Apparatus for manufacturing ultrafine bubbles

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to at least provide a technology for easily manufacturing ultrafine bubbles, and the problem is solved by a manufacturing device for ultrafine bubbles, which includes a housing portion that houses a liquid and a gas, and a driving portion for pressurization in the housing portion, the pressurization having a time of 2.0 milliseconds or less from the start of pressurization to the pressure reaching a maximum pressure, the maximum pressure being 4.00 MPa or more.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing apparatus of ultra-fine bubbles. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, application technology of fine bubbles has been attracting attention. Since around 2004, practical use in cleaning, fishery, agriculture has been realized, and the field has been expanded to food, medical care, and the like. In such a situation, in the background of expectations from the industry, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry decided to support and promote international standardization activities related to fine bubbles in 2012. In addition, in 2013, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established a technical committee for fine bubbles, and various definitions and standards for "fine bubbles" were studied. As one of them, in the past, bubbles were not clearly distinguished according to their size, but with academic research and technological progress, they were unified by distinguishing bubbles with a diameter of less than 100 μm from other bubbles, and further distinguishing bubbles with a diameter of less than 1 μm as ultra-fine bubbles.

[0003] So far, various manufacturing methods of ultra-fine bubbles have been developed (non-patent literature 3). For example, there are a cyclone flow type, an ejector type, and a Venturi type that generate ultra-fine bubbles from larger bubbles by shear force. In addition, there are a pressurized dissolution type that causes gas that has been dissolved in a liquid to be precipitated as ultra-fine bubbles by pressure or ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic vibration type. In addition, there is a mixed steam direct contact coagulation type that generates ultra-fine bubbles by mixing gas in saturated water vapor and blowing it into a liquid. In addition, there is an ultra-fine hole type that generates ultra-fine bubbles by delivering gas from an ultra-fine hole of ceramic or the like to a liquid.

[0004] However, any of the above manufacturing methods requires a large-scale device such as a high-pressure pump, an ultrasonic device, and high-level technology of a technician who handles the device, and in addition, cleaning after use is cumbersome. In addition, depending on the manufacturing method, there are restrictions on the physical properties and temperature conditions of the liquid used. Moreover, it is not possible to avoid the problem of mixing impurities.

[0005] Prior Art Documents

[0006] Non-Patent Literature

[0007] Non-patent literature 1: Ultra-fine bubbles, Acoustical Society of Japan, Vol. 73, No. 7 (2017)

[0008] Non-Patent Literature 2: What is Microbubble?, [online], Microbubble Union, [searched on Heisei 1 September 5, 2019], Internet <http: / / www.fb-union.org / about.html>

[0009] Non-Patent Literature 3: About Ultrafine Bubble, [online], ZERO WEB Co., Ltd., [searched on Heisei 1 September 12, 2019], Internet <http: / / ufb.zero-web.biz / #can> SUMMARY

[0010] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0011] The problem of the present disclosure is to provide at least a technology for simply manufacturing ultrafine bubbles.

[0012] TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0013] 〔1〕 A manufacturing device of ultrafine bubbles, wherein the manufacturing device comprises:

[0014] a housing portion that houses a liquid and a gas; and a driving portion that pressurizes the inside of the housing portion, the pressurization being performed for 2.0 milliseconds or less from the start of the pressurization to the time when the pressure reaches a maximum pressure, the maximum pressure being 4.00 MPa or more.

[0015] 〔2〕 The manufacturing device according to 〔1〕, wherein the ratio of the volume of the gas to the volume of the housing portion is 10% or more and 90% or less.

[0016] 〔3〕 The manufacturing device according to 〔1〕 or 〔2〕, wherein the liquid is water.

[0017] 〔4〕 The manufacturing device according to any one of 〔1〕 to 〔3〕, wherein the gas is air.

[0018] 〔5〕 A method of manufacturing ultrafine bubbles, wherein the method comprises:

[0019] a step of preparing a system containing a liquid and a gas; and

[0020] a step of pressurizing the inside of the system,

[0021] the pressurization being performed for 2.0 milliseconds or less from the start of the pressurization to the time when the pressure reaches a maximum pressure,

[0022] the maximum pressure being 4.00 MPa or more.

[0023] 〔6〕 The method according to 〔5〕, wherein the ratio of the volume of the gas to the volume of the system is 10% or more and 90% or less.

[0024] 〔7〕 The method according to 〔5〕 or 〔6〕, wherein the liquid is water.

