Deodorizing device

Abstract

To provide a photocatalytic deodorizer that suppresses the generation of carbon dioxide.SOLUTION: A deodorizing device 30 comprises a deodorizing mechanism 6 that has a photocatalyst filter 1 formed by dispersing photocatalyst particles on a base material, and a light source 3 positioned to face the photocatalyst filter 1, and a carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7 that recovers carbon dioxide generated by irradiating the photocatalyst filter 1 with light from the light source 3, The carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7 is positioned between the air discharge port of the deodorizing mechanism 6 and the exhaust port 14 of the deodorizing device 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a deodorizing device having a deodorizing function using a photocatalyst. [Background technology]

[0002] Photocatalysts exert their photocatalytic effect when exposed to specific light such as ultraviolet light or visible light. Such photocatalytic effects include deodorizing and disinfecting effects, and deodorizing devices that utilize this effect are known. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-297351 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when odors, bacteria, organic components, etc. are decomposed by photocatalysts, carbon dioxide is generated. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that accelerates global warming, and from the perspective of ESG and SDGs, it is strongly desired to reduce its generation.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a photocatalytic deodorizing device that solves the above-mentioned problems and suppresses the generation of carbon dioxide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In view of the above, the deodorizing device of the present invention is a deodorizing device comprising a deodorizing mechanism having a photocatalytic filter constructed by dispersing photocatalytic particles on a substrate and a light source arranged opposite the photocatalytic filter, and a carbon dioxide capture mechanism that captures carbon dioxide generated by irradiating the photocatalytic filter with light from the light source, wherein the carbon dioxide capture mechanism is freely detachable from the deodorizing device, and the carbon dioxide capture mechanism is arranged between the air exhaust port of the deodorizing mechanism and the air exhaust port of the deodorizing device. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a deodorizing device that suppresses the generation of carbon dioxide by recovering the carbon dioxide generated during the decomposition of odorous components and the like by a photocatalyst. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of the deodorizing mechanism in this embodiment [Diagram 2] Schematic diagram of a photocatalytic filter and a light source unit in this embodiment. [Diagram 3] An explanatory diagram of the amount of carbon dioxide generated by photocatalytic deodorization in this embodiment. [Figure 4] An explanatory diagram of a carbon dioxide capture mechanism in this embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a deodorizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a deodorizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a deodorizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a deodorizing device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0010] (Photocatalytic filter) When a photocatalyst is irradiated with light of a specific wavelength, such as sunlight, fluorescent light, or LED, a strong oxidizing power is exerted on its surface, and harmful substances such as organic compounds and bacteria that come into contact with it are decomposed and removed. In this embodiment, titanium oxide, which is relatively inexpensive and has excellent availability, is preferable as such a photocatalyst, but the present invention is not limited to this. Taking into consideration the excitation wavelength and the photocatalytic effect, titanium oxide may be appropriately selected from anatase type, rutile type, etc. In this embodiment, various materials such as tungsten oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, or a mixture of these materials may be used as the photocatalyst in addition to titanium oxide. Furthermore, materials in which nitrogen, platinum, silver, palladium, ruthenium, copper, or compounds containing these as main components are added to these photocatalyst substances may be selected. By adding these materials to the photocatalyst, it is possible to shift the excitation wavelength to the low-energy visible light side, to enhance the action of the photocatalyst as a co-catalyst, or to impart a new effect that the photocatalyst itself does not have.

[0011] The substrate on which the photocatalyst particles are applied as a photocatalyst filter can be selected from ceramic-based porous bodies such as zeolite, mullite, cordierite, or a mixture of these, metal-based porous bodies, fibrous bodies such as glass cloth and carbon fiber mainly composed of glass fiber, and activated carbon. In addition to porous bodies with a large specific surface area and high supportability, metal or glass flat plates can also be used as the substrate. Considering the compatibility with high-temperature processes such as sintering the photocatalyst to the substrate, a material with high heat resistance is more preferable for the substrate. In addition, in order to enhance the photocatalytic effect, a substrate material that can increase the specific surface area is particularly preferable.

