JP3411991B2 - Method for producing electrolyzed water and apparatus used therefor - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention adjusts alkaline ionized water having a low redox potential (hereinafter referred to as “ORP”) generated by electrolysis and oxidized water having a high ORP, to obtain an arbitrary pH and an ORP, and further an arbitrary value. It is a technical task to create water having the mineral content and hardness described above, and to achieve water saving of conventional alkaline ionized water and oxidized water or super-oxidized water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, alkaline ionized water generators and oxidized water generators have been available. However, in any conventional production apparatus of this type, water, which is the opposite of the intended purpose, is produced at the same time. Water other than the purpose of use is usually drained as it is, which is a waste of water resources. In addition, pH and ORP for each purpose of use,
Further, a general apparatus has no degree of freedom to arbitrarily change the amount of minerals and hardness.

[0003] Particularly, limited to artificial hot spring water, natural hot spring water contains many mineral components, and it is said that the hot spring effect provides a healing effect for adult diseases and a warming effect on the body. In order to obtain such a hot spring effect in the bath at home, a method of adding a bathing agent containing sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium sulfate, etc. to the bath water, or a natural stone or ceramic material containing a mineral component that has high radiation efficiency of far infrared rays It has been proposed to immerse the soybeans in bath water to obtain a heating effect. However, it is difficult to say that these methods can reproduce the original hot spring effect of hot spring water in a home bath because the low ORP that hot spring water originally exhibits cannot be obtained.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention adjusts alkaline-ionized water having a low ORP and oxidized water having a high ORP produced by electrolysis to obtain water having an arbitrary pH and ORP, and further, an arbitrary mineral amount and hardness. The purpose is to create water and to save water. Further, as a further specific example, the alkaline ionized water and / or oxidizing water obtained by electrolysis is treated to provide artificial hot spring water having a hot spring effect easily in a bath at home.

[0005]

The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and includes the following inventions. (1) (i) a step of electrolyzing water to generate alkaline ionized water and oxidized water; and (ii) a redox potential and / or pH of the alkaline ionized water and oxidized water generated in the step (i). A step of adjusting, and (iii) a step of arbitrarily changing the oxidation-reduction potential and / or pH by mixing the alkaline ionized water and the oxidation water in which the oxidation-reduction potential and / or pH is adjusted in the step (ii). A method for producing electrolyzed water, comprising:

(2) An electrolytic cell, a water supply channel for supplying water into the electrolytic cell, an alkaline ionized water discharge channel on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell, and an oxidizing water discharge channel on the anode side of the electrolytic cell are provided. A device for producing electrolyzed water, characterized in that means for adjusting ORP and / or means for neutralizing ORP are provided in the ion water discharge path and / or the oxidizing water discharge path, and the alkaline ionized water and the oxidized water are arbitrarily mixed.

(3) The electrolyzed water generator according to the above (2), which is provided with a means for supplying an electrolytic substance and / or a means for contacting a substance for eluting a mineral component in a water supply channel and / or an oxidizing water discharge channel. . (4) The electrolyzed water generator according to (2), wherein the ORP adjusting means provided in the oxidizing water discharge passage is a substance that lowers the ORP. (5) Activated carbon, activated carbon fiber or reducing agent in which a substance that lowers ORP adsorbs and / or decomposes active chlorine and active oxygen,
Alternatively, the electrolyzed water generation apparatus according to (4), which is a catalyst that inactivates active chlorine and active oxygen.

(6) The electrolyzed water producing apparatus according to (2), wherein the means for adjusting the ORP provided in the oxidizing water discharge passage is an adsorption or decomposition apparatus for active chlorine and active oxygen. (7) The electrolyzed water generator according to (2), wherein the neutralizing means provided in the oxidizing water discharge passage is an alkaline substance or a cation exchange resin. (8) The electrolyzed water generator according to (2), wherein the means for adjusting the ORP provided in the alkaline ionized water discharge passage is a substance that raises the ORP.

(9) The electrolysis according to (8) above, wherein the substance that raises ORP is activated carbon that adsorbs and / or decomposes active hydrogen, activated carbon fiber, an oxidizing agent or an adsorbent, or a catalyst that deactivates active hydrogen. Water generator. (10) The electrolyzed water generator according to (2), wherein the neutralizing means provided in the alkaline ionized water discharge passage is an acidic substance or an anion exchange resin. (11) A hot water circulator provided with the electrolyzed water generator according to any one of (2) to (10). (12) A bathtub equipped with the hot water circulator according to (11).

