Catalyst material

Abstract

To provide a catalyst material capable of adsorbing acid gas without mixing collapsed fragments, etc. into an airtight work space by disposing the catalyst material in a circulation path of the work space.SOLUTION: A catalyst material 5 is disposed in a circulation path 4 of a work space 21 filled with gas containing acid gas, and adsorbs the acid gas. The catalyst material 5 includes zeolite.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a catalyst material provided in a circulation path in an airtight working space, and more particularly to a catalyst material provided in a circulation path in a working space where acid gas is generated. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an embodiment of an apparatus having an airtight working space. The working space in Patent Document 1 is a working space in a glove box. A circulation path is provided in the working space. The working space is filled with an inert gas such as argon gas. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-142238 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, when work is performed in the work space, acidic gases such as hydrogen sulfide may be generated depending on the work. Since the work space is airtight, the acidic gases do not immediately leak out, but it is necessary to keep the acidic gases at least at a low concentration. Therefore, activated carbon is provided in the gas flow path to adsorb the acidic gases generated depending on the work.

[0005] It is believed that activated carbon adsorbs moisture in the air during production, transportation, etc., before being placed in the distribution route. Since activated carbon that has adsorbed moisture cannot adequately adsorb acid gases, the activated carbon is heat-treated before being placed in the distribution route.

[0006] However, activated carbon has a problem in that it is easily broken down when heated because it is sensitive to heat. If activated carbon breaks down after being placed in the distribution channel, fragments or powder that are generated by the breakage may pass through the distribution channel and be mixed into the working space.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a catalytic material that can adsorb acidic gases by being installed in a flow path connected to an airtight working space, without causing broken fragments or the like to get mixed in the downstream side of the flow path. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A catalytic material according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided in a flow path connected to an airtight working space filled with a gas containing an acidic gas, and adsorbs the acidic gas, and includes zeolite. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The catalyst material of the above aspect of the present invention has the advantage that, by being installed in the flow path of an airtight working space, it can adsorb acidic gases without introducing broken fragments or the like into the downstream side of the flow path. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a glove box according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circulation path in the glove box according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the catalyst material according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] <Embodiment> The catalyst material 5 according to this embodiment will be described below. The catalyst material 5 according to this embodiment is provided in an airtight working space 21, in a circulation path (circulation path 4) for circulating gas in the working space 21. The gas in the working space 21 contains acidic gas generated by the work. The catalyst material 5 can adsorb the acidic gas contained in the gas.

[0012] The catalyst material 5 contains zeolite. Therefore, the catalyst material 5 according to this embodiment is more resistant to heat and less likely to crumble than activated carbon, so that it is possible to reduce the intrusion of fragments, powder, etc. into the downstream side of the flow path. Therefore, by installing the catalyst material 5 according to this embodiment in the flow path of the airtight working space, it is possible to adsorb acid gas without causing the intrusion of fragments, etc. into the downstream side of the flow path.

[0013] In the following, the working space 21 will be described by taking the working space 21 in the glove box 1 as an example. However, the working space 21 is not limited to the glove box 1, and for example, an airtight working space 21 such as a clean room or a dry room may be used. In addition, the circulation path 4 that circulates the gas in the working space 21 will be described as an example of a flow path.

[0014] (Glove Box 1) The glove box 1 has a main box 2 made of a sealed container isolated from the outside air, and is configured so that work can be done inside the main box 2 with gloves on. As shown in FIG. 1, the glove box 1 includes the above-mentioned main box 2 and a side box 3. The main box 2 is supported on an installation surface by a stand 6 made up of a plurality of frames. Note that the glove box 1 according to this embodiment is a vacuum type glove box 1, but may be a gas replacement type (purge type).