[0025] 〔8〕 The method according to any one of 〔5〕 to 〔7〕, wherein the gas is air.

[0026] Inventive Effects

[0027] According to the present disclosure, at least one technique for easily manufacturing ultrafine bubbles is provided.

[0028] According to the present disclosure, for manufacturing ultrafine bubbles, there is no need for a large-scale device, a high level of technique of a technician who handles the device. Furthermore, in the present disclosure, as long as a liquid, a temperature condition which are generally used in the manufacturing of ultrafine bubbles are used, there are no particular restrictions on them. Moreover, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to manufacture ultrafine bubbles of the same diameter as that of an existing product at the same concentration as that of the existing product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an injector which represents one embodiment.

[0030] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ratio of the volume of the gas to the volume of the accommodation portion and the number of generated ultrafine bubbles in Example 2.

[0031] Figure 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ratio of the volume of the gas to the volume of the accommodation portion, the diameter of the generated ultrafine bubbles, and the number thereof in Example 2.

[0032] Figure 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the diameter of the bubbles of air ultrafine bubble water (NANOX Corporation) used as a positive control and the number thereof in Example 2.

[0033] Figure 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the maximum pressure in the pressurization in the accommodation portion and the number of generated ultrafine bubbles in Example 3.

[0034] Figure 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the maximum pressure in the pressurization in the accommodation portion, the diameter of the generated ultrafine bubbles, and the number thereof in Example 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] One embodiment is an apparatus for manufacturing ultrafine bubbles, comprising: a containment section for containing liquid and gas; and a drive section for pressurizing the containment section, wherein the time from the start of pressurization to the pressure reaching a maximum pressure is 2.0 milliseconds or less, and the maximum pressure is 4.00 MPa or more. Hereinafter, the manufacturing apparatus will sometimes be referred to as "the apparatus of this embodiment".

[0036] In this specification, "microbubble" means a bubble with a diameter of less than 1 μm, as described above in accordance with the review and definition of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Professional Committee TC281 (Microbubble Technology).

[0037] It should be noted that most of the bubbles produced by the apparatus of this embodiment are ultrafine bubbles. However, as long as the bubbles produced by the apparatus of this embodiment contain ultrafine bubbles, they may also contain bubbles that do not meet the above definition.

[0038] However, in the method for measuring ultrafine bubbles used in the embodiments described below, the reliability of the measurement results is low when the number of bubbles is less than 2.5 billion bubbles / ml. Therefore, in this disclosure, it is assumed that ultrafine bubbles are generated when the number of bubbles exceeds 2.5 billion bubbles / ml.

[0039] The liquid used in this embodiment can be any liquid that can be used as a solvent (e.g., water, alcohol, oil, etc.). Additionally, solutions (e.g., culture medium (liquid culture medium), physiological saline, phosphate buffer, preparative reagents, solution-like cosmetics, etc.) can be used. Furthermore, emulsions (emulsion-like cosmetics, etc.) can also be used. Furthermore, any two or more of these liquids may be used. Moreover, the liquid may contain low-molecular-weight or high-molecular-weight substances, and may contain inorganic or organic substances (e.g., biological components such as nucleic acids, etc.).

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the liquid is a liquid that does not contain microorganisms or the like.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the water is pure water (e.g., distilled water, RO water, RO-EDI water, ion-exchange water) or ultrapure water; in another preferred embodiment, it is ultrapure water. Milli-Q water is an example of ultrapure water.

[0042] Air can be cited as an example of the gas used in this embodiment. Other examples include nitrogen, oxygen, ozone, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, as well as mixtures of any two or more of these gases.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the gas is a gas that does not contain microorganisms or the like.

[0044] The air can be air generally used, and the composition thereof is not particularly limited. For example, a mixed gas of about 8% of nitrogen and about 2% of oxygen can be mentioned.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the time from the start of pressurization to the time when the pressure reaches the maximum pressure is 2.0 milliseconds or less.

[0046] The pressure refers to the pressure in the accommodation portion. The method for measuring the pressure is not particularly limited, and for example, in the case where the pressure is measured using the injector described in the Examples described below, the pressure can be measured by the method described in the column of "Method for measuring the pressure in the accommodation portion" described below.

