JP4454417B2 - Antibacterial method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bactericidal method for sterilizing or suppressing the growth of microorganisms. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bactericidal method having excellent bacteriostatic permanence, particularly effective against mold, while maintaining the equipment at low cost and maintaining it easily. The present invention relates to a bactericidal method.

  Recent building structures have improved airtightness as functions such as soundproofing, heat insulation, and air conditioning are enhanced. However, with the improvement of airtightness, the problem of contamination by bacteria and fungi (including yeast) has been greatly highlighted.

  As a conventional antibacterial method, a method of applying a paint added with an antibacterial agent to a wall surface is common. However, since the performance of the antibacterial agent deteriorates with time, it was necessary to periodically repaint the paint in order to maintain the antibacterial effect. A method of applying a high-voltage electric field to an airtight space where bacteria and fungi (including yeast) are likely to occur is proposed as a means of providing a permanent antibacterial effect without requiring such paint repainting work. (For example, Patent Document 1).

However, antibacterial methods that use high voltage as described above are costly on electrical equipment and prevent many shocks (electric shocks) when people come in contact with them, and prevent fires due to electrical leakage. There was a problem in practical use because there were problems to be overcome.
JP-A-8-163975

  An object of the present invention is to provide a bacteriostatic method that enables a permanent effect of sterilization or growth suppression of microorganisms, while the equipment cost is low and maintenance is simple. Another object of the present invention is to provide a bactericidal method particularly effective against mold.

The antibacterial method of the present invention that achieves the above object is a method of antibacterial that can sterilize or suppress the growth of mold on the surface of aluminum forming the antibacterial surface of an air conditioner. An electrode is connected to the surface , and a voltage of 2 to 30 volts is applied to the surface of the aluminum for 24 hours or more .

  According to the present invention, since the antibacterial surface is formed of a conductive material and only a low voltage of 2 to 30 volts is applied to the antibacterial surface, there is no risk of electric shock or leakage even without special insulation measures. There is no fear, and it is possible to sterilize or suppress the growth of microorganisms with equipment that is easy to maintain. In addition, the antibacterial action can be sustained permanently by constantly applying a low voltage.

In the present invention, the antibacterial surface is not particularly limited as long as bacteria and mold (including yeast) are likely to be generated in an air conditioner and it is necessary to prevent the generation of these. For example, it includes the equipment inside of the wall of the air conditioner. In particular, in the air conditioner, a humidifier peripheral dehumidifier near include surfaces forming the like around de Len.

In the present invention, the antibacterial surface needs to be made of a conductive material.

As the conductive material, A Ruminiu arm is particularly preferred.

The aluminum may constitute the entire constituent material constituting the antibacterial surface, or may cover only the surface of the antibacterial surface in the form of a film or a sheet. Examples of coating only the surface in the form of a film or sheet form as in the latter, mention may be made also to the coated metal deposition or metal plating.

  In the present invention, as a method of applying a low voltage to the antibacterial surface, both positive and negative electrodes are connected to both edges of the antibacterial surface formed of a conductive material, or a positive or negative electrode is connected to one end. What is necessary is just to connect. The applied voltage may be either direct current or alternating current, but is preferably direct current.

  The magnitude of the applied voltage is 2 to 30 volts, preferably 5 to 20 volts. If the applied voltage is greater than 30 volts, it is essential to take measures against electric leakage and electric shock, resulting in an increase in equipment cost. If the applied voltage is less than 2 volts, it will have a bactericidal effect on common bacteria, but it will have a reduced bactericidal effect, especially on fungi, making it difficult to carry out stable and durable mold prevention. Become.

  According to the present invention, by applying an applied voltage of 2 to 30 volts, particularly 5 to 20 volts, it is effective not only to sterilize general bacteria but also to sterilize molds that are considered extremely difficult to sterilize. Can be done. The type of mold that can be sterilized is not limited, and fungi that are particularly difficult to sterilize can be effectively sterilized. In particular, among fungi, imperfect bacteria, zygomycetes, ascomycetes (especially true mushrooms) and the like can be sterilized.

The magnitude of the current generated by the application of electrostatic summer, it is preferable to weak current of about 0.1 to 10 amps. In order to adjust to such a weak current, an appropriate resistor may be inserted into the electric circuit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the antibacterial effect according to the present invention is such that, for example, a thin aluminum plate having a size of 5 cm × 10 cm is used as the antibacterial surface 1, and microorganisms are cultured on the surface. This can be confirmed by attaching the electrodes 2 and 2 and applying a low DC or AC voltage to the electrodes.

  Since the antibacterial method of the present invention suppresses the killing or growth of microorganisms by simply applying a low voltage as described above, the electrical equipment is simplified, and the equipment cost can be significantly reduced. In addition, the low voltage eliminates the risk of fire and electric shock due to electrical leakage. In particular, when the applied voltage is 20 volts or less, the voltage value is less than the voltage value stipulated in the Industrial Safety and Health Act, which does not cause a risk of electric shock, so that no insulation means for preventing electric shock can be required.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an air conditioner to which the antibacterial method of the present invention is applied.