[0012] For these substrates, a dispersion liquid in which the above-mentioned photocatalyst powder is dispersed in a solution at a predetermined concentration is prepared, and by applying this, a photocatalyst filter in which the photocatalyst is dispersed on the substrate can be prepared. The dispersion liquid is preferably an aqueous system mainly composed of pure water, but may also be a dispersion liquid mainly composed of an organic solvent such as ethanol. Some types of photocatalysts have poor dispersibility, so in such cases, additives such as surfactants for improving dispersibility can be added. Such photocatalyst dispersion liquid is applied to the substrate using a spray method, a dip method, an impregnation method, or the like. The application method is not limited to these, and may be selected appropriately according to the conditions of the substrate, photocatalyst, etc. It is also possible to apply the photocatalyst in multiple steps, or in multiple steps using multiple different methods such as a spray method and a dip method.

[0013] In the examples described later, a photocatalyst dispersion liquid was prepared by adding a photocatalyst and a small amount of surfactant to pure water and thoroughly stirring the mixture. The prepared photocatalyst dispersion liquid was then spray-coated onto a glass cloth substrate, and left in a high-temperature atmosphere of 100 to 500°C for several minutes to 120 minutes in order to remove moisture and to adhere the photocatalyst to the substrate, and then returned to room temperature to produce a photocatalyst filter 1 (see FIG. 1).

[0014] (Deodorizing mechanism) The deodorizing mechanism in which an LED light source is arranged on the above-mentioned photocatalytic filter will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a schematic side view illustrating the configuration of the deodorizing mechanism according to this embodiment, and Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the photocatalytic filter 1 and light source unit 3 of the deodorizing mechanism according to this embodiment.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the deodorizing mechanism 6 of this embodiment is configured to have a photocatalytic filter 1 and a light source unit 3 composed of a plurality of LEDs 2 arranged in opposing positions. As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2, the LEDs 2 constituting the light source unit 3 are arranged two-dimensionally, and the arrangement position of the LEDs 2 is optimized so that the light irradiated from the LEDs 2 hits the entire area of ​​the photocatalytic filter 1 as evenly as possible. When a predetermined light is irradiated from the light source unit 3 to the photocatalytic filter 1, the odor 4 supplied to the deodorizing mechanism 6 is oxidized and decomposed using a fan unit (not shown) or the like, and is discharged from the deodorizing mechanism 6 as odor 5 with reduced odor components. Here, in FIG. 1, in order to simplify the explanation, the odor 4 is shown flowing from left to right, but the actual flow path of the odor is not limited to this, and for example, the supplied odor 4 may be structured to change direction and flow before being discharged. Furthermore, when a photocatalytic filter is produced by supporting a photocatalyst on a honeycomb substrate such as ceramics or metal mesh, a flow path for odorous components can be formed so that the odorous components pass through the inside of the honeycomb substrate, and the filter can be used by irradiating light from an LED or the like onto the honeycomb substrate on which the photocatalyst is supported.