[0047] The time from the start of pressurization to the time when the pressure reaches the maximum pressure is generally 2.0 milliseconds or less, and in a preferred embodiment, 1.0 milliseconds or less, and in another preferred embodiment, 0.60 milliseconds or less. When it is 2.0 milliseconds or less, a part or all of the gas in the system is instantaneously dissolved (mixed) in the liquid, and thus it is expected that the ultrafine bubbles are efficiently generated. Furthermore, the lower limit thereof is not particularly limited, but is generally greater than 0, and for example, 0.20 milliseconds or more.

[0048] Furthermore, the maximum pressure is generally 4.00 MPa or more, and in a preferred embodiment, 4.29 MPa or more, and in another preferred embodiment, 14.95 MPa or more. When it is 4.00 MPa or more, a part or all of the gas in the system is instantaneously dissolved (mixed) in the liquid, and thus it is expected that the ultrafine bubbles are efficiently generated. In the case where the number of the ultrafine bubbles is increased, it is effective to use a higher pressure. Furthermore, the upper limit thereof depends on the pressurization capacity of the manufacturing device, and is not particularly limited, but is generally 40 MPa or less.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the proportion of the volume of the gas with respect to the volume of the accommodation portion is not particularly limited, but in a preferred embodiment, it is 10% or more, and in another preferred embodiment, it is 90% or less.

[0050] In the present embodiment, the structure and the material of the accommodation portion in which the liquid and the gas are accommodated are not particularly limited as long as they can withstand the pressurization in the accommodation portion.

[0051] The structure and the material of the drive portion are not particularly limited. In terms of pressurization, for example, it can be performed by the pressure generated when the pressure of the compressed gas is released, or it can be performed by the pressure generated by the combustion of the gunpowder ignited by the ignition device. Furthermore, it can be performed by the pressure of the pressurization energy using the electric energy of the piezoelectric element or the like, or the mechanical energy of the spring, or it can be performed by the pressure of the pressurization energy generated by appropriately combining these forms of energy.

[0052] As the pressurization, in the case of a scheme that uses pressure generated by combustion of a propellant ignited by an ignition device, as the propellant, for example, can be any one of the following propellants, or a propellant composed of a plurality of them in combination: a propellant containing zirconium and potassium perchlorate (ZPP), a propellant containing titanium hydride and potassium perchlorate (THPP), a propellant containing titanium and potassium perchlorate (TiPP), a propellant containing aluminum and potassium perchlorate (APP), a propellant containing aluminum and bismuth oxide (ABO), a propellant containing aluminum and molybdenum oxide (AMO), a propellant containing aluminum and copper oxide (ACO), a propellant containing aluminum and iron oxide (AFO). As a characteristic of these propellants, even if the combustion product thereof is a gas in a high-temperature state, it does not contain a gas component at ordinary temperature, so the combustion product immediately condenses after ignition. Thus, in the pressurization of the liquid and the gas, the temperature and pressure of the combustion product at the time of pressurization due to combustion of the ignition agent are shifted to the vicinity of ordinary temperature and pressure in a short time from the time when the pressure applied to the liquid and the gas reaches the initial peak ejection force.

[0053] As an example of the device of the present embodiment, an injector can be given. Hereinafter, the details thereof will be described.

[0054] In the injector, which is an example of the device of the present embodiment, the liquid and the gas are not initially housed in the housing portion, but are housed by being drawn into the housing portion by means of a nozzle having a discharge port. In this way, by adopting a configuration that requires a filling operation to the housing portion, the desired liquid and the desired gas can be housed. Therefore, in this injector, the syringe portion is configured to be detachable. Furthermore, the discharge port of the tip of the nozzle is closed so that the liquid and the gas do not discharge. The closing member and the closing method are not particularly limited as long as the liquid and the gas do not discharge.

[0055] Hereinafter, as an example of an injector, a syringe 1 (needleless syringe) will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each configuration and combination thereof in each embodiment is an example, and addition, omission, substitution, and other changes of the configuration can be appropriately made within a scope not departing from the gist of the present application. The present application is not limited by the embodiments, but is defined only by the claims. The same applies to the examples described below. Note that "tip side" and "base side" are used as terms indicating the relative positional relationship in the longitudinal direction of the syringe 1. The "tip side" indicates a position close to the tip of the syringe 1 described below, that is, a position close to the discharge port 31a. The "base side" indicates a direction opposite to the "tip side" in the longitudinal direction of the syringe 1, that is, a direction of the drive section 7. Furthermore, this example is an example in which the combustion energy of a propellant ignited by an ignition device is used to pressurize the accommodation section that accommodates the liquid and the gas, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0056] (Configuration of Syringe 1)

[0057] Figure 1 is a diagram indicating the schematic configuration of the syringe 1, and is also a cross-sectional view of the syringe 1 in the longitudinal direction thereof. The syringe 1 is configured by mounting the syringe assembly 10, which is assembled integrally from a sub-assembly composed of the syringe barrel section 3 and the plunger 4 and a sub-assembly composed of the syringe main body 6, the piston 5, and the drive section 7, to the housing (syringe housing) 2.

[0058] As described above, the syringe assembly 10 is configured to be easily detached from the housing 2. The receiving portion 32, formed between the syringe barrel 3 and the plunger 4, contained within the syringe assembly 10, is filled with the liquid and the gas. Furthermore, the syringe assembly 10 is a disposable unit used only once for each generation of microbubbles. Therefore, unlike conventional microbubble manufacturing apparatuses, cleaning of the microbubble-generating area is unnecessary after microbubble generation. Moreover, if microbubbles are generated in a sterile environment, sterile microbubbles can be easily produced. On the other hand, the housing 2 side includes a battery 9 that supplies power to the igniter 71 contained in the drive unit 7 of the syringe assembly 10. Power is supplied from the battery 9 via wiring between the electrodes on the housing 2 side and the electrodes on the drive unit 7 side of the syringe assembly 10 by the user pressing a button 8 located on the housing 2. It should be noted that the shape and position of the electrodes on the housing 2 side and the electrodes on the drive unit 7 side of the syringe assembly 10 are designed to automatically contact each other when the syringe assembly 10 is installed on the housing 2. Furthermore, the housing 2 is a unit that can be repeatedly used as long as there is enough power remaining in the battery 9 to supply power to the drive unit 7. It should also be noted that in the housing 2, even if the battery 9 is depleted, the housing 2 can still be used simply by replacing the battery 9. Furthermore, the injection port 31a at the tip of the nozzle 31 is sealed by the sealing part 43 to prevent the liquid and gas from being ejected. The sealing part 43 is fixed to the top cover 41. Furthermore, the top cover 41 is fixed to the syringe barrel 3 via the fixing part 42.

[0059] Next, the details of the syringe assembly 10 will be explained. First, when describing the sub-assembly including the syringe barrel 3 and the plunger 4, the syringe barrel 3 has a space, namely a receiving portion 32, formed inside it to accommodate the gas. More specifically, as... Figure 1 As shown, the plunger 4 is slidably disposed along the inner wall surface extending axially in the injection barrel portion 3, and the receiving portion 32 is defined by the inner wall surface of the injection barrel portion 3 and the plunger 4. Furthermore, the injection barrel portion 3 has a nozzle portion 31 with an injection outlet 31a formed at its tip side. Figure 1 In the example shown, the profile of the top side of the plunger 4 is roughly the same as the profile of the inner wall surface of the nozzle portion 31.

[0060] Furthermore, the syringe barrel 3 has a fixing portion 42 for fixing the top cover 41, and the top cover 41 is fixed to the fixing portion 42. The top cover 41 has a sealing portion 43 for sealing the injection outlet 31a. When the top cover 41 is fixed to the fixing portion 42 of the syringe barrel 3, the injection outlet 31a of the nozzle portion 31 is sealed by the sealing portion 43. In this state, the receiving portion 32 inside the syringe barrel 3 is sealed. It should be noted that the top cover 41 can be detachably fixed to the fixing portion 42 of the syringe barrel 3. In addition, as Figure 1As shown, the nozzle portion 31 in the injection barrel portion 3 has a flow path that communicates with the injection outlet 31a and the receiving portion 32, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path gradually decreases from the receiving portion 32 side to the injection outlet 31a side.

[0061] Next, the sub-assembly including the syringe body 6, piston 5, and drive unit 7 will be described. The piston 5, for example, is made of metal and is configured to slide within a through-hole formed inside the syringe body 6, pressurized by combustion products (combustion gases) generated by the igniter 71 of the drive unit 7. The syringe body 6 is a generally cylindrical component that slidably accommodates the piston 5 along its axially extending inner wall surface. It should be noted that the piston 5 may also be made of resin; in this case, metal may be used in parts requiring heat resistance and pressure resistance. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 As shown, piston 5 is integrally connected to plunger 4.