[0015] (Main Box 2) The main body box 2 is an airtight container having a working space 21 therein, and airtightly divides the working space 21. The shape of the main body box 2 is not particularly limited as long as it has the working space 21 therein, and examples of the shape include a rectangular parallelepiped, a cube, a trapezoid when viewed from the side, and a cylindrical shape.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the main box 2 has a window portion 22. An operator can visually check the inside of the main box 2 through the window portion 22. The window portion 22 is formed in a part of the front surface of the main box 2. The window portion 22 is transparent. Examples of materials for the window portion 22 include reinforced glass, laminated glass, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, etc.

[0017] The material of the main box 2 other than the window portion 22 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium, and composite materials thereof. The main box 2 according to this embodiment has a strength sufficient to withstand even if the working space 21 is placed in a vacuum state.

[0018] The main box 2 is also provided with various instruments such as a pressure gauge, moisture meter, oxygen meter, vacuum gauge, current input terminals (D-SUB, LAN, USB, etc.), power outlets, etc., but these are not shown or described here.

[0019] 1, the main box 2 has a plurality of armholes 23 to which gloves (not shown) are attached. The armholes 23 are arranged below the window portion 22 of the main box 2. The armholes 23 penetrate the main box 2 from the inside to the outside. There are two armholes 23 in this embodiment, but there may be three or more armholes, or there may be only one armhole.

[0020] The gloves are attached so as to cover the armholes 23, and keep the inside of the main box 2 airtight. When the gloves are used, they are inserted into the main box 2 through the armholes 23, and when not in use, they can be taken out from the armholes 23. Each armhole 23 is closed by a lid 24 when the main box 2 is not in use. The lids 24 are attached to the armholes 23 in a removably manner.

[0021] (Side Box 3) The side box 3 has a slide table, and is used to load and unload work objects such as processing objects and containers into and from the main box 2. The side box 3 is attached to the side of the main box 2. The side box 3 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape with the left-right direction as the central axis, and has openings on both end faces in the central axis direction. One opening face of the side box 3 in the central axis direction faces a through hole (not shown) penetrating the side of the side box 3, and the side box 3 communicates with the inside of the main box 2 through the through hole. One opening face of the side box 3 in the central axis direction is closed by an inner hatch door (not shown) so as to be openable and closable. The other opening face of the side box 3 in the central axis direction is closed by a hatch door 31 so as to be openable and closable.

[0022] (Circulation Route 4) When working on a sulfide battery using the glove box 1, hydrogen sulfide may be generated as an acidic gas in the work space 21 depending on the work. Since the generated hydrogen sulfide needs to be adsorbed, a distribution path (here, a circulation path 4) is connected to the main box 2 as shown in FIG. 2. A packed tower 43 is provided in the circulation path 4, in which a case (not shown) containing a plurality of catalyst materials 5 is installed. By circulating gas (e.g., inert gas, dry air, environmental test gas, etc.) in the main box 2 along the circulation path 4, the hydrogen sulfide contained in the gas can be adsorbed by the catalyst material 5.

[0023] The main box 2 is formed with an exhaust port 25 and a supply port 26, and a circulation path 4 is formed by a circulation pipe 41 that connects the exhaust port 25 and the supply port 26. The circulation path 4 is provided with a plurality of valves 42, a packed tower 43, and a blower 44 that moves the gas in the circulation path 4.

[0024] A case containing a plurality of catalytic materials 5 is installed in the packed tower 43. The gas flowing into the packed tower 43 from the circulation pipe 41 passes through the inside of the case and flows into the downstream circulation pipe 41. At this time, the gas containing the acidic gas comes into contact with the catalytic materials 5, so that the acidic gas is adsorbed by the catalytic materials 5.

[0025] (Catalyst material 5) The catalyst material 5 includes zeolite, clay mineral, and crystalline silica. The catalyst material 5 according to this embodiment can adsorb hydrogen sulfide and organic gases generated in the working space 21 of the glove box 1. The organic gases are gases generated from organic solvents, such as gases generated from organic substances such as hexane, toluene, and triethylamine.

[0026] Zeolite (CAS number: 1318-02-1) constitutes the main component of the catalytic material 5. The catalytic material 5 is capable of adsorbing hydrogen sulfide because zeolite is the main component. The content of zeolite is preferably 70 weight percent or more, and more preferably 75 weight percent or more.

