31,32 45 44 39 35 40 46 37, a { 36 FIG. 14 FIG. 15(a) FIG. 15(b) FIG. 15(c) yuajed ‘S'N 6661 ‘ZT “Uet LL 50 71 ONS TO7'8S8'S U.S. Patent Jan, 12, 1999 Sheet 13 of 17 5,858,201 FIG. 16(b) 5,858,201 Sheet 14 of 17 Jan, 12, 1999 U.S. Patent FIG. 18 5,858,201 Sheet 15 of 17 Jan, 12, 1999 U.S. Patent FIG. 19 U.S. Patent Jan, 12, 1999 Sheet 16 of 17 5,858,201 See bNAANISS U.S. Patent Jan, 12, 1999 Sheet 17 of 17 5,858,201 DB Be eo ea ERR K ie 90 49 95 Las 53° S52. ‘a7 FIG.22 is USES an Sh 55 Vos a 83' FIG. 23 82 5,858,201 1 STRONG ACID STERILIZING LIQUID. CONTAINING HYPOCHLOROUS ACID AT A LOW CONCENTRATION, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SAME, AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND DISPENSING SAME. ‘This application is a 371 of PCT/SP9S/01503 filed Jul. 28, 1995, ‘TECHNICAL FIELD ‘The present ivention relates to strong acid sterilizing liquid containing bypocblorous acid at a low coneeatration Which is suitable for use of the human body, a method and aan apparatus for generating strong. acid sterilizing liquid ‘containing hypochlorous acid ata low concentration, and an apparatus for generating and dispensing strong acid steil- izing liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a low concen- tration, BACKGROUND ART ‘The bactericidal activity of an aqueous solution of !hypochlorous acid varies with the pH of the solution because the state of chlorine compounds dissolved in the aqueous solution varies with pH ‘When the pH of an aqueous solution of bypochlorous acid is 8 or more, or the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is alkaline, bypochlorous acid ions (CIO™) having faiely low bactericidal activity are mainly present in the aqueous solution. Thus, the bactericidal activity of an alkaline aque~ ‘ous solution of hypochlorous acid is fairly low: When the pH of aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is 7 or less, oF the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is, acidic, the amount of hypochlorous acid (HCIO) which has bactericidal activity 10 to 100 times larger than that of fhypochlorous acid ions, is larger than the amount of, hhypochlorous acid ions. Thus, the bactericidal activity of an acidic aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid is high. When the pH of an aqueous solution of bypochlorous acid is 55 or less, substantially 100% of the eblorine compound dissolved in the aqueous solution is hypochlorous acid, ‘Thus, the bactericidal activity of the aqueous solution of hhypochlorous acid hecomes even higher. ‘When the pH of an aqueous solution of bypochlorous acid is 3 or less, a part ofthe chlorine compound dissolved in the aqueous solution becomes chlorine gas (Cl) having higher bactericidal activity than that of bypocblorous acid. Thus, the bactericidal activity of the aqueous solution of bypechlo- ous acid becomes even higher. Acid sterilizing liquid containing hypocklorous acid can instantly Kill bacteria such as Escherichia coli, MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. Acid sterilizing liquid contain= ing hypochlorous acid can cure inflamed parts of the human body sulfering from atopy dermatitis, body parts suffering” rom necrosis owing to diabetes, and bedsores of a bedrid= den old person. It is thought that acid sterilizing i hypochlorous acid kills MRSA present on such diseased pars, in this way suppressing itch and suppuration Of the parts and thereby curing. them. ‘The skin is damaged by application of acid sterilizing liquid containing bypocblorous acid at a high concentration. “There is a need for an apparatus for generating and dispensing strong. acid sterilizing liquid which contains fhypochlorous acid at a concentration of about 2 ppm, the ‘concentration prescribed by Japanese City Water Oxganiza- 0 1s as as so 2 tion in its water purifier examination manual, whose pH is 3 or less, and which is suitable for use on the human body. ‘Acontinuously generating type apparatus having a barrier lype electrolyte cell has been developed for generating acid liquid containing bypochlorous acid. Tn this apparatus, salt ‘water is passed through a channel formed between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate disposed 10 face opposite surfaces of a barrier memiprane, and DC voltage is applied between the electrodes to electrolyze the salt water, At the positive electode, hydroxide ions (OH") contained he salt water give electcons to the positive electrode to become oxygen gas and are eliminated from the water. Thus, the conceniration of hydrogen ions (HI*) in the water owing. through the space between the barrier membrane and the positive electrode increases to make the water acidic. Also at the positive electrode, chlorine ions (CI) contained in the salt water give electrons to the positive electrode to become chlorine gas (Cl,). The chlorine gas dissolves in the acidic ‘water 1o become bypochlorous aci ‘AL the negative electrode, hydrogen ions (H*) contained