[0062] Next, the drive unit 7 will be explained. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the drive unit 7 is fixed to the base end side with reference to the through hole in the syringe body 6. The drive unit 7 has an igniter 71, which serves as an electric igniter. The igniter 71 is arranged facing the interior of the through hole in the syringe body 6, and contains igniting powder inside. Various types of gunpowder can be used as the igniting powder, as described above. Furthermore, the igniting powder can be contained, for example, in a gunpowder cup formed of a suitable thin-walled metal.

[0063] Next, the operation of the syringe 1 described above will be explained. For example... Figure 1 As shown, after the syringe assembly 10 is attached to the housing 2, with the top cover 41 removed from the fixing part 42 relative to the syringe barrel 3, the desired liquid and gas are drawn from the injection port 31a of the nozzle 31. At this time, as long as the volume of the liquid and the volume of the gas are ultimately drawn in the desired proportions relative to the volume of the receiving portion, the order and number of times the liquid and gas are drawn are not limited. For example, the liquid can be drawn first, followed by the gas, to complete the receiving process, or vice versa. Thus, the desired liquid and gas can be contained within the receiving portion 32. Next, the top cover 41 is attached to the fixing part 42 of the syringe barrel 3. As a result, the injection port 31a of the nozzle 31 is closed by the sealing part 43, thereby sealing the receiving portion 32.

[0064] From this state, for example, when the user performs an operation of pressing the button 8 provided to the case 2, this is taken as a trigger, and work power is supplied from the battery 9 to the igniter 71 of the drive section 7, and the igniter 71 performs work. When the igniter 71 performs work, the ignition powder is ignited and burns, and combustion products (flame, combustion gas, etc.) are generated. As a result, for example, the powder cup of the igniter 71 is broken, and the combustion gas of the ignition powder is released into the through-hole in the injector body 6. Due to this, the pressure in the through-hole of the injector body 6 sharply rises, and the piston 5 is pressed toward the tip end side of the injector body 6, and as a result, the piston 5 slides along the inner wall surface of the through-hole in the injector body 6 toward the tip end side. As described above, since the plunger 4 is integrally linked to the piston 5, the plunger 4 also slides along the inner wall surface of the injection cylinder section 3 in a linked manner with the piston 5. That is, by pressing the plunger 4 toward the nozzle section 31 located on the tip end side of the injection cylinder section 3, the volume of the accommodation section 32 in which the liquid and gas are accommodated is reduced and is sharply pressurized.

[0065] As described above, when the igniter 71 in the drive section 7 performs work, the combustion of the ignition powder is used to press the plunger 4 in by the piston 5, and as a result, the liquid and gas accommodated in the accommodation section 32 in a sealed state are sharply pressurized. Here, in the injector 1, the time from when the drive section 7 (igniter 71) performs work and starts the pressurization of the accommodation section 32 to when the pressure in the accommodation section 32 reaches the maximum pressure is 2.0 milliseconds or less, and the type, amount, and other arbitrary parameters of the ignition powder are adjusted so that this maximum pressure is 4.00 MPa or more. As a result, ultrafine bubbles can be appropriately generated. After the ultrafine bubbles are generated, for example, after the injector assembly 10 is detached from the case 2, the cap 41 is detached from the injection cylinder section 3. Then, by gently squeezing and discharging the contents containing the ultrafine bubbles accommodated in the accommodation section 32, for example, from the discharge port 31a of the nozzle section 31, it is possible to recover them into an appropriate container.

[0066] As described above, according to the injector 1, which is one example of the device of the present embodiment, it is possible to simply manufacture ultrafine bubbles without a large-scale device and a high level of technology of a technician who handles the device. Furthermore, according to the injector 1, the injector assembly 10 is freely detachable with respect to the case 2, and it is possible to configure the injector assembly 10 as a disposable unit. Therefore, it is only necessary to discard the used injector assembly 10 after the ultrafine bubbles are manufactured, and as a result, it is not necessary to clean the used injector assembly 10 each time the ultrafine bubbles are manufactured, and it is possible to suppress the user from expending a large amount of labor and effort, and to provide a device for manufacturing ultrafine bubbles that is excellent in use convenience.

[0067] Another embodiment is a method of manufacturing ultrafine bubbles, the method including: a step of preparing a system including a liquid and a gas; and a step of pressurizing an inside of the system, the pressurizing being performed in a time of 2.0 milliseconds or less from a start of the pressurizing to a time when a pressure reaches a maximum pressure, the maximum pressure being 4.00 MPa or more.