[0027] The zeolite is preferably a hydrophobic zeolite. This makes it difficult for the catalyst material 5 to adsorb moisture even if the gas contains moisture, and allows the amount of acidic gas adsorbed to be increased as much as possible. However, the zeolite may be a hydrophilic zeolite. Even hydrophilic zeolite can adsorb acidic gas. Moreover, the zeolite may be a mixture of hydrophilic zeolite and hydrophobic zeolite.

[0028] Zeolite can be expressed by the chemical formula Na2O·xAl2O3·ySiO2. In hydrophobic zeolites, the molar ratio x / y is preferably 1 / 10 or more and 1 / 10000 or less. In general, the smaller the molar ratio x / y, the more hydrophobic the zeolite is. As the hydrophobicity increases, the more difficult it becomes to adsorb highly polar water molecules, while the affinity for low polarity odorous substances and organic solvent gases increases, making it easier to adsorb these. In addition, due to the effect of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals such as Ca, Na, and K present on the surface of zeolite, the zeolite surface exhibits alkalinity, making it easier for acidic gases to be adsorbed by neutralization reactions.

[0029] The clay mineral (CAS number: 999999-99-4) functions as a binder. The content of the clay mineral is preferably 30 weight percent or less, more preferably 23 weight percent or less.

[0030] Crystalline silica (CAS number: 14808-60-7) ensures flowability during molding. The content of crystalline silica is preferably 3 weight percent or less, more preferably 2 weight percent or less.

[0031] A plurality of catalyst materials 5 are filled in the case. As shown in FIG. 3, each catalyst material 5 preferably has three rod-shaped portions 51. The central axes of the three rod-shaped portions 51 are parallel to each other. In addition, the catalyst material 5 has three rod-shaped portions 51 connected to each other such that an imaginary line K1 connecting the centers of the three rod-shaped portions 51 forms a triangle when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped portions 51. The catalyst material 5 in which the three rod-shaped portions 51 are connected is integrally formed, for example, by extrusion molding. The center of each rod-shaped portion 51 means the centroid of a diagram in which the rod-shaped portion 51 is projected in the central axis direction.

[0032] In this embodiment, each rod-shaped portion 51 has a cylindrical shape. However, the rod-shaped portion 51 may also be a prism such as a quadrangular prism, a triangular prism, or a pentagonal prism. The rod-shaped portion 51 does not have to have the same cross section in the central axis direction, and may have a shape like a body of revolution with the major axis of an ellipse as the center (so-called rugby ball shape).

[0033] Since the catalyst material 5 has three rod-shaped portions 51, adjacent catalyst materials 5 are less likely to be crowded together, which reduces pressure loss when in contact with gas, and also provides appropriate strength, making it less likely to crack or break. For example, when the catalyst material 5 is bead-shaped (spherical) or powder-shaped, the catalyst materials 5 tend to be crowded together, narrowing the gas path too much and increasing pressure loss. Also, when the catalyst material 5 is pellet-shaped (cylindrical), the catalyst materials 5 tend to be crowded together and have relatively weak strength.

[0034] The size of the catalyst material 5 is preferably as follows: The total length L1 of the catalyst material 5 in the diameter direction of the rod-shaped portion 51 is preferably 2 mm or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or more and 7 mm or less. The total length L2 of the rod-shaped portion 51 in the longitudinal direction is preferably 3 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and more preferably 5 mm or more and 20 mm or less. The diameter R1 of the rod-shaped portion 51 is preferably 1 mm or more and 5 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm or more and 4 mm or less.