[0016] In order to exert the action of the photocatalyst, it is necessary to input light having an energy equal to or greater than the band gap of the photocatalyst and having a wavelength region that the photocatalyst itself absorbs. As such a light source, ultraviolet light having a relatively high energy due to its short wavelength, or visible light in the vicinity of 400 to 500 nm can be used. Here, if light in a wavelength region such as deep ultraviolet is used, the energy is large, which is advantageous for exciting the photocatalyst, but it may cause other problems such as ozone generation. If ozone is generated, it may become necessary to add a new mechanism for removing or reducing ozone in order to adjust the concentration of ozone discharged. Therefore, taking these into consideration, in this embodiment, an LED 2 having an output peak in a wavelength region of about 360 to 410 nm is selected as the light source. In addition, although one LED 2 may be used, in order to further enhance the photocatalytic effect, it is preferable to use multiple LEDs arranged in a row so that the light hits the entire area of ​​the photocatalyst filter 1 to which the photocatalyst is applied, and it is preferable to use multiple LEDs in combination as the light source unit 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In order to enhance the effect of the photocatalyst, in addition to increasing the wavelength of the light source and the area of ​​the photocatalyst that comes into contact with odors, as described above, it is very important to optimize the distance between the photocatalyst and the light source, the intensity of the irradiated light, and the flow path of the odor components on the photocatalyst filter 1. On the other hand, since light of an ultraviolet wavelength, which has particularly high energy, can damage organic materials such as resins, it is preferable that the material of the part where the light from the light source hits is a material such as metal that is durable against light and is less likely to deteriorate due to light. Furthermore, care must be taken to configure the device so that the light does not leak out of the device. In this embodiment, aluminum is used for the housing part of the deodorizing mechanism, and it is arranged so that the light of the LED 2 does not leak out of the deodorizing mechanism 6 as much as possible. In addition to aluminum, the housing material may be any material that is durable against light of a wavelength of about 360 to 410 nm emitted by the LED used in this embodiment, and for example, various SUS materials can be used.

[0017] (Carbon Dioxide Capture and Recovery Organization) The deodorizing mechanism 6 uses the photocatalytic effect to break down and remove various odor-causing substances that come into contact with the photocatalyst, such as the odor of raw garbage, the odor of shoes, the odor of cigarettes, and the odor of mold, into water and carbon dioxide. Figure 3 shows the results of a confirmation experiment on the change in carbon dioxide when the photocatalyst filter 1 is used to deodorize two types of odor sources, ammonia and orange essential aroma oil, as examples. In addition, an experiment was conducted under the same conditions as a comparison, with no odor source. In this confirmation experiment, a certain amount of odor was filled in a sealed box with a capacity of about 100 liters, and then the change in carbon dioxide concentration was monitored when the odor was decomposed by irradiating the photocatalyst filter with light from an LED. Since ammonia, which was used as one of the odor sources, is composed of nitrogen and hydrogen, it shows a slight increase in carbon dioxide after decomposition by the photocatalyst, just like when there is no odor source. This suggests that the increase is not due to the decomposition of the odor source by the photocatalyst, but rather due to the decomposition of organic matter other than the odor source used in the experiment, which is contained in the original atmosphere, and that carbon dioxide is gradually increasing. On the other hand, when aromatic oil was used, the carbon dioxide level increased linearly over time, reaching a level that nearly doubled after 60 minutes. Furthermore, when the LED light source was turned off immediately after 60 minutes, the increase in carbon dioxide level stopped in all three cases: ammonia, aromatic oil, and no odor source. From these results, it was confirmed that carbon dioxide is generated as odor is decomposed by the photocatalyst, although the experimental value of carbon dioxide level changes depending on the type of odor, odor concentration, and capacity of the sealed box.

[0018] In this way, in order to prevent all of the carbon dioxide, which is also a greenhouse gas generated during photocatalytic deodorization, from being released directly into the surrounding environment, this embodiment is provided with a carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7 that removes carbon dioxide from the components discharged from the deodorization mechanism 6. As shown in the simplified diagram of the configuration of deodorization device 30 in Figure 5, the carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7 is installed between the air exhaust port of the deodorization mechanism 6 and the exhaust port 14 of the deodorization device 30, which is located immediately after the fan unit 12 that assists in the intake and exhaust of the deodorization device 30.

[0019] In addition, the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7, which is also a consumable item, is preferably configured to have a sliding attachment / detachment function so that it can be freely attached and detached from the deodorizing device 30, taking into consideration maintenance and the like. An example of this is shown in FIG. 7. The carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 is inserted from the side of the deodorizing device housing 40 along a guide so as to be inserted into the center inside the deodorizing device 30, and is arranged at a predetermined position. At this time, the side exposed to the outside of the inserted carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 may be adjusted and fixed to match the surface of the outer peripheral surface of the deodorizing device 30 as it is, or it may be inserted into the inside of the deodorizing device 30 from the outer peripheral surface, and other parts may be used as the outer peripheral surface of the deodorizing device 30 so as to cover this. Furthermore, the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 may be fixed to a dedicated part for a guide connected to the inside, and slid into the inside of the deodorizing device 30 together with the dedicated part. In consideration of such attachment and detachment operations, it is preferable to provide a protrusion or recess on a part of the deodorizing device 30 of the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 for hooking a finger or a dedicated removal tool.

[0020] When removing the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 from the deodorizer 30, the reverse operation is performed, for example, by hooking a finger on a protrusion provided on the outer periphery of the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 and applying force, and sliding the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 along a guide from the inside of the center of the deodorizer to the outside of the deodorizer 30. In addition to the sliding method, any method that allows the user to easily and freely attach and detach the mechanism without disassembling the main body of the deodorizer 30 is not particularly limited, and may be fixed with, for example, a few screws. In addition, the carbon dioxide capture mechanism can be replaced with a new or recycled product when it is determined that a predetermined amount has been adsorbed by actually counting the operating time of the deodorizer or the amount of carbon dioxide generated, or at regular intervals, and the replacement timing can be displayed on a monitor provided in the deodorizer.

[0021] 4, the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 is configured to hold, in a housing 10, a solid carbon dioxide adsorbent 8, in which an adsorbent such as an amine capable of adsorbing carbon dioxide is supported on a plurality of porous particles such as ceramics, and to sandwich and hold the adsorbent between metal mesh 9 having openings smaller than the particle size. Considering use in harsh environments and the fact that the carbon dioxide capture mechanism will be heated and the adsorbed carbon dioxide will be re-released, it is particularly desirable that such porous particles be inorganic porous particles formed from an inorganic material with excellent durability.

[0022] By making the carbon dioxide adsorbent 8 solid rather than liquid as in this embodiment, it is possible to significantly reduce the possibility of malfunctions such as leakage of the adsorbent, such as amines, from the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7, and this effect is particularly noticeable in the detachable carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7. In addition, the specific surface area of ​​the adsorbent that comes into contact with odorous components at one time increases, which also promotes deodorizing effects.

[0023] After deodorization by the photocatalyst, the odor components including carbon dioxide pass through the metal mesh 9, where the carbon dioxide is adsorbed and collected by the carbon dioxide adsorbent 8, and is discharged directly from the metal mesh 9 on the opposite side. The amount of carbon dioxide to be collected varies greatly depending on the specifications of the deodorizing device, but this can be adjusted by optimizing the amount of particles in the porous body, the amount of adsorbent carried, the area of ​​the metal mesh 9 that serves as the air intake surface of the carbon dioxide collection mechanism 7, and so on.

[0024] In addition, in consideration of durability against attachment and detachment and weight load, both the metal mesh 9 and the housing 10 are made of metal materials such as aluminum and SUS. Furthermore, the carbon dioxide adsorbed by the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 can be directly supplied as carbon dioxide to, for example, a foliage plant, and the adsorbed carbon dioxide can be re-released by heating the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 to warm the carbon dioxide adsorbent 8. Since a temperature of about 30 to 150°C, more preferably about 50 to 120°C, is required for re-release of carbon dioxide, it is particularly preferable that the housing 10 is made of a metal material such as aluminum or SUS that has sufficient heat resistance and easily transmits heat when heated. In addition, the support is preferably made of a material such as ceramics that has high heat resistance. The shape of the housing 10 may be a cylinder or a square prism, and is not particularly limited, but when heating, a circular shape is preferable because it easily transmits temperature more uniformly.

[0025] (moisture removal mechanism) When decomposing odor components by photocatalysis, moisture may be generated in addition to carbon dioxide. In addition to the moisture originally contained in the air, the carbon dioxide adsorbent 8 such as amines adsorbs moisture in addition to carbon dioxide. In particular, moisture is adsorbed in large amounts in a humid environment, and depending on the type of odor source, moisture may also be generated in large amounts, which may reduce the adsorption rate of carbon dioxide or hasten the saturation of the carbon dioxide adsorbent 8, thereby shortening the life of the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7. Therefore, as shown in the simplified diagram of FIG. 6 as another aspect of this embodiment, after the odor is decomposed by the deodorization mechanism 6 using a photocatalyst, a moisture removal mechanism 11 for reducing moisture may be additionally disposed before the carbon dioxide is adsorbed by the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7. Such a moisture removal mechanism 11 may be composed of, for example, a separation membrane or separation filter that separates moisture, or may be configured to cool a metal plate to which a dedicated cooling pipe is attached or integrally formed by flowing a refrigerant such as water, and to collect the moisture in the odor by condensing it on the metal plate. It is also possible to remove moisture by disposing a desiccant that adsorbs moisture, such as silica gel, or to use a combination of these means. An example is shown in Figure 7, where a cooling plate is provided as moisture removal mechanism 11. This cooling plate is placed facing the direction of exhaust air flow from deodorization mechanism 6, and a flow path extends upward from there, so that odorous components that have passed through deodorization mechanism 6 collide with the cooling plate, facilitating the removal of moisture.

[0026] (Photocatalytic deodorizing device) As shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 5, it is preferable to configure the deodorizing device 30 equipped with the deodorizing mechanism 6 and the carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7 described above, as well as the fan unit 12 for taking in odorous air from the surrounding atmosphere. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the moisture removal mechanism 11 described above is arranged immediately after the deodorizing mechanism 6 of the configuration of FIG. 5. It is preferable to install the fan unit 12 near the intake port 13 or near the exhaust port 14 of the deodorizing device 30, but in this embodiment, it is configured to be arranged before the exhaust port 14. In addition, the air volume of the fan unit 12 can be controlled by controlling the drive voltage, etc. Most odors other than ammonia have a higher specific gravity than air, so the concentration of odorous components is often higher on the floor surface, and it is more efficient to remove odors by arranging the intake port 13 of the deodorizing device 30 closer to the floor surface than the exhaust port 14.

[0027] Odor components taken in from the surrounding atmosphere via air intake 13 by the effect of fan unit 12 are oxidatively decomposed by the photocatalytic filter inside deodorizing mechanism 6. Thereafter, moisture is separated and removed from the deodorized air by moisture removal mechanism 11, and then carbon dioxide generated during photocatalytic deodorization is adsorbed and collected as the air passes through carbon dioxide collection mechanism 7, which is detachable from deodorizing device 30. The air from which the odor and carbon dioxide have been removed is then discharged to the outside of deodorizing device 30 through exhaust port 14 of deodorizing device 30.

[0028] (Photocatalytic filter regeneration mechanism) In the process of deodorization, the decomposition of the photocatalyst filter cannot keep up with the decomposition, and dirt such as oil may adhere to the surface or inside of the filter, resulting in a decrease in the deodorizing power. In this way, it is assumed that there are cases in which it is preferable to wash the photocatalyst filter, but it may be difficult to directly remove the photocatalyst filter 1 from the deodorizing device 30 or the deodorizing mechanism 6, wash it, and then reinstall it in the device after washing due to the structure of the device, and there is also a possibility that the structure of the device may become complicated. To solve this problem, as another aspect of this embodiment, the regeneration mechanism of the photocatalyst filter 1 may be disposed inside the deodorizing device 30, particularly inside the deodorizing mechanism 6. For example, it is possible to remove stubborn dirt of organic components by increasing the photocatalyst ability itself by heating the photocatalyst filter 1 or by increasing the illuminance of the light source unit 3. Such a regeneration process may function as a regeneration mode periodically or when a certain set condition is satisfied. Furthermore, it is also possible to operate the regeneration mode at a timing when the deodorizing mechanism 6 is not in use. In addition, deodorization can be performed in parallel while part of the filter is regenerated.

[0029] Below, examples in which actual measurements were performed on the deodorizing device 30 according to the above-described embodiment will be described.

[0030] (Example 1) Odor source: Aroma Example 1 is a deodorizing device 30 having the configuration shown in Figure 5, in which a photocatalytic filter 1 made by spraying a titanium oxide dispersion onto a glass cloth substrate using anatase-type titanium oxide as a photocatalyst is placed in a deodorizing mechanism 6.

[0031] First, a dispersion liquid was prepared by dispersing powdered titanium oxide in pure water to which a trace amount of surfactant of about 0.01 to 0.05 wt% was added so that the titanium oxide powder was about 1 to 10 wt%. Next, the glass cloth from which the sizing agent that is coated to suppress damage to the fibers and improve handling was removed was cut to a predetermined size, and the entire coating surface of the glass cloth was soaked in pure water, and then the dispersion liquid prepared above was applied by a spray method. In this example, the glass cloth was cut before coating, but it may be cut in the final process after forming a large-area photocatalytic filter. After coating, the prepared filter was left in a 300°C atmosphere for about 30 to 60 minutes to remove unnecessary moisture while baking the photocatalyst on the glass cloth used as the substrate, thereby preparing the photocatalytic filter 1. Here, the same operation may be repeated to apply the same coating two or more times depending on the concentration of the dispersion liquid and the specifications of the photocatalytic filter 1. Glass cloth is suitable because it has excellent heat resistance and is therefore less subject to process restrictions during sintering of the photocatalyst, and the specific surface area can be increased by fluffing each individual fiber.

[0032] As the light source unit 3, a plurality of LEDs 2 having a peak at a wavelength of 365 nm are arranged as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2 and fixed in a position facing the photocatalytic filter 1, and the irradiation distribution of the LEDs 2 and the distance between the photocatalytic filter 1 and the light source unit 3 are optimized so that the entire area of ​​the photocatalytic filter 1 prepared in advance is irradiated with light as evenly as possible. The photocatalytic filter 1 is surrounded by a metal housing 10, which is configured to be sandwiched between a metal mesh 9, and one of the metal meshes 9 is fixed so as to be in close contact with a metal plate slightly larger than the photocatalytic filter 1. With this configuration, the LED light that passes through the photocatalytic filter 1 and is reflected by the metal plate can be used as a light source for exciting the photocatalyst, thereby improving the decomposition efficiency of the photocatalyst. In this embodiment, the photocatalytic filter 1 is fixed by being sandwiched between a fixing member provided on the metal plate, but it may be fixed by a magnet or screwed, for example. In addition, a heater arranged in four series is attached to the metal plate, and the four series can be heated individually as necessary, for example, when regenerating the photocatalytic filter 1. With this configuration, it is possible to heat the entire surface of the photocatalytic filter 1, or, for example, to heat only a quarter of the area while performing photocatalytic deodorization. The temperature can also be changed by changing the current passed through the heater, and it is possible to temporarily stop the deodorizing function in regeneration mode to heat at a high temperature, while heating at a low temperature during photocatalytic deodorization.

[0033] When the odor gas sucked into the deodorizer 30 from the surrounding atmosphere passes between the photocatalyst filter 1 and the light source unit 3, the photocatalyst filter 1 is irradiated with the LED 2, and the odor component is oxidized and decomposed by the photocatalytic effect, and the odor component is discharged from the deodorizer mechanism 6 in a reduced state. On the other hand, although it depends on the odor source and the odor concentration, carbon dioxide is basically generated by the decomposition of the odor component by the photocatalyst, and the carbon dioxide concentration becomes higher than that of the surrounding atmosphere being supplied. Therefore, it is preferable to collect the generated carbon dioxide, and in this embodiment, the carbon dioxide collection mechanism 7 is disposed downstream of the photocatalyst filter 1. The carbon dioxide collection mechanism 7 has a structure as shown in FIG. 4 in which the carbon dioxide adsorbent 8, which is made of a plurality of particles in which an amine-based adsorbent is supported on a γ-alumina porous body, is sandwiched between aluminum metal mesh 9 having openings with a mesh size smaller than the particle size and held in the housing 10. In addition, the carbon dioxide collection mechanism 7, which is also a consumable item, is configured to be freely detachable from the deodorizer 30 by having a sliding detachable structure in consideration of maintenance such as replacement. This allows the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 to be easily replaced with an alternative part when the adsorption effect of the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 becomes saturated or decreases. The carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 may be replaced periodically at a predetermined interval, or the amount of adsorption may be monitored to confirm the timing of replacement. It is also possible to add a function to notify the user of the timing of replacement.

[0034] In addition to the above-mentioned deodorizing mechanism 6 and carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7, a fan unit 12 was placed near the exhaust port 14, and a deodorizing device 30 having an intake port 13 and an exhaust port 14 was fabricated. In order to evaluate the change in the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from the deodorizing device 30 by photocatalytic deodorization, the deodorizing device 30 and an orange essential aroma oil as an odor source were placed in an enclosed space of about 100 liters, and after a certain amount of odor was diffused, only the aroma oil as the odor source was removed from the enclosed space and sealed again, and the state before and after the operation of the deodorizing device 30 was evaluated. The amount of carbon dioxide generated when decomposing odor components was measured using the deodorizing device 30 in a state where the function of the carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7 was removed, and it was confirmed that the change was similar to that of the graph of the aroma oil shown in Figure 3. In addition, as in Figure 3, when the LED was turned off after 60 minutes, the generation of carbon dioxide also stopped at the same time. In contrast, when the carbon dioxide concentration was measured in the same way using the configuration in Figure 5 with the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 operated under the same conditions as above, it was confirmed that the carbon dioxide continued to decrease over time, and after 60 minutes the carbon dioxide concentration itself was below 300 ppm, that is, a value smaller than the initial value of approximately 450 ppm just before LED irradiation, which is the carbon dioxide concentration of the aroma oil at 0 min shown in Figure 3. This shows that by simultaneously absorbing the carbon dioxide generated by photocatalytic deodorization and the carbon dioxide contained in the supplied atmosphere, it is possible for the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 to capture carbon dioxide at a concentration greater than that generated by photocatalytic deodorization.

[0035] (Example 2) Odor source: None An example will be described below in which the deodorizing device 30 was operated on the ambient air without placing an odor source such as aromatic oil, using the same configuration and test conditions as in Example 1.

[0036] As in Example 1, the deodorizer 30 shown in FIG. 5 was placed in a closed space of about 100 liters, and the amount of carbon dioxide generated when the deodorizer 30 was operated with the function of the carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7 removed was measured. The results showed almost the same changes as the graph without an odor source shown in FIG. 3. As in FIG. 5, when the LED was turned off after 60 minutes, the increase in carbon dioxide also stopped. In contrast, when the carbon dioxide concentration was measured in the same manner with the configuration of FIG. 5 in which the carbon dioxide recovery mechanism 7 was operated under the same conditions, the carbon dioxide concentration continued to decrease slightly over time, and after 60 minutes, the carbon dioxide concentration itself was 100 ppm or less, which was confirmed to be significantly decreased from the initial value of about 450 ppm immediately before LED irradiation, which is the carbon dioxide concentration at 0 min without an odor source shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] (Example 3) Odor source: Aroma Moisture removal mechanism An example of a deodorizing device 30 additionally provided with a moisture removing mechanism 11 shown in FIG. 6 under the same test conditions as in Example 1 will be described below.

[0038] The moisture removal mechanism 11 is configured such that a dedicated pipe is attached to the back surface of the metal plate, and a cooling liquid is circulated through the pipe to cool the entire metal plate, and the odorous components are brought into contact with the metal plate, thereby condensing the moisture contained in the odorous components on the metal plate and trapping it. The condensed moisture becomes larger as droplets, and slides down in the direction of gravity and is collected. If you want to increase the efficiency of moisture removal, you can increase the area of ​​the cooling plate. As shown in Figure 6, such a moisture removal mechanism 11 is placed immediately after the deodorizing mechanism 6, and the deodorizing mechanism 6 actively removes water from the odorous components decomposed into carbon dioxide and water, and the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 placed immediately after it captures carbon dioxide more efficiently. Although no clear difference was confirmed in the change in carbon dioxide concentration from Example 1 in a single test, it was confirmed that the humidity of the odorous components immediately before entering the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 decreased. As a result, the amount of moisture absorbed by the carbon dioxide adsorbent 8 placed in the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 decreases, so the time until the carbon dioxide adsorbent 8 absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes saturated is extended, and the carbon dioxide capture mechanism 7 can be extended in life. This also contributes to extending the life of the deodorizing device 30.

[0039] (Example 4) Pt loading As an example of another photocatalytic filter, a photocatalyst was prepared by carrying platinum as a co-catalyst on the titanium oxide photocatalyst used in the present Examples 1 to 3, and spray-coated it on a glass cloth substrate in the same manner as in the present Example 1 to prepare a photocatalytic filter. When the deodorizing power of this photocatalytic filter was evaluated, it was found to be slightly inferior to a photocatalytic filter made of titanium oxide alone. However, since the carried platinum itself has a catalytic effect, it exerts its catalytic effect even when light is not irradiated, so that even when the deodorizing mechanism 6 is not in operation, it can exert an effect, for example, on the natural regeneration of the photocatalytic filter function. By installing this in the deodorizing device 30, a deodorizing device 30 with higher performance can be obtained, and the life of the deodorizing device 30 can be extended.

[0040] The above-described embodiments and examples are merely examples, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, or a plurality of embodiments can be combined for use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Photocatalyst filter 2. LED 3.Light source part 4. Odor 5. Odor 6. Deodorizing mechanism 7. Carbon Dioxide Capture Mechanism 8. Carbon dioxide adsorbent 9. Metal mesh 10. Housing 11.Moisture removal mechanism 12. Fan unit 13. Air intake 14. Exhaust port 30. Deodorizing device 40. Deodorizing device housing

Claims

1. A deodorizing mechanism having a photocatalytic filter formed by dispersing photocatalytic particles on a substrate and a light source disposed in a position facing the photocatalytic filter; a carbon dioxide capture mechanism that captures carbon dioxide generated by irradiating the photocatalytic filter with light from the light source; A deodorizing device comprising: The deodorizing device according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide recovery mechanism is disposed between an air exhaust port of the deodorizing mechanism and an exhaust port of the deodorizing device.

2. The carbon dioxide capture mechanism includes:

2. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, which is detachable from the deodorizing device.

3. The carbon dioxide capture mechanism includes:

3. The deodorizing device according to claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of inorganic porous particles carrying a carbon dioxide adsorbent are sandwiched between a metal mesh having openings smaller than the size of the inorganic porous particles.

4. 4. The deodorizing device according to claim 3, wherein the carbon dioxide adsorbent is an amine type.

5. 5. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, wherein the base material is mainly composed of glass fiber.

6. 5. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, further comprising a moisture removal mechanism for removing moisture discharged from the deodorizing mechanism.

7. The moisture removal mechanism includes:

7. The deodorizing device according to claim 6, further comprising a cooling pipe that is in intimate contact with the metal plate and through which a cooling liquid flows.

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