[0068] The embodiment is a preferable one of the embodiments.

[0069] That is, in the step of preparing a system including a liquid and a gas, as long as a system that can be pressurized in the next step, the step of pressurizing an inside of the system, is prepared, the manner is not limited, and as the system, for example, "a housing portion that houses a liquid and a gas" of the embodiment can be listed. As to the specific aspect, the description of the embodiment is referred to.

[0070] Further, in the step of pressurizing an inside of the system, as long as the pressurizing is performed in a time of 2.0 milliseconds or less from a start of the pressurizing to a time when a pressure reaches a maximum pressure, the maximum pressure being 4.00 MPa or more, the manner is not limited, and as the specific condition, for example, the condition described in the embodiment can be listed. Further, as the mechanism of the pressurizing, for example, the pressurizing by the "driving portion for pressurizing in the housing portion" described above can be listed. The driving portion can also be included in the "system including a liquid and a gas". As to the specific manner of the driving portion, the description of the embodiment is referred to.

[0071] Embodiment

[0072] Hereinafter, the embodiments are described, but any of the embodiments is not interpreted as an example of limitation.

[0073] 〔Embodiment 1〕 Measurement method of pressure in a housing portion

[0074] In the following embodiments, as a device of manufacturing ultrafine bubbles, a device described in Patent Literature 1 is used. Figure 1The injector described above was used to produce ultrafine bubbles in the chamber. The time from the start of pressurization to the maximum pressure and the maximum pressure were measured using the prior art. That is, the measurement was performed by the following method as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-21640: the force of ejection was applied to the diaphragm of a force sensor disposed downstream of the nozzle, the output from the force sensor was taken in by a data acquisition device via a detection amplifier, and the ejection force (N) was stored as a function of time. The ejection pressure thus measured was divided by the area of the ejection port 31a of the injector, and the ejection pressure was calculated. Note that the volume of the chamber was 100 μl. Further, the measurement value of the internal pressure of the chamber was the same as the ejection pressure, and the ejection pressure was taken as the pressure in the chamber.

[0075] 〔Example 2〕 Effect of the ratio of the volumes of liquid and gas on the production of ultrafine bubbles

[0076] Sample preparation was performed the day before the measurement of the ultrafine bubbles. 10 μl, 50 μl, or 90 μl of ultrapure water (Milli-Q water, Direct-Q (registered trademark) (Millipore Corporation)) was sucked from the nozzle of the injector, and then, without sucking the ultrapure water, the plunger was raised to the 100 μl mark to fill the chamber with ordinary laboratory air.

[0077] In this example, the ZPP of the injector was set to 45 mg. The ignition operation was performed with the chamber in a state in which the chamber was sealed by firmly attaching the cap to the nozzle side of the chamber. Then, the chamber and the cap were removed from the injector, and the contents were gently squeezed out of the nozzle into a 1.5 ml tube, and thus recovered. 490 μl of Milli-Q water was added to 10 μl of the solution containing the ultrafine bubbles produced immediately before the measurement, and gently mixed, and the number and the particle size of the produced ultrafine bubbles were measured and analyzed by NanoSight (Japan CUSTOM DESIGN).

[0078] The positive control used air ultrafine bubble water (NANOX Corporation). Note that the positive control was not used to compare the number of produced ultrafine bubbles, but to compare the diameter of the produced ultrafine bubbles.

[0079] The results are described below. Note that each measurement was independently performed 2 to 3 times. The average values of the time from the start of pressurization to the maximum pressure and the maximum pressure are shown.

[0080] It should be noted that in the method for measuring ultrafine bubbles used in this embodiment, the reliability of the measurement results is low when the number of bubbles is less than 2.5 billion / ml. Therefore, it is assumed that ultrafine bubbles are generated when the number of bubbles exceeds 2.5 billion / ml.

[0081] When the ratio of the gas volume to the volume of the container is set to 10% (90 μl of liquid volume and 10 μl of gas volume), the time from the start of pressurization to the pressure reaching the maximum pressure is 0.35 milliseconds, and the maximum pressure is 15.18 MPa.

[0082] When the ratio of the gas volume to the volume of the container is set to 50% (50 μl of liquid volume and 50 μl of gas volume), the time from the start of pressurization to the pressure reaching the maximum pressure is 0.25 milliseconds, and the maximum pressure is 18.80 MPa.