in the salt water are given electrons from the negative electrode to become hydrogen was and are eliminated from the water. Also at the negative electrode, sodium ions (Na") and hytlroxide ions (OH) contained in the salt water are bonded together to become sodium hydroxide, Thus, the ‘water flowing through the space between the barrier mem- brane and the negative electrode becomes alkaline. ‘The bartier membrane prevents the mixing of the products at the positive electrode and the products at the negative electtode. Acid liquid containing bypochlorous acid can be ‘obtained by taking the water flowing through the space between the barrier membrane and the positive electrode out of the electrolytic eel. ‘The conventional continously generating type apparatus for generating acid liquid containing. hypochlorous acid having a barrier type electrolytic cell has a number of problems such as the following 1. The conventional contimiously generating type appa~ ratus having a barrier type electrolytic cell cannot generate strong acid sterilizing liquid which contains hypochlorous acid ata concentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3or less, ‘and which is suitable for use on the human body. The abbreviation “ppm” used here means concentration by weight converted into eblorine atoms and means “CL mgiliter” “The inventors of the present invention studied why the ‘conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell cannot generate strong acid sterilizing liquid which contains hypocklorous acid at a ccancentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 oF less, and ‘which is suitable for use on the human body. Their conclu- sion was as follows, ‘When the plT of the electrolyzed water must be decreased, the electric current applied across the electrodes must be increased to increase the quantity of the electrolyzed salt yereby inereasing the concentration of hydrogen ions. in the electrolyzed water. Electrons are transferred between hydroxide ions, hydrogen ions and the electrodes at the surfaces of the electrodes. When the electric current is creased, the Supply of hydroxide ions and hydrogen ions to the surfaces ofthe electrodes becomes insullicient, whi Suppresses the increase ia the eleeitie current ‘When the voltage applied across the electrodes is increased to inerease the supply of the hydroxide ions and hydrogen ions to the surfaces of the electrodes, overvoltage 5,858,201 3 at the positive electrode increases and the generation of, chlorine gas is promoted. Thus, the layer of the water flow rear the positive electrode becomes strong, acid liquid con- taining bypochlorous acid at a high concentration One countermeasure for overcoming the problem of the short supply of the hydroxide ions and bydrogen ions to the surfaces of the electrodes is to narrow the distance between the electrodes, thereby increasing the speed of tbe flow of the salt water through the channel between the electrodes. However, narrowing the distance between the electrodes is difficult because of the presence of the barrier membrane between the electrodes. As can be seen from the foregoing explanation, a con ventional continuously generating type apparatus having barrier type electrolytic cell cannot generate strong acid sterilizing liquid which cootains hypochlorous acid at & ‘concentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 oF less, and which is suitable for use on the human body. ‘Strong acid sterilizing liquid which is generated only by the electrolysis of salt water, which contains hypochlorous. ‘acid at aconcentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3o¢ less, ‘and Which is suitable for use oa the human body has not been PUL 1o practical us, as described above, the conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier t electrolytic cell cannot generate sirong acid sterilizing liquid which contains hypochlorous. acid ata concentration of, bout 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 oF less, and which is suitable for use on the human body. According to a recent report, ‘moreover, electolyzed salt water which is diluted with fothing other than Water, which contains hypochlorous acid fal concentration of about 2 ppm, and which is strongly acidic has hardly any bactericidal activity. This conclusion is based on tests using strong acid liquid containing hypochlo- rous acd at low concentration whi sterilized distilled water to strong acid liqui hhypochlorous acid at a high concentration generated by electrolysis of salt water, thereby diluting the strong acid liquid (Pharmacology and Clinical Medicine 1993/VOL.3/ NOLISEP. page 71 table 1). The inventors of the present invention think that the reported lack of bactericidal activity arises because the hypochlorous acid was broken down into chlorine gas when the aqueous solution was diluted and the chlorine gas left the aqueous solution, thus reducing the bactericidal activity of the aqueous sohition. 