[0035] When using the catalyst material 5 containing hydrophilic zeolite, it is necessary to heat it at the first use to evaporate the moisture contained in the catalyst material 5. At this time, since zeolite has excellent heat resistance, it is not likely to crack or crumble even when heated. Therefore, even if the catalyst material 5 of this embodiment is provided in the circulation path 4 and the catalyst material 5 is heated before circulating the gas, the collapsed fragments are unlikely to be mixed into the working space, and the acidic gas can be adsorbed. In addition, according to the catalyst material 5 mainly composed of zeolite, even if the catalyst material 5 is reheated after adsorbing the acidic gas and the moisture is evaporated, the re-release of the acidic gas can be suppressed.

[0036] In addition, when the catalyst material 5 contains 70 weight percent or more of hydrophobic zeolite, there is no need to heat the catalyst material 5 when it is first used, improving workability. Moreover, even if the gas flowing through the circulation path 4 contains moisture, the catalyst material 5 is less likely to adsorb the moisture, so that the rate at which the amount of adsorbed acid gas decreases can be suppressed.

[0037] <Modification> The above embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present invention. The embodiment can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. Modifications of the embodiment are listed below. The modifications described below can be applied in appropriate combination.

[0038] The catalyst material 5 according to the above embodiment is provided in the circulation path 4 to adsorb hydrogen sulfide produced during the treatment of the sulfide battery, but it can also be provided in the circulation path 4 to adsorb chlorine gas produced during the treatment of nuclear fuel rods, for example. That is, the acid gas in the present invention may be chlorine gas.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the catalyst material 5 having three rod-shaped portions 51 has been described as a preferred example, but even a bead- or pellet-shaped catalyst material 5 containing zeolite can adsorb acidic gases without allowing broken fragments or the like to become mixed into the working space 21.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the work space 21 is the work space 21 of one glove box. However, it is also possible to connect a plurality of glove boxes and use the work spaces 21 of the plurality of glove boxes as one work space 21.

[0041] The catalytic material 5 is provided in the working space 21, but taking advantage of the advantage of being able to obtain appropriate strength while reducing pressure loss when in contact with gas, the catalytic material 5 can also be provided in a gas circulation purification device installed in, for example, a glove box.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the catalyst material 5 is disposed in the circulation path 4 connected to the working space 21, but the catalyst material 5 may be disposed, for example, in an exhaust path (distribution path) connected to the working space 21, instead of in the circulation path 4. The catalyst material 5 disposed in the exhaust path can adsorb acid gases and organic gases from the gas in the working space 21, and then exhaust the gas. That is, the catalyst material 5 according to the present invention may be disposed in a distribution path connected to the working space 21.

[0043] <Summary> The present specification includes the following aspects. Item 1. A catalyst material 5 that is provided in a flow path connected to a working space 21 filled with a gas containing an acidic gas and adsorbs the acidic gas, the catalyst material 5 including zeolite. Item 2. The catalytic material 5 according to item 1, wherein the zeolite comprises a hydrophobic zeolite. Item 3. The catalyst material 5 according to item 2, wherein the content of the hydrophobic zeolite is 70 weight percent or more. Item 4. The catalyst material 5 according to any one of Items 1 to 3, which has three rod-shaped portions 51 and is connected to each other such that, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped portions 51, imaginary lines connecting the centers of the three rod-shaped portions 51 form a triangle. Item 5. The catalyst material 5 according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the catalyst material is provided in a circulation path as the distribution path. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Glove box 2 Main unit box 21 Working Space 25 Exhaust port 26 Supply Inlet 4 Circulation route (distribution route) 41 Circulation Pipe 43 Packed tower 5. Catalyst materials 51 Rod-shaped part

Claims

1. A catalyst material provided in a flow path connected to an airtight working space filled with a gas containing an acid gas, The acid gas is adsorbed and the zeolite is included, It has three rod-shaped portions, The three rod-shaped portions are connected such that, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped portions, imaginary lines connecting the centers of the three rod-shaped portions form a triangle. Catalyst material.

2. The zeolite comprises a hydrophobic zeolite.

2. The catalytic material of claim 1.

3. The content of the hydrophobic zeolite is 70 weight percent or more.

3. The catalytic material of claim 2.

4. The catalyst material is provided in a circulation path as the flow path. A catalytic material according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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