JP7560336B2 - Composition for producing electrolytic water by electrolysis of water - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a composition for producing an aqueous solution that is used to electrolyze water and produce electrolytic water.

Hypochlorous acid water is known as a disinfectant and bactericide. Metal ion water is also known as a deodorant and antibacterial agent.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a portable electrolytic water sprayer that can generate and spray hypochlorous acid water or metal ion water.

JP 2020-11159 A

However, the above-mentioned prior art does not describe how to produce the aqueous solution that is the source of hypochlorous acid water or metal ion water.

One aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above, and its purpose is to provide a composition for producing aqueous solutions that serve as the basis for hypochlorous acid water, metal ion water, etc.

In order to solve the above problems, a composition for electrolyzing water to generate electrolytic water according to one embodiment of the present invention is formed in a tablet shape, and includes a chloride that dissolves in water to generate chloride ions, and a pH adjusting substance that makes the water in which the chloride is dissolved weakly acidic, and further includes an inner layer containing the pH adjusting substance, and an outer layer that covers the outer periphery of the inner layer and contains the chloride. In order to solve the above problems, a composition for electrolyzing water to generate electrolytic water according to one embodiment of the present invention is formed in a tablet shape, and includes a chloride that dissolves in water to generate chloride ions, and a pH adjusting substance that makes the water in which the chloride is dissolved weakly acidic, and further includes a first part that contains the chloride and is located on the lower side when placed in water, and a second part that contains the pH adjusting substance.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the composition contains a pH adjusting substance, which has the effect of preventing the hydrogen ion concentration index (pH) in the aqueous solution from becoming too high. In addition, by forming the composition into a tablet, a user can generate an aqueous solution that is the source of hypochlorous acid water, metal ion water, etc., simply by adding the tablet to water.

1 is an external view of a functional water generating device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional water generating apparatus with the lid removed. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a main body and a bottom part are separated in the functional water generating apparatus. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an overview of a functional water generating apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of functional water generating electrodes. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cross section of the arrangement example shown in FIG. 5 . FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement of functional water generating electrodes. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing yet another example of the arrangement of functional water generating electrodes. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of functional water generating electrodes. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of supplying power to the functional water generating electrode. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of supplying power to the functional water generating electrode. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the timing of generation of hypochlorous water and silver ion water. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the timing of generation of hypochlorous water and silver ion water. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the timing of generation of hypochlorous water and silver ion water. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a tablet for producing an aqueous solution that is the source of functional water. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of a tablet for producing an aqueous solution that is the source of functional water. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of a tablet for producing an aqueous solution that is the source of functional water. 1 is a graph showing differences in residual chlorine concentration for each acid. 1 is a graph showing differences in residual chlorine concentration for each acid. 1 is a graph showing differences in residual chlorine concentration for each acid.

One embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below.

[Overall Overview]
First, an overview of a functional water generating device (electrolyzed water generating device) 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The functional water generating device 1 according to this embodiment electrolyzes an aqueous solution containing chlorides to generate functional water as electrolyzed water. Here, functional water refers to water that contains both hypochlorous acid water (also called hypochlorous water) containing hypochlorous acid, and silver ion water containing silver ions. Note that, although silver ions are used as an example in this embodiment, metal ions such as copper ions and zinc ions may also be used. Furthermore, the silver ion water described below may also be metal ion water.

Figure 1 is an external view of the functional water generating device 1. As shown in Figure 1, the functional water generating device 1 is, as an example, a vertical, roughly cylindrical shape, and in a usable state, comprises, from the top, a lid 10, a main body 20, and a bottom 30. As shown in Figure 2, the lid 10 is removable. By removing the lid 10, it becomes possible to add water to the electrolytic cell (electrolysis cell) 210 inside the main body 20, and to remove water from the electrolytic cell 210.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the state in which the main body 20 and the bottom 30 are separated. The main body 20 and the bottom 30 are detachable. As shown in Figure 3, an electrode fixing plate 50 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom 30, i.e., the part facing the bottom of the main body 20. As a result, the electrode fixing plate 50 is provided at the bottom of the electrolytic cell 210, and the functional water generating electrode 2 described below is placed on the electrode fixing plate 50, making it possible to electrolyze water (aqueous solution) in the electrolytic cell 210.

Although not shown, the bottom 30 also contains a control unit (power supply control device) 100 for controlling the functional water generating electrode 2, and a power supply unit 130.

[Main components of functional water producing device 1]
Next, the essential configuration of the functional water producing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the essential configuration of the functional water producing apparatus 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the functional water generating device 1 includes a control unit 100, a power supply unit 130, and an electrolytic cell 210.

The control unit 100 controls the power supplied to the functional water generating electrode 2, and includes a power control unit 101 and a control switch 102. The functional water generating electrode 2, which will be described in detail later, is an electrode used to generate the functional water according to this embodiment, i.e., hypochlorous water and silver ion water.

The power control unit 101 controls the power supplied to the functional water generating electrode 2 via the control switch 102. The control switch 102 is a switch controlled by the power control unit 101, and enables the power supplied from the power supply unit 130 to be supplied to the desired functional water generating electrode 2.

The power control unit 101 controls the power to the electrode 2 for generating functional water by controlling the control switch 102, and includes a first power supply unit 111 and a second power supply unit 112. The first power supply unit 111 controls the power supply to the electrode pair (first electrode unit) 21 for generating hypochlorous water. The second power supply unit 112 controls the power supply to the electrode pair (second electrode unit) 22 for generating silver ion water.

In addition, the electrolytic cell 210 is provided with a hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21 for generating hypochlorous acid, and a silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 for generating silver ions. The hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21 is composed of a hypochlorous water generating electrode (first electrode) 211 and a cathode 212 for the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211. The silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 is composed of a silver ion water generating electrode (second electrode) 221 and a cathode 222 for the silver ion water generating electrode 221. Although the cathode 212 and the cathode 222 are described as being different here, one cathode (e.g., a ground electrode) may be shared. When there is no need to distinguish between the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21 and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22, the two are collectively referred to as functional water generating electrodes 2.

The hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21 is an electrode pair for generating hypochlorous water. In the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21, the reaction 2Cl ^- →Cl ₂ +2e ^- occurs at the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211, and the reaction 2H ⁺ +2e ^- →H ₂ occurs at the cathode 212. Then, Cl ₂ generated at the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 reacts with water, that is, the reaction Cl ₂ +H ₂ O →HCl +HClO occurs, hypochlorous acid (HClO) is generated, and hypochlorous acid water (hypochlorous water) is generated.

Examples of the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 include platinum or an alloy of platinum and iridium. Platinum or an alloy of platinum and iridium may be used as an electrode directly, or may be used as an electrode catalyst.

The hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 and the cathode 212 may be configured to periodically switch between the anode and the cathode. In this case, the cathode 212 may be platinum or an alloy of platinum and iridium, or may be an electrode that uses platinum or platinum and iridium as an electrode catalyst.

The silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 is an electrode pair that generates silver ion water. In the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22, a reaction of Ag → Ag ⁺ + e ^- occurs at the silver ion water generating electrode 221, and a reaction of H ⁺ + e ^- → 1/2H ₂ occurs at the cathode 222. As a result, silver ions Ag ^- begin to dissolve in the water, and silver ion water is generated.

The electrode 221 for generating silver ion water uses silver or an electrode catalyst containing silver. As described above, when generating metal ion water other than silver ion water, the metal can be used as the electrode or an electrode catalyst containing the metal can be used.

The silver ion water generating electrode 221 and the cathode 222 may be configured to periodically switch between the anode and the cathode. In this case, the cathode 222 may be silver, or may be an electrode that uses silver as an electrode catalyst.

Hypochlorous water is useful as a bactericide and disinfectant, and silver ion water is useful as a deodorant and antibacterial agent. The functional water generated by the functional water generating device 1 according to this embodiment contains both hypochlorous water and silver ion water, and therefore contains both the usefulness of hypochlorous water and the usefulness of silver ion water, and is useful as a bactericide, disinfectant, deodorant and antibacterial agent.

[Details of functional water generating electrode 2]
Next, the functional water generating electrode 2 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 5 to 9. Figures 5 to 9 are diagrams showing the structure of the functional water generating electrode 2. More specifically, Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the functional water generating electrode 2. Figure 6 is a diagram showing a cross section of the arrangement example shown in Figure 5 taken in the vertical direction of the functional water generating device 1. Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams showing examples of arrangements different from the arrangement example in Figure 5. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement structure of the functional water generating electrode 2.

In the example arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6, the functional water generating electrode 2 has an electrode pair 21 for generating hypochlorous water arranged on an electrode fixing plate 50, and an electrode pair 22 for generating silver ion water arranged below the electrode pair 21 for generating hypochlorous water. Therefore, the electrode fixing plate 50 is not simply a flat plate, but has a recess in the center of the plate, and the electrode pair 22 for generating silver ion water is arranged in the recess.

When viewed from above, the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21, the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 and the cathode 212, each have a circular shape including a straight line portion extending in the radial direction and a comb-tooth-shaped arc portion extending in the arc direction from the straight line portion. The comb-tooth portions of the comb-tooth-shaped arc portions of the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 and the cathode 212 are arranged so that they mesh with each other. Specifically, the teeth of one electrode and the notch of the other electrode are arranged to mesh with each other.

The silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 is arranged approximately in the center below the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21. The silver ion water generating electrode 221 and the cathode 222 of the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 are flat rectangular plates, and are arranged so that their flat surfaces face each other.

In this way, by forming each of the hypochlorous water generating electrode pairs 21 into a comb-like shape and arranging the comb-tooth portions so that they interlock, it is possible to minimize the area required for arranging the hypochlorous water generating electrode pairs 21 while increasing the surface area of the faces where the anode and cathode face each other. This makes it possible to miniaturize the functional water generating device 1 while increasing the electrolysis capacity.

In addition, by arranging the electrode pair 22 for generating silver ion water below the electrode pair 21 for generating hypochlorous water in the direction of gravity, it is possible to prevent the scale and the like precipitated on the electrode pair 22 for generating silver ion water from affecting the electrode pair 21 for generating hypochlorous water. Here, scale refers to compounds such as calcium contained in water precipitated on the surface of the electrode. At the cathode of the electrode pair 22 for generating silver ion water, hydrogen is generated, and calcium and the like contained in the water precipitate as compound scale on the surface. At the anode, chlorides and sulfides of the component metals of the electrode are generated on the surface. With long-term use, scale, chlorides, and sulfides accumulate thickly on the cathode surface, preventing the elution of metal ions and possibly having a detrimental effect on the electrode pair 21 for generating hypochlorous water.

Next, another example of the arrangement of the functional water generating electrode 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the arrangement example shown in FIG. 7, the functional water generating electrode 2A is used.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, two pairs of electrodes for generating hypochlorous water (first electrode portion) are provided, a first electrode pair for generating hypochlorous water 21A and a second electrode pair for generating hypochlorous water 21a, and are arranged on the electrode fixing plate 50. More specifically, as the first electrode pair for generating hypochlorous water 21A, a hypochlorous water generating electrode 211A and a cathode 212A for the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211A are provided in half the area of the electrode fixing plate 50, and as the second electrode pair for generating hypochlorous water 21a, a hypochlorous water generating electrode 211a and a cathode 212a for the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211a are provided in the other half of the area. Then, a silver ion water generating electrode pair (second electrode portion) 22A is provided between the first electrode pair for generating hypochlorous water 21A and the second electrode pair for generating hypochlorous water 21a.

In other words, the first hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21A and the second hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21a are arranged opposite each other on the same surface, and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 is arranged between the first hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21A and the second hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21a.

The hypochlorous water generating electrode 211A, the cathode 212A, the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211a, and the cathode 212a are each comb-shaped, and are arranged so that the comb-tooth portion of the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211A meshes with the portion between the comb-tooth portions of the cathode 212A, and so that the comb-tooth portion of the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211a meshes with the comb-tooth portion of the cathode 212a.

The silver ion water generating electrode 221A and the cathode 222A each have a rectangular flat plate shape. The silver ion water generating electrode 221A and the cathode 222A are arranged facing each other with the long sides of the rectangle facing up and down.

In this way, by disposing the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22A between the first hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21A and the second hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21a, it is possible to prevent the scale precipitated on the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22A from affecting the first hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21A and the second hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21a.

In addition, linear protrusions protruding upward may be provided between the first hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21A and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22A on the electrode fixing plate 50, and between the second hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21a and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22A. This separates the first hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21A and the second hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21a from the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22A with the protrusions, and it is possible to prevent the scale precipitated on the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22A from affecting the first hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21A and the second hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21a.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, we will explain another example of the arrangement of the functional water generating electrode 2. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the functional water generating electrode 2B is used.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the shape of the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair (first electrode portion) 21B is substantially the same as the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21 described above. In this example, the silver ion water generating electrode pair (second electrode portion) 22B is disposed at a distance from the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21B on the same plane.

In other words, the electrode pair 21B for generating hypochlorous water is arranged opposite each other on the same surface, and the electrode pair 22B for generating silver ion water is arranged on the same surface as the electrode pair 21B for generating hypochlorous water, but on the side away from the electrode pair 21B for generating hypochlorous water.

In this way, by arranging the electrode pair 21B for generating hypochlorous water and the electrode pair 22B for generating silver ion water apart, it is possible to prevent the scale precipitated on the electrode pair 22B for generating silver ion water from affecting the electrode pair 21B for generating hypochlorous water.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, an example of the arrangement of the functional water generating electrode 2 will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the functional water generating electrode 2C is used. Also, in FIG. 9, the main body 20 and the bottom 30 are omitted. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the arrangement of the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21C and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22C is substantially the same as the arrangement of the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21B and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22B described in the example shown in FIG. 8 above. In this example, what is different from the example shown in FIG. 8 is that a gap 90 is provided between the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21C and the electrode fixing plate 50.

Specifically, a gap 90 is provided below the electrode pair 21C for generating hypochlorous water in the direction of gravity, and an electrode fixing plate 50 is arranged further below. The gap 90 may be provided below the electrode pair 21C for generating hypochlorous water in the direction of gravity in the region where the electrode pair 21C for generating hypochlorous water is provided. In addition, in the area where the gap 90 is not provided, the electrode fixing plate 50 is provided so as to contact the lower part of the electrode pair 21C for generating hypochlorous water. It is preferable that the gap 90 is provided directly below the electrode pair 21C for generating hypochlorous water and directly below the area between the electrode 211C for generating hypochlorous water and the cathode 212C. Although not shown in the figure, a configuration in which a gap is provided below the electrode pair 22C for generating silver ion water in the direction of gravity may be used. The gap may be provided below the electrode pair 22C for generating silver ion water in the direction of gravity in the region where the electrode pair 22C for generating silver ion water is provided. Specifically, it is recommended to provide a gap 90 directly below the silver ion water generating electrode 221C and the cathode 222C, and directly below the gap between them.

By providing the gap 90, foreign matter such as scale that is generated when silver ions or hypochlorous acid are produced falls downward in the direction of gravity and is contained in the gap 90, reducing the risk of the foreign matter acting on the electrodes.

The hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21A, 21a and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22A are arranged so that the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21 and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 do not overlap each other when viewed from above in a direction perpendicular to the fixing surface of the electrode fixing plate 50. In other words, the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21 and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 are arranged so that they do not overlap each other when viewed from above looking vertically downward when the functional water generating device 1 is placed in a usable state. The same applies to the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21B and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22B. The same applies to the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21C and the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22C.

Next, the flow of controlling the functional water generating electrode 2 will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. Figures 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing the flow of controlling the functional water generating electrode 2.

First, the flow shown in FIG. 10 will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the power control unit 101 first starts supplying power to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 (S101, first power supply step). Next, the power control unit 101 checks whether a first predetermined time (first supply time), which is the time for supplying power to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211, has elapsed from the time when the power supply was started in S101 (S102), and when the first predetermined time has elapsed (YES in S102), the power supply to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 is terminated (S103). Note that the first predetermined time is predetermined. For example, when the residual chlorine concentration is 120 ppm and the silver ion concentration is 2 ppm, it is about 50 minutes.

Next, the power control unit 101 starts supplying power to the silver ion water generating electrode 221 (S104, second power supply step). Then, the power control unit 101 checks whether a second predetermined time (second supply time), which is the time for supplying power to the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22, has elapsed from the time when the power supply in S104 was started (S105), and when the second predetermined time has elapsed (YES in S105), the power supply to the silver ion water generating electrode 221 is terminated (S106). Note that the second predetermined time is determined in advance. For example, when the residual chlorine concentration is 120 ppm and the silver ion concentration is 2 ppm, it is about 2 minutes.

The above is the flow of controlling the functional water generating electrode 2. In this way, first, power is supplied to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211, and after the supply is completed, power is supplied to the silver ion water generating electrode 221, thereby preventing the adverse effects caused by simultaneously supplying power to both the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 and the silver ion water generating electrode 221. For example, if silver ions are reduced by a reverse reaction of the reaction in the silver ion water generating electrode pair 22 and silver is precipitated on the cathode 212 for the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211, the electrolysis ability of the hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21 may decrease. In addition, if chloride ions are present in the solution, silver ions may combine to form silver chloride and generate a precipitate. As described above, such adverse effects can be suppressed by supplying power to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 and, after the supply is completed, supplying power to the silver ion water generating electrode 221.

As described above, the control unit 100 according to this embodiment controls the power supply to the electrodes for electrolyzing water, and includes a first power supply unit 111 that controls the power supply to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 for generating hypochlorous acid, and a second power supply unit 112 that controls the power supply to the silver ion water generating electrode 221 for generating silver ions, and the second power supply unit 112 starts supplying power to the silver ion water generating electrode 221 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first power supply unit 111 started supplying power to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211.

Next, referring to FIG. 11, a process flow different from that of FIG. 10 will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the power control unit 101 first starts supplying power to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 (S201). Next, the power control unit 101 checks whether a third predetermined time has elapsed since the start of power supply in S201 (S202), and when the third predetermined time has elapsed (YES in S202), starts supplying power to the silver ion water generating electrode 221 (S203). The third predetermined time is the first predetermined time minus the time equal to or less than the second predetermined time. For example, as in the above example, if the first predetermined time is 50 minutes, the second predetermined time is 2 minutes, and the subtraction time is 2 minutes, the third predetermined time is 50-2=48 minutes.

Next, the power control unit 101 checks whether a fourth predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the power supply in S203 (S204), and when the fourth predetermined time has elapsed (YES in S204), ends the supply of power to the hypochlorous water generating electrode 211 and the silver ion water generating electrode 221 (S205). The fourth predetermined time is the same as the second predetermined time, for example, 2 minutes.

The above is another flow for controlling the electrode 2 for generating functional water. In this way, power is first supplied to the electrode 211 for generating hypochlorous water, and then to the electrode 221 for generating silver ion water. By synchronizing the end of the power supply to both electrodes, it is possible to reduce the adverse effects caused by simultaneously supplying power to both the electrode 211 for generating hypochlorous water and the electrode 221 for generating silver ion water, while shortening the electrolysis time.

In addition, gas is generated during the production of hypochlorous water, which causes the aqueous solution in the electrolytic cell 210 to be stirred. Therefore, if the production of hypochlorous water and the production of silver ion water overlap, the generated silver ions are dispersed in the aqueous solution, making it possible to produce silver ion water with a uniform concentration.

Note that, since the functional water contains hypochlorous water, the order of production of hypochlorous water and silver ion water is described as an example here, but the above control flow is not limited to hypochlorous water. For example, if ozone water is used instead of hypochlorous water, it is also possible to use a control flow in which the process for producing hypochlorous water described above is the same as the process for producing ozone water. This is because the adverse effects of silver precipitation during the production of silver ion water can be suppressed.