2. A barrier type electrolytic cell is large because of the presence of the barrier membrane between the electrodes. ‘Thus, the conventional continuously generating type appa- satus for generating acid liquid containing hypochlorous, acid having a barrier type electrolytic cell is large and not portable. Conventionally, acid Liquid containing hypochlor- fous acid generated in a continuously generating type appa- ratus having a barrier type electrolytic cell has therefore bbeen stored in a tank and poured from the tank into a small vessel or sprayer for use. Hypochlorous acid is easily broken down by ultraviolet light and the chlorine component evapo- ates with the lapse of time, Thus, the bactericidal activity of the acid liquid containing bypochlorous acid decreases while iL is stored in the tank. 3. Iallammation owing to atopy dermatitis often appears ata hidden part of the body. Therefore, it is preferable 10 provide an apparatus for generating and dispensing acid liquid containing hypochlorous acid Which ean be used in & bathroom. In a conventional continuously generating type apparatus having a barrier type electrolytic cell, the space between the electrodes is wide, about 4 mm or greater, ‘owing lo the presence of the barrier membrane between the 0 1s as as so 4 clectrodes, the electric resistance of the salt water present between the electrodes is lange, and a lange amount of electric power is needed to electrolyze the salt water. Thus, ‘4 conventional continuously generating type apparatus hav- a barrier type electrolytic cell has 10 be driven by domestic AC line current. However, AC line current is not ‘ordinarily available ia a bathroom, Thus, an apparatus for ‘generating and dispensing acid liquid containing hypochlo- rous acid based on a conventional continuously gener type apparatus for generating acid liquid cont hypochlorous acid having a barrier type electolytic cell ‘cannot be used in a batheoom. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘Through an extensive study, the inventors discovered that strong acid liquid which contains hypochlorous acid at a ‘concentration of about 2 ppm, whose pH is 3 oF less, and ‘which is suitable for use on the human body can be obtained by electeolyzing salt water using a continuously generating, ype apparatus having a non-barrier type electrolytic cell, and further ascertained that the obtained strong acid liquid has strong bactericidal activity ‘The present invention was made based on this discovery. Therefore, an object ofthe present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for generating strong acid steril- izing liquid containing bypochlorous acid at a low con tration Which can be used for teating the human body. ‘Another object of the present invention is 10 provide @ small sized portable type apparatus for generating and dispensing strong acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a low concentration, wherein the dispensed strong acid sterilizing liquid has reliable bacteri- cial activity. Another object of the present invention is 10 provide an apparatus for generating and dispensing strony. ‘acd sterilizing liquid containing bypochlorous acid ata low concentration, which does not need a large amount of electric power for the electrolysis of salt water and can be driven by a battery. In accordance with the present invention, there is pro vided strong acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a low concentration consisting of electrolyzed salt ‘water, wherein the pH of the liguid is 3 oF less and the ‘coneeatration of the hypochlorous acid is 0.2 ppm to 2 ppm. In the sterilizing liquid of the present invention whose pH is 3 or less, chlorine compounds exist in the state of hypochlorous acid and partially as chlorine gas. Thus, the sterilizing liquid of the present invention has a strong bactericidal activity. The sterilizing liquid of the present invention wherein the concentration of the hypochlorous ‘acid is 0.2 ppm to 2.0 ppm is harmless when applied to the human body aad is suitable for use on the human body. Ia the sterilizing liquid of the present invention which consists, fof electrolyzed salt water only and i not diluted with distilled water ete, the hypochlorous acid contained in the sterilizing liquid can exist stably. Thus, the sterilizing liquid of the present invention has reliable bactericidal act In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating strong acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid ata low ‘conceattation comprising the steps of forming a channel by 8 pair of flat wall surfaces extending elose to, parallel to, and ‘opposite o each other without a barrier membrane between them, constituting at least a part of one of the pair of wall surfaces of a positive electrode plate, constituting at least a part of the other of the pair of wall Surfaces of a negative electrode plate, passing salt water through the channel, 5,858,201 5 clectrolyzing the salt