[0083] When the ratio of the gas volume to the volume of the container is set to 90% (10 μl of liquid volume and 90 μl of gas volume), the time from the start of pressurization to the pressure reaching the maximum pressure is 0.38 milliseconds, and the maximum pressure is 17.33 MPa.

[0084] In addition, Figure 2 The number of ultrafine bubbles generated is shown in the figure. It was confirmed that the larger the ratio of gas volume to the volume of the container, the more ultrafine bubbles were generated, reaching a plateau at around 50%.

[0085] It should be noted that, according to Figure 2 Even when the volume of gas relative to the volume of the container is 0% (liquid volume 100 μl, gas volume 0), it can be confirmed that ultrafine bubbles are generated. However, as mentioned above, since the number of bubbles is less than 2.5 billion per ml, ultrafine bubbles are not generated.

[0086] In addition, Figure 3 The diameter of the generated ultrafine bubbles is shown in the figure. Furthermore, in... Figure 4 The diagram shows the diameter of the bubbles in the ultrafine bubble water (NANOX) used as a positive control. Regarding the generated ultrafine bubbles, it was confirmed that their diameter was not significantly different from the positive control.

[0087] [Example 3] The effect of pressurization of the containment section on the generation of ultrafine bubbles

[0088] Based on the results of Example 2, the ratio of the volume of the gas to the volume of the housing was fixed at 50% (liquid volume 50 μl, gas volume 50 μl) and the experiment was performed. In addition, in this example, the ZPP amount of the injector was set to 25 mg, 35 mg, 45 mg, or 110 mg, and otherwise the same as in Example 2.

[0089] The results are shown in Table 1. Note that each measurement was independently performed 2 to 3 times. The average values of the time from the start of pressurization until the maximum pressure was reached and the maximum pressure are shown.

[0090] When the ZPP amount was set to 25 mg, the time from the start of pressurization until the maximum pressure was reached was 0.35 msec and the maximum pressure was 4.29 MPa.

[0091] When the ZPP amount was set to 35 mg, the time from the start of pressurization until the maximum pressure was reached was 0.25 msec and the maximum pressure was 14.95 MPa.

[0092] When the ZPP amount was set to 45 mg, the time from the start of pressurization until the maximum pressure was reached was 0.25 msec and the maximum pressure was 18.80 MPa, as described in Example 2.

[0093] When the ZPP amount was set to 110 mg, the time from the start of pressurization until the maximum pressure was reached was 0.45 msec and the maximum pressure was 39.35 MPa.

[0094] [Table 1]

[0095]

[0096] In addition, the number of generated ultrafine bubbles is shown in Figure 5 It was confirmed that the number of generated ultrafine bubbles was greater for the case of a greater maximum pressure, and leveled off around 18.80 MPa (ZPP amount: 45 mg).

[0097] In addition, the diameter of the generated ultrafine bubbles is shown in Figure 6 It was confirmed that the diameter of the generated ultrafine bubbles under the conditions described above was not significantly different from the positive control.

[0098] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0099] 1 Syringe

[0100] 2 Housing

[0101] 3 Syringe barrel portion

[0102] 4 Plunger

[0103] 5 plunger

[0104] 6 syringe body

[0105] 7 drive portion

[0106] 8 button

[0107] 9 battery

[0108] 10 syringe assembly

[0109] 31 nozzle portion

[0110] 31a discharge port

[0111] 32 housing portion

[0112] 41 top cover

[0113] 42 fixing portion

[0114] 43 closing portion

[0115] 71 igniter

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing ultrafine bubbles, wherein, The manufacturing apparatus includes: A receiving section for containing liquids and gases; and a driving section for pressurizing the receiving section. The time from the start of pressurization to the pressure reaching the maximum pressure is less than 2.0 milliseconds. The maximum pressure is above 14.95 MPa.

2. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The volume of the gas is more than 10% and less than 90% of the volume of the container.

3. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The liquid is water.

4. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The gas is air.

5. A method for manufacturing ultrafine bubbles, wherein, The method includes: The process of preparing a system containing liquids and gases; and The process of pressurizing the internal structure of the system. The time from the start of pressurization to the pressure reaching the maximum pressure is less than 2.0 milliseconds. The maximum pressure is above 14.95 MPa.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, The volume of the gas is more than 10% and less than 90% of the volume of the system.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, The liquid is water.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, The gas is air.

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