Figures 12 to 14 show the order in which hypochlorous water and silver ion water are produced. In the example shown in Figure 12, it takes 50 minutes to produce hypochlorous water and 2 minutes to produce silver ion water.

First, in the case of the example described in the flowchart shown in Figure 10, that is, when hypochlorous water is generated first and then silver ion water is generated after the hypochlorous water generation, as shown in Figure 12, after electrolysis starts, hypochlorous water is generated first for 50 minutes, and then silver ion water is generated for 2 minutes. In this case, it takes a total of 52 minutes to generate the functional water.

Next, in the example described in the flowchart shown in Figure 11, if the third predetermined time is 48 minutes, as shown in Figure 13, after electrolysis begins, production of hypochlorous water begins first, and 48 minutes later, production of silver ion water begins. Since it takes 50 minutes to produce hypochlorous water and 2 minutes to produce silver ion water, production of both hypochlorous water and silver ion water is completed 50 minutes after electrolysis begins. Therefore, in this case, it takes 50 minutes to produce functional water.

In the example described in the flowchart shown in Figure 11, if the third predetermined time is 49 minutes, as shown in Figure 14, after electrolysis begins, production of hypochlorous water begins first, and 49 minutes later, production of silver ion water begins. Since it takes 50 minutes to produce hypochlorous water and 2 minutes to produce silver ion water, production of hypochlorous water is completed 50 minutes after electrolysis begins, and 1 minute later production of silver ion water is completed. Therefore, in this case, it takes 51 minutes to produce functional water.

This allows the total processing time to be shorter than if silver ion water were generated after hypochlorous water was generated, while the concentration of silver ion water can be made uniform by the gas generated during the generation of hypochlorous water.

Next, the generation of the aqueous solution from which hypochlorous water is produced will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 17. In this embodiment, the composition used to produce the aqueous solution is a tablet 1200 formed in a tablet shape. In this embodiment, water is poured into an electrolytic cell 210 (see Figure 3), and a tablet 1200 containing chloride is added thereto to produce an aqueous solution containing chloride ions. The aqueous solution is then electrolyzed to produce functional water containing hypochlorous water.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tablet 1200 contains not only chloride but also acid (a substance for adjusting pH). By containing acid, it is possible to prevent the hydrogen ion concentration index (pH) of the aqueous solution in the electrolytic cell 210 from becoming too high. A high pH is undesirable because it reduces the disinfection effect even if the effective chlorine concentration is the same. Specifically, a weak acidity (pH 5 or more and less than 7, preferably pH 5 or more and less than 6.5) is desirable. Note that if the solution becomes strongly alkaline without the inclusion of acid, it will have an effect on the skin, and conversely, if it becomes strongly acidic, chlorine gas will be generated, which is undesirable.

Figure 15 shows an example of a tablet 1200. In the example shown in Figure 15, the tablet 1200 has a single-layer structure and contains chloride and acid inside.

Figure 16 shows another example of tablet 1200. In the example shown in Figure 16, tablet 1200 has a two-layer structure consisting of an internal layer 1212 and an external layer 1211 that covers the entire internal layer 1212, with the internal layer 1212 containing an acid and the external layer 1211 containing a chloride. In other words, the internal layer 1212, which is the part that contains the acid, is located inside the tablet 1200, and the external layer 1211, which is the part that contains the chloride, is located on the outer periphery of the tablet 1200 and covers the internal layer 1212, which is the part that contains the acid.

With this two-layer structure, after the tablet 1200 is placed in water, the outer layer 1211 containing chloride dissolves in the water first, allowing for efficient production of hypochlorous acid. Also, at the beginning of the tablet's placement, the acid contained in the inner layer 1212 does not dissolve in the water, so the reduction in hypochlorous acid caused by the acidity of the water can be suppressed. Also, when the tablet contains the same amount of chloride as the structure shown in FIG. 15, the amount of chloride in contact with the water is greater than that of the structure shown in FIG. 15, so an improvement in the rate of hypochlorous acid production can be expected.

Figure 17 shows another example of the tablet 1200. In the example shown in Figure 17, the tablet 1200 is composed of two parts of approximately the same volume, with the first part 1213 containing chloride and the second part 1214 containing acid. In other words, the tablet 1200 is divided into two parts, the first part 1213 containing chloride and the second part 1214 containing acid, approximately in the center. That is, the tablet 1200 according to this example is composed of two layers, the first part 1213 containing chloride and the second part 1214 containing acid, so that the first part 1213 containing chloride is located on the lower side when it is placed in water. In the example shown in Figure 17, the tablet 1200 is divided in the short direction into the first part 1213 containing chloride (first layer) and the second part 1214 containing acid (second layer).

Since chloride has a higher specific gravity than acid, the first portion 1213 containing chloride is lower in the water than the second portion 1214 containing acid. Therefore, if the functional water generating electrode 2 is placed on the lower side, chloride will be present near the functional water generating electrode 2, and therefore many chloride ions will be present near the functional water generating electrode 2, which is expected to improve the rate of hypochlorous acid generation.

An example of a chloride contained in tablet 1200 is sodium chloride. Examples of pH adjusting substances contained in tablet 1200 include citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, amidosulfuric acid, phosphoric acid such as sodium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate, inorganic acids such as carbonic acid, and organic acids such as acetic acid and malic acid. Adipic acid, succinic acid, amidosulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid are easy to maintain the concentration. Furthermore, adipic acid and succinic acid only need to be added in small amounts, and are also very safe.

The ratio of chloride to acid in tablet 1200 may be, for example, as follows. To obtain an aqueous solution with a pH of about 6 and a free chlorine concentration of 100 ppm, it is sufficient to contain 150 to 200 ppm of sodium chloride, 200 ppm of adipic acid, and about 150 ppm of succinic acid. Here, ppm refers to the respective concentrations when tablet 1200 is placed in water and completely dissolved. When expressing the amount of chloride and acid by weight, the above ppm is converted to mg (milligrams) and the amount of water into which tablet 1200 is placed is 1 liter, resulting in the same amount.

Thus, the weight ratio of chloride to acid may be salt/adipic acid = 0.75 to 1.0, and salt/succinic acid ≒ 1.0. Also, when amidosulfuric acid, glycolic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, or ascorbic acid is used as the acid, salt/acid = 1.0 may be used.

Figures 18 to 20 show the relationship between the residual chlorine concentration and the elapsed time for each type of acid. As shown in Figure 18, when adipic acid or succinic acid is used as the acid, the residual chlorine concentration does not decrease significantly even after 20 hours or more have passed. On the other hand, when citric acid is used, the residual chlorine concentration falls to nearly 70% after 2 hours, and to nearly 40% after 10 hours.

Here, the residual chlorine concentration is expressed as a percentage of the chlorine concentration at time 0, i.e., the time when the acid was added, which is set at 100. For example, if the residual chlorine concentration is 50%, it means that the chlorine concentration at that time was half of the chlorine concentration at time 0.

Also, as shown in Figure 19, when amidosulfuric acid or glycolic acid is used as the acid, the residual chlorine concentration does not decrease significantly, as with adipic acid and succinic acid. On the other hand, when DL-malic acid, fumaric acid, or L-ascorbic acid is used, the residual chlorine concentration decreases significantly over time.

Figure 20 shows the state after two hours. As shown in Figure 20, the residual chlorine concentration of amino acids, succinic acid, adipic acid, and glycolic acid hardly decreases even after two hours. On the other hand, the residual chlorine concentration of DL-malic acid, fumaric acid, and L-ascorbic acid decreases over time. The degree of decrease increases in this order.

[Software implementation example]
The control unit 100 of the functional water production device 1 (particularly the power control unit 101, the first power supply unit 111, and the second power supply unit 112) may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software.

In the latter case, the control unit 100 includes a computer that executes the instructions of a program, which is software that realizes each function. This computer includes, for example, at least one processor (control device) and at least one computer-readable recording medium that stores the program. The object of the present invention is achieved by having the processor read the program from the recording medium and execute it in the computer. The processor can be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The recording medium can be a "non-transient tangible medium," such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), tape, disk, card, semiconductor memory, programmable logic circuit, etc. The control unit 100 may also include a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program. The program may be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium (such as a communication network or broadcast waves) that can transmit the program. One aspect of the present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

〔summary〕
The composition according to aspect 1 of the present invention is formed into a tablet and contains a chloride that dissolves in water to produce chloride ions, and a pH adjusting substance that makes the water in which the chloride is dissolved weakly acidic.

According to the above configuration, since the composition contains a pH adjusting substance, it is possible to prevent the pH of the aqueous solution from becoming too high. In addition, by forming the composition into a tablet, the user can generate an aqueous solution that is the source of hypochlorous acid water, metal ion water, etc., simply by putting the tablet into water.

The composition according to aspect 2 of the present invention may be the composition according to aspect 1, which includes an inner layer containing the pH adjusting substance and an outer layer containing the chloride and covering the outer periphery of the inner layer.

With this configuration, the chloride dissolves first, so hypochlorous acid can be produced efficiently.

In addition, when the tablet first starts to dissolve, the aqueous solution does not become acidic due to the dissolution of the acid, so the decrease in hypochlorous acid can be suppressed.

The composition according to aspect 3 of the present invention may be the composition according to aspect 1, which includes a first portion that contains the chloride and is located at the bottom when placed in water, and a second portion that contains the pH adjusting substance.

In general, chlorides have a higher specific gravity than acids, and therefore tend to move to the bottom in water. Therefore, if the functional water generating electrode is placed on the bottom, chlorides will be present near the functional water generating electrode, and ultimately, many chloride ions will be present near the functional water generating electrode. Therefore, with the above configuration, it is expected that the rate at which hypochlorous acid is generated will be improved.

In the composition according to aspect 4 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 3, the pH adjusting substance may include at least one of citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, amidosulfuric acid, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, and malic acid.

By using the above pH adjusting substance, the pH of the electrolyzed water can be adjusted appropriately.

In the composition according to aspect 5 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 4, the pH adjusting substance may be one that adjusts the pH of the water in which the chloride is dissolved to less than 7. In addition, the pH may preferably be less than 6.5.

According to the above configuration, the pH of the water with dissolved chlorides is 5.0 to 6.5, which is desirable as it is neither alkaline nor acidic.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments.

1 Functional water generation device (electrolyzed water generation device)
2 Functional water generating electrode 10 Lid 20 Body 30 Bottom 50 Electrode fixing plate 21, 21B Hypochlorous water generating electrode pair (first electrode portion)
21A: First hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 21a: Second hypochlorous water generating electrode pair 211, 211A, 211a: Cathode for hypochlorous water generating electrode 212, 212A, 212a: Hypochlorous water generating electrode (first electrode )
22, 22A, 22B Silver ion water generation electrode pair (second electrode part)
221, 221A, 221B Cathode for silver ion water generating electrode 222, 222A, 222B Silver ion water generating electrode (second electrode)
100 Control unit (power supply control device)
101 Power control unit 111 First power supply unit 112 Second power supply unit 130 Power supply unit 210 Electrolytic cell (electrolysis cell)
1200 tablets (composition)

Claims (4)

Formed into tablets,
Chloride dissolves in water to produce chloride ions,
and a pH adjusting substance that makes the water in which the chloride is dissolved weakly acidic ;
moreover,
an inner layer containing the pH adjusting substance;
A composition for producing electrolyzed water by electrolyzing water, comprising: an outer layer containing the chloride and covering the outer periphery of the inner layer . Formed into tablets,
Chloride dissolves in water to produce chloride ions,
and a pH adjusting substance that makes the water in which the chloride is dissolved weakly acidic ;
moreover,
a first portion containing the chloride and positioned below the water;
and a second part containing the pH adjusting substance . The composition for producing electrolyzed water by electrolyzing water according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pH adjusting substance contains at least one of citric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, amidosulfuric acid, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, and malic acid. The composition for producing electrolyzed water by electrolyzing water according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the pH adjusting substance adjusts the pH of the water having the chloride dissolved therein to less than 7.

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