  21 is an air conditioner room. The air conditioner room 21 is provided with a heater 22, a cooler 23, and a humidifying filter 24, and a drain outlet 25 is provided on the bottom surface. Further, a blower 26 is connected to one side wall of the air conditioner room 21 via a duct 27, and an air outlet 29 of each room is connected to the other side face via a main duct 28 and a branch duct 28a. The heater 22 and the humidifying filter 24 operate mainly in winter, and the cooler 23 is used so as to operate in summer. The humidifying filter 24 drops humidified water.

  In the air conditioner configured as described above, the blower 26 sucks air from each room or outside air, and supplies the air to the air conditioner room 21. The air conditioner room 21 is heated by a heater 22 or cooled by a cooler 23 and water is dropped from a humidifying filter 24 to perform necessary humidification, and then air is blown through a main duct 28 and a branch duct 28a. Each room is air-conditioned by blowing from the outlet 29. In such operation, water droplets are likely to adhere to the locations S indicated by a large number of dots in FIG. 2, and bacteria and mold (including yeast) are likely to be generated.

  As described above, at least the portion S indicated by the dot is made of a conductive material as a bactericidal surface, and a low voltage is applied to the bactericidal surface by the bactericidal method of the present invention, thereby permanently sterilizing microorganisms. Alternatively, proliferation can be suppressed.

Examples 1 to 3, Comparative Examples 1 and 2
Five aluminum plates (5 cm × 10 cm) were prepared as the antibacterial surface. In addition, a bacterial solution in which three types of molds were mixed was prepared under the following test conditions. The bacterial solution is applied to the surface of each of the five aluminum plates. Four of them are attached with electrodes as shown in FIG. 1, and direct current voltages of 30 volts, 20 volts, 5 volts, and 1 volt are respectively shown in Table 1. A weak current was applied by applying for the time described in (Examples 1 to 3, Comparative Example 1). The remaining one aluminum plate was allowed to stand for the time shown in Table 1 without applying voltage (Comparative Example 2).

  After the test, mold fungi remaining on the five aluminum plates were examined, and the results shown in Table 1 were obtained. From the results of Table 1, Examples 1 to 3 to which voltages of 30 volts, 20 volts and 5 volts were applied all showed excellent sterilization or growth suppression, but the applied voltage was 1 volt compared with Comparative Example 1. It can be seen that in Comparative Example 2 where no voltage was applied, sterilization and growth inhibition were small or absent.

〔Test conditions〕
Medium used: Chloramphenicol / glycerin-added potato dextrose agar medium Area: 0.5 mm thick x 4 cm long x 7 cm wide Culture conditions: Temperature 25-27 ° C., Humidity 96-99%
Bacterial strain used: 1 platinum ear (total 3 platinum ears) of the following three strains was added to 3 ml of sterilized water to make a bacterial solution, and 1 ml was smeared on the surface of the medium.
Aspergillus sp.
Alternaria sp.
Fusarium sp.
Analysis method: visual observation, optical microscope observation

Example 4, Comparative Example 3
Six aluminum plates (5 cm × 25 cm) were prepared as antibacterial surfaces, and a thin aluminum tape having a thickness of 0.2 mm was attached on each plate. As shown in FIG. 3, the surface of each aluminum plate 11 Three weirs 13 surrounded by aluminum tape 14 were made. 50 μl of the bacterial solution prepared under the following test conditions was dropped on each of the six aluminum plate weirs 13.

  As shown in FIG. 3, electrodes 12 and 12 are attached to three of the aluminum plates to which the bacterial solution has been dropped as described above, and a DC voltage of 20 volts is applied to the first sheet for 1 hour as shown in Table 2. After applying for 6 hours on the second sheet and 24 hours on the third sheet, the bacteria were collected by the stamp method and cultured, and the colonies were counted visually (Example 4).

  In addition, as a comparison, no voltage was applied to the remaining three aluminum plates, and after 1 hour, 6 hours and 24 hours, bacteria were collected by the stamp method and cultured, and colonies were counted visually (comparison) Example 3). The results are shown in Table 2.

  From the results in Table 2, it can be seen that an excellent bactericidal effect can be confirmed in the case of Example 4, but is not recognized in Comparative Example 3.

〔Test conditions〕
The size of the weir surrounded by the aluminum tape: 3.2cm x 3.2cm
Environmental conditions: temperature 25-27 ° C, humidity 96-99%
Bacterial solution: 2 platinum loops of Alternaria sp. Were added to 2 ml of sterilized water and diluted 10 ⁵ times to obtain a bacterial solution.
Analysis method: The stamp medium was pressed after a certain period of time and cultured at a temperature of 33 to 34 ° C. in a sealed state for 72 hours. After incubation, the number of colonies was counted visually.

It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the antibacterial method of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the air conditioner to which the microbe prevention method of this invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing of the test equipment used in the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,11 Aluminum plate 2,12 Electrode

Claims (1)

An antibacterial method capable of sterilizing or suppressing the growth of mold on the surface of aluminum forming an antibacterial surface of an air conditioner room of an air conditioner , wherein electrodes are connected to both ends of the surface of the aluminum, and the aluminum The antibacterial method characterized by applying a voltage of 2 to 30 volts to the surface of the material for 24 hours or more.

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