water flowing through the channel, and taking a layer of the water flow along the wall surface a part ‘of which is constituted of the positive electrode plate out of the downstream portion of the channel through an outlet port Formed ia the wall surface a part of Which is constituted of the positive electrode plate In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating strong. acid sterilizing liquid containing bypachlorous acid ata low ‘concentration comprising the steps of forming a channel by pair of flat wall surfaces extending close to, parallel to, and ‘opposite to each other without a barrier membrane between them, constituting at least a part of one of the pair of wall surfaces of a positive electrode plate, constituting at least 2 pact of the other of the pair of wall surfaces of a negative electrode plate, passing salt water through the channel, clectrolyzing the salt water flowing through the channel, and taking the layer of the water flow along the wall surface a part of whieh is constituted of the negative electrode plate away from the downstream portion of the channel through ‘an outlet port formed in the wall surface a part of which is constituted of the negative electrode plate. In the method for generating strong acid sterilizing li containing hypochlorous acid ata low concentration in accordance with the present invention, the positive electrode ‘and the negative electrade are disposed oppasite 10 each other without a barrier membrane between them, Thus, the distance between the electrodes can be made narrower than that in the conventional method using a barrier type elec- trolytic cell. This makes it possible to increase the flow speed of the salt water through the channel between the electrodes and thereby increase the number of hydroxide fons and hydrogen ions supplied to the surfaces of the electrodes. Thus, in the present method, strong, acid elec- trolyzed water ean be obtained with suppressing the increase Of the voltage applied across the electrodes. and thereby Suppressing the generation of hypocklorous acid, Inthe ‘method according to the present invention, salt water flow- ing through the channel constituted by a pair of flat wall surfaces extending close 1, parallel to, and opposite to each other forms a laminar flow. Thus, the layer of the srong acid ‘water low along the wall surface a part of which is consti- tuted by the positive electrode does aot mix with the layer of the rong alkaline water flow along the wall surface a part ‘of which is constituted by the negative electrode, In the method according to the present invention, the layer of the water flow along the wall surface a part of which is constituted by the positive electrode plate is taken out of the downstream portion of the channel through an outlet port Tormed in the wall surface a part of which is constituted by the positive electrode plate, or the layer of the water How ‘along the wall surface a part of which is constituted by the negative electrode plate is taken away from the downstream portion of the channel through an outlet port formed in the wall surface a part of which is constituted by the negative * electrode plate, Thus, strong acid sterilizing liquid contain= ing bypochlorous acid at a low concentration is obtained, In accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the distance between the wall surfaces is 0.5 mum or less. When the distance between the wall surfaces is 0.5 mm or less, the water flow in the channel between the electrodes becomes laminar flow. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the eleetrie power forthe electrolysis is variably conteolled. 0 1s as as 6 In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the ‘present invention, the concentration of salt ia the salt water 's variably controled. When the electric power for the electrolysis is variably controlled, oF the concentration of salt in the salt water is, variably controlled, song acid sterilizing liquid containing hypochlorous acid at a low concentration having, a desired pH! value and concentration of hypocblorous acid is, obtained. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating strong acid sterilizing liquid containing bypochlorous acid at & Tow concentration comprising an elecirolyti cell having a first channel formed between a pair of flat wall surfaces extending close to, parallel to, and opposite to each other ‘without a barrier membrane between them, a positive elec- ‘rode plate constituting at least a part of one of the pair of ‘wall surfaces, a negative electrode plate constituting at least {part of the other of the pair of wall surfaces, a second channel for taking out strong acid liquid communicating. with the downstream portion ofthe first channel through an outlet port formed ia the wall surface a part of which is ‘constituted ofthe positive electrode plate, a third chaanel for taking out strong alkaline liquid communicating with the

    You might also like