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The electrolyzed water producing method of the present invention can be preferably carried out by using the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention described in the above (2) to (10). The electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention is generally equipped with an electrolytic substance, for example, an alkali metal salt such as sodium or potassium, or an alkaline earth metal salt such as calcium or magnesium in the water supply passage and / or the oxidizing water discharge passage. It is provided with a supply means and / or a means for contacting a substance that elutes a mineral content, for example, a natural stone such as rock, ore, lava, coral or the like, or a mineral-containing substance.

The ORP provided in the oxidizing water discharge passage
Is a substance that reduces ORP, such as activated carbon that adsorbs and / or decomposes active chlorine and active oxygen, activated carbon fiber or a reducing agent, or a catalyst that inactivates active chlorine and active oxygen, and more specifically Is an adsorption or decomposition device for active chlorine and active oxygen such as hypochlorous acid. In addition, examples of means for neutralizing include alkaline substances and cation exchange resins.

On the other hand, as a means for adjusting the ORP provided in the alkaline ionized water discharge passage, for example, a substance that raises the ORP (for example, activated carbon that adsorbs and / or decomposes active hydrogen, activated carbon fiber, oxidizer or adsorbent) is used. , Or a catalyst that deactivates active hydrogen (for example, tungsten oxide), and means for neutralizing include, for example, an acidic substance or an anion exchange resin.

Here, the artificial hot spring water will be described in more detail. The present inventors have found that the pH of the purified water is adjusted by adding an acid or alkali to the purified water.
As a result of measuring the relationship between the pH value and the ORP with respect to general water such as water having different pH, purified water, and commercially available mineral water, it was found that there is a certain linear relationship in the equilibrium state as shown in FIG. Next, pH values and OR values of natural hot spring water from all over Japan
As a result of analyzing P, it was found that hot spring water also shows a wide range of pH values, but at the same time, unlike the above-mentioned general water state, even the same pH value shows an ORP lower than the equilibrium value.

Since the low ORP of this natural hot spring water is a reducing system because oxygen does not exist deep in the crust where the hot spring water exists, the hot spring water remains a reducing system even after it appears on the surface of the earth. It is considered that the low ORP shows a low ORP, and it is presumed that the low ORP causes the original hot spring effect.

It is known that, when turned around and electrolyzed tap water in an electrolytic cell, oxidized water is generally generated on the anode side and alkaline ionized water is generated on the cathode side. The characteristic feature of the generated alkaline ionized water is that it has a high pH value and a low ORP as shown at point d in FIG. On the other hand, the produced oxidized water has a low pH value and a high ORP as shown by point e in FIG. 2, and even if both are simply mixed, water having an ORP lower than the equilibrium value as shown by a in FIG. I can't get it.

The present invention has been made on the basis of the above findings, and is an ORP produced by electrolysis of water.
By preparing alkaline ionized water having a low content and oxidizing water having a high content of ORP to obtain product water having an arbitrary pH, ORP, and further an arbitrary amount of minerals and having its hardness adjusted, for example, in the case of reducing water, artificial It can be used for hot spring water, washing water and cooking water that does not destroy vitamins of food such as vegetables, water for preventing oxidation and deterioration of food and drinking water, or for removing active oxygen, and further processing water for food and cooking. On the other hand, in the case of oxidizing water, it is possible to provide water whose bactericidal property can be utilized. Also, since water of which hardness is arbitrarily changed can be obtained, various foods for cooking and processing water,
It can be applied as drinking water. Furthermore, it can be applied to water treatment, exhaust gas treatment, etc. by utilizing the redox power imparted to water.

More specifically, regarding the ORP, the present inventors have found that the high ORP of the oxidizing water when the tap water is electrolyzed is mainly due to active chlorine and active oxygen such as hypochlorous acid. It was possible to obtain artificial water very similar to natural hot spring water by removing these active substances from oxidized water and mixing it with alkaline ionized water. The generated water is expanded to various uses.

Further referring to such artificial hot spring water, in order to produce water having a low ORP water quality at home as in the case of natural hot spring water, an electrolytic cell and a water supply channel for supplying water to it are provided, Furthermore, an alkaline ionized water discharge passage and an oxidizing water discharge passage are separately provided, and a means for adsorbing or decomposing active chlorine and active oxygen such as hypochlorous acid which causes a high ORP is provided mainly in the oxidizing water discharge passage. It was found that the active substance can be removed by mixing with the alkaline ionized water.

The means for adsorbing an active substance such as hypochlorous acid used here is, for example, of a type of passing through an adsorption cylinder filled with activated carbon, and the activated carbon is sufficient to contain an active substance such as hypochlorous acid. Granular activated carbon or activated carbon fiber may be used as long as it can be adsorbed, or activated carbon to which silver is added in order to suppress the growth of microorganisms.

When artificial hot spring water is produced by the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention, as shown by point b in FIG. 2, the ORP of the oxidized water which has passed through the adsorption or decomposition apparatus has almost the same equilibrium value as the purified water. By mixing the oxidizing water and the alkaline ionized water that have passed through this adsorption or decomposition device, artificial hot spring water with a low ORP is generated as shown by point c in FIG.

Further, a flow rate control valve is connected to the alkaline ionized water discharge passage or the oxidizing water discharge passage to change the mixing ratio of the alkaline ionized water and the oxidized water to obtain the OR of the obtained water.
The P value is low and the pH value is freely changed from the acidic side to the alkaline side.

In the case of obtaining alkaline ionized water in the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention, the ORP is provided in the flow path of the anode water.
Is provided, that is, a means for removing or decomposing active chlorine and active oxygen for lowering the ORP is provided, and the flow passage water is mixed with the alkaline ionized water of the cathode water to save water. The alkaline ionized water produced by mixing has a pH slightly acidic to the acid side under the same conditions such as electrolysis voltage and flow rate, although it depends on the mixing ratio as compared with the case of unmixed alkaline ionized water.
RP shifts slightly higher. However, it is possible to sufficiently produce the alkaline ionized water as originally intended, and water saving can also be achieved.

On the other hand, when the purpose is to obtain oxidizing water in the same generator, the oxidizing water may be used as it is without passing through the ORP adjusting means by switching. However, by adjusting the ORP in the cathode side flow path, that is, by providing a means for adsorbing or removing active hydrogen such as tungsten oxide that raises the ORP, and mixing with the oxidizing water of the anode water, the water saving of the oxidizing water can be achieved. The pH of the mixed oxidizing water, which depends on the mixing ratio, shifts slightly to the alkaline side and the ORP shifts slightly to a lower level, but oxidizing water that saves water can be produced.

When oxidizing water and super-oxidizing water are used in the oxidizing water and super-oxidizing water generator or alkaline ionized water is used in the same generator, the same ORP adjusting means as in the alkaline ionized water generator is used. , Water-saving oxidizing water and super-oxidizing water, and water-saving alkaline ionized water can be produced.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention will be shown in the drawings below. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention, which is an example used for manufacturing artificial hot spring water.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an electrolytic cell, 2 is a water supply channel, and electrolytic cell 1
It is a conduit for supplying water such as tap water and bath water used for electrolysis. Reference numeral 3 indicates a power source for applying a voltage between the electrodes. 4 is a discharge passage provided on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell 1,
This is a conduit for discharging the generated alkaline ionized water. It is preferably equipped with a flow control valve 5. On the other hand, an oxidizing water discharge path 6 is provided on the anode side of the electrolytic cell 1,
It is used to discharge the generated oxidizing water. And, it is equipped with an adsorption or decomposition device 7 for removing active chlorine and active oxygen such as hypochlorous acid generated by electrolysis. In this example, the water supply passage 2 is provided with an electrolyte 8 such as sodium chloride and a mineral solute component feeding device 8.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a bath equipped with a hot water circulator using the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention. In this bath, a pump and a heater are introduced into the water supply passage of the electrolyzed water generator of the present invention to heat the water in the bath to a desired temperature, and the electrolyzed water generator is passed through the electrolyzed water generator to obtain an arbitrary pH, ORP,
By circulating it as water with mineral content and hardness, the original hot spring effect of hot spring water can be reproduced in a home bath.

(Example 1) In the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention, tap water is supplied into the electrolyzer 1 by the water supply passage 2.
When a voltage is applied to this, oxidized water containing active chlorine and active oxygen such as hypochlorous acid generated from chlorine ions contained in tap water is obtained on the anode side, while alkaline ionized water is obtained on the cathode side. Is generated. The ORP of the oxidized water obtained here is higher than that of natural hot spring water (e in FIG. 2). On the other hand, the obtained alkaline ionized water is relatively ORP.
Is low (d in FIG. 2).

Then, the oxidizing water is discharged from the electrolytic cell 1 through the oxidizing water discharge path 6, and is guided to the adsorption or decomposition device 7 provided therein. In this adsorption or decomposition device 7,
For example, activated carbon or activated carbon fibers, etc. are filled, by which active substances such as hypochlorous acid are adsorbed or decomposed,
Water is obtained in which the active substances have been removed from the oxidized water. That is, even though the pH values are almost the same, ORP makes it possible to obtain water (b in FIG. 2) that is as low as the amount of the active substance removed.
By mixing with the alkaline ionized water discharged from the water, artificial hot spring water equivalent to natural hot spring water with low ORP can be obtained (FIG. 2c).

Further, in the case where the flow control valve 5 is provided in the alkaline ionized water discharge passage 4, the amount of alkaline ionized water mixed with the treated oxidizing water is adjusted so that a desired pH and ORP can be obtained. You can get the artificial hot spring water that you have. The flow rate control valve 5 may be installed after the adsorption or decomposition device 7 in the oxidizing water discharge path 6.

When the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is applied to bath water, a bath water is introduced into the water supply passage 2 by a pump to circulate the bath water through the apparatus to enhance the OR.
Artificial hot spring water with low P can be obtained. Further, the bath water, the electrolyte and mineral solute component feeding device shown in 8 of FIG. 3 or the natural stone or mineral-containing substance elution (contact) shown in 9 of FIG.
By adding an electrolyte such as sodium sulfate or sodium hydrogen carbonate to the device, artificial hot spring water close to natural hot spring water can be obtained.

In the conventional alkaline ionized water producing apparatus and oxidizing water producing apparatus, water different from the purpose of use is produced at the same time, so that water is wasted. For the purpose of producing alkaline ionized water for hydration, a means for removing or decomposing active chlorine and active oxygen by activated carbon or the like is installed in the oxidizing water generation flow path, while oxidizing water and superoxidation are used. When the purpose is to generate water, by installing an active hydrogen adsorption or decomposition means in the alkaline ionized water generation flow path, it is possible to remove substances different from the purpose of use, so these waters are originally intended. By mixing with water, the pH and ORP slightly change, but water having an original function is generated, and it is possible to realize water saving here.

Example 2 It is known that vitamins such as vitamin C are partially decomposed when foods such as vegetables are washed and cooked with tap water. However, it is possible to prevent the above-mentioned harmful effects by washing and cooking the produced water with low ORP obtained by the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention, and further to prevent oxidation and deterioration of food and drinking water. The effect or the effect of removing active oxygen is also exhibited. In addition, it is also effective as function recovery water for foods, foods, etc. that have already been oxidized.

(Embodiment 3) By adjusting the amount of electrolyte and minerals put into the water supply channel 2 of the electrolyzed water producing apparatus of the present invention, the amount of mineral components including pH and ORP and the hardness of water can be adjusted. Since it can be changed, this desired water can be prepared and used as cooking water or processed water for foods. It can bring out the original taste of foods, suppress the decomposition of vitamins, control lye, etc. It has become. Of course, it is also suitable for preparing mineral drinking water having various hardnesses. In particular, by providing a means 9 for contacting the oxidizing water with natural stones such as hardly soluble rocks, ores, lava, and coral in the oxidizing water discharge passage, it has been difficult to elute minerals from these natural stones. Is dissolved in oxidizing water, so water containing natural minerals can be prepared. In this case, the contact means 9 may be provided after the adsorption or decomposition device 7.

(Example 4) Oxidized water having a high ORP is known to have bactericidal activity. Therefore, since water having an arbitrary pH and oxidizing power can be prepared by the electrolyzed water generator of the present invention, it can be used in various fields, for example, in the field of sterilization as a countermeasure against O-157. It is also used as a medical aid such as atopic treatment or as bath water with bactericidal power, and its application range is wide.

(Embodiment 5) When water is saved in the production of alkaline ionized water, activated carbon or activated carbon fibers are generally used before and after the electrolytic cell. Therefore, this activated carbon tank is divided by a partition or the like, one of the activated carbon tanks fulfills the conventional function, and the oxidized water of the anode water is passed through the other activated carbon tank. Water saving is achieved by mixing this lowered ORP with alkaline ionized water from the cathode side. The conventional alkaline ionized water generator can be applied as it is by simply partitioning the activated carbon tank and attaching a water passage and a water outlet to them.

(Example 6) It is known that active oxygen is generated when ultraviolet rays hit water such as seawater. Therefore, when exposed to sunlight in a sea bath or the like, active oxygen is generated, which may damage the skin or hair. Particularly in the case of pools, damage is further increased because chlorine for sterilization is added. Therefore, O that can remove active oxygen and active chlorine
By using water with low RP or warm water as shower water, it is useful for recovering damaged skin and hair.

[0037]

The present invention is as described above, and alkaline ionized water having a low ORP and O produced by electrolysis of water and O
Reduced water is artificial hot spring water, shower water, vegetables, etc. by adjusting the oxidized water with high RP to obtain the generated water containing the desired pH, ORP and further the desired mineral content and the hardness. It can be used for washing water and cooking water of foods, water for preventing oxidation and deterioration of food and drinking water, as well as processed water for foods and cooking. Was able to provide water that can be used by. Further, it can be expected to be applied to water treatment, exhaust gas treatment, semiconductor cleaning, etc. by utilizing the redox power imparted to water, so that its application is wide.

Regarding the water saving, a means for adjusting the ORP is provided in the flow path of the anode or cathode water of the electrolyzed water producing device, and the ORP is controlled together with the adjustment of the flow rate so that the electrode water opposite to them is provided. This is achieved by mixing to save water, and enables water saving in the conventional alkaline ionized water generator and oxidized water or super-oxidized water generator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a relationship between a pH value and ORP for general water.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between pH value and ORP for electrolyzed water and artificial hot spring water obtained by the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an electrolyzed water generator (spring water generator) of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a bath provided with a hot water circulator using the electrolyzed water generator of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Electrolysis tank 2 Water supply path 3 Power supply 4 Alkaline ion water discharge path 5 Flow control valve 6 Oxidizing water discharge path 7 Active chlorine and active oxygen such as hypochlorous acid Adsorption or decomposition device 8 ・ ・ ・ Removal device for electrolyte and mineral solute component 9 ・ ・ ・ Device for leaching (contacting) substances containing natural stones and minerals

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI C02F 1/66 522 C02F 1/66 522Z 530 530C (56) Reference JP-A-8-117753 (JP, A) JP-A-2 -52090 (JP, A) JP-A-6-328076 (JP, A) JP-A-4-150994 (JP, A) JP-A-9-29286 (JP, A) JP-A-6-39381 (JP, A) ) JP-A-6-315686 (JP, A) JP-A-5-138172 (JP, A) JP-A-9-56614 (JP, A) JP-A-8-47689 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1/46 C02F 1/28 C02F 1/42 C02F 1/66

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A step of (i) electrolyzing water to produce alkaline ionized water and oxidized water, and (ii) a redox potential of the alkaline ionized water and oxidized water produced in step (i) and / or The step of adjusting the pH, and (iii) the redox potential and / or the pH is arbitrarily changed by mixing the alkaline ionized water and the oxidized water, the redox potential and / or the pH of which are adjusted in the step (ii). In the method of producing electrolyzed water including steps
And (ii) the alkaline ionized water produced in the step (i).
And a process for adjusting the redox potential and / or pH of oxidizing water
Increase the redox potential of alkaline ionized water
As a means, use a catalyst that deactivates active hydrogen.
And / or as a means for lowering the redox potential of the oxidizing water
Then, a method for producing electrolyzed water, characterized in that a catalyst for deactivating active chlorine and active oxygen is used . 2. An electrolytic cell, a water supply channel for supplying water into the electrolytic cell, an alkaline ion water discharge channel on the cathode side of the electrolytic cell, and an oxidizing water discharge channel on the anode side of the electrolytic cell. A means for adjusting the oxidation-reduction potential and / or a means for neutralizing the oxidation-reduction potential is provided in the water discharge path and / or the oxidation water discharge path, and the electrolyzed water generating apparatus for arbitrarily mixing the alkaline ionized water and the oxidized water
The alkaline ion water discharge channel
Inactive hydrogen is used as a means to increase the redox potential of water.
Using a catalyst that activates and / or in the oxidizing water discharge channel
As a means of lowering the redox potential of oxidizing water, active chlorine and
An electrolyzed water generator characterized by using a catalyst that deactivates active oxygen . 3. The electrolyzed water generation apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a means for supplying an electrolytic substance and / or a means for contacting a substance that elutes a mineral component in the water supply channel and / or the oxidizing water discharge channel. 4. Alkali ion in the alkaline ionized water discharge passage.
Activity provided as a means to raise the redox potential of water
The catalyst for deactivating hydrogen is tungsten oxide.
Item 3. The electrolyzed water generator according to Item 3 . Hot water circulation equipped with a apparatus for producing electrolyzed water according to any one of 5. A method according to claim 2-4. 6. A bathtub provided with the hot water circulator according to claim 5 .