To provide a method and an apparatus for producing artificial seawater.

Abstract

To provide a method for producing artificial seawater, capable of reducing labor of a breeder or a staff of an aquarium facility or the like, and capable of being prepared in a short time.SOLUTION: A method for producing artificial seawater according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step of preparing near-saturated salt water, a step of diluting the near-saturated salt water, and a step of dissolving trace components other than NaCl in the near-saturated salt water, wherein the trace components include at least magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, and sulfate ions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing artificial seawater and an apparatus for producing artificial seawater. [Background technology]

[0002] Aquariums have been gaining attention in recent years as recreational facilities that provide entertainment and relaxation to visitors. Because aquariums require large amounts of seawater to operate, they have traditionally been built in coastal areas and used to raise saltwater fish using natural seawater.

[0003] However, in recent years, there has been an increase in the construction of aquariums in urban areas and inland areas far from the sea, as well as aquariums built into commercial facilities. Aquariums far from the sea also use transported seawater, in which seawater is taken from distant locations and brought in by ship or truck, but this has problems such as high transportation costs and limited storage capacity. For this reason, facilities in areas far from the coast are increasingly using artificial seawater to operate their aquariums.

[0004] Because artificial seawater is artificially prepared to mimic the composition of seawater, it does not have the problem of limited environments where it can be taken, as is the case with natural seawater, and can be prepared inland. Furthermore, natural seawater has issues such as being affected by the natural environment, such as changes in the salinity of seawater after heavy rain, and water quality issues such as the possibility of the inclusion of microplastics and pathogens in seawater, but these issues can be resolved by using artificial seawater.

[0005] Furthermore, the salinity can be adjusted as needed to accommodate a variety of organisms, and since it can be prepared without containing unnecessary components found in natural seawater, the water quality can be stabilized, making it more transparent and allowing the breeding tank to be kept clean. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-333849 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Artificial seawater is generally prepared by dissolving a solid artificial seawater base in water, allowing for the production of seawater anywhere. Therefore, solid artificial seawater base can be transported to facilities such as aquariums, significantly reducing transportation costs compared to transporting seawater. Furthermore, artificial seawater base can be stockpiled for emergencies such as typhoons, ensuring a stable supply of water for breeding.

[0008] Operating an aquarium using artificial seawater as described above has many advantages over using natural seawater in terms of geographical location, storage properties, etc. As a method for producing artificial seawater, for example, an artificial seawater production system described in Patent Document 1 (JP 2006-333849 A) ​​is known. In the artificial seawater production system described in Patent Document 1, concentrated artificial seawater is first produced in a concentrate tank, and then the concentrate is transferred to an adjustment tank where it is diluted and adjusted to artificial seawater of a predetermined concentration. By providing a concentrate tank and an adjustment tank, it is said that a sufficient supply of artificial seawater can be ensured in a smaller installation space than when artificial seawater is produced from the beginning.

[0009] However, dissolving artificial seawater base in tap water or other water sources to produce artificial seawater (or concentrated artificial seawater) places a burden on the caretakers and staff. Generally, 3% to 3.5% of the artificial seawater base must be added to the amount of freshwater needed to produce the desired amount of artificial seawater, which takes a long time to dissolve. Furthermore, dissolving artificial seawater base at a high concentration can cause cloudiness due to reactions between trace components, making it impossible to dissolve it at a high concentration. In other words, the series of steps of adding the artificial seawater base, stirring it, and dissolving it completely is a heavy workload and requires a lot of time for keepers and staff, so the problem is how to prepare the artificial seawater as quickly as possible within the limited working hours of keepers and staff.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing artificial seawater that can reduce the workload of breeders and staff and can be prepared in a short time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A method for producing artificial seawater according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: providing a near-saturated saltwater solution; diluting the near-saturated saltwater; adding trace components other than NaCl to the near-saturated salt water; and The trace components include at least magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, and sulfate ions.

[0012] The artificial seawater producing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a saltwater reservoir for storing near-saturated saltwater; a preparation tank for diluting the near-saturated saltwater and adding trace components other than NaCl to prepare artificial seawater; Equipped with The trace components include at least magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, and sulfate ions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, a method for producing artificial seawater can be provided that reduces the workload of breeders and staff and allows for the preparation of artificial seawater in a short period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of an apparatus for producing artificial seawater according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] As a result of extensive research into solving the above problems, the inventors discovered that by first preparing nearly saturated saltwater, diluting it, and then adding trace components other than NaCl, it is possible to shorten the time it takes to dissolve the salt itself and significantly reduce the amount of work required to add artificial seawater base, thereby reducing the burden on workers. Hereinafter, a method for producing artificial seawater and an apparatus for producing artificial seawater according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. In this invention, artificial seawater refers to a liquid artificially prepared to mimic the composition of seawater, or the powder that is the basis for such a liquid. It is defined as simulated seawater that contains essential components such as sodium ions and chloride ions, which are the main components of seawater, as well as magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sulfate ions, and bicarbonate ions, and further contains necessary ions depending on the purpose of use, and has an osmotic pressure and pH approximately equivalent to that of natural seawater.

[0016] An example of an apparatus 10 for producing artificial seawater according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 for producing artificial seawater has at least a saltwater storage tank 11 and a preparation tank 12. If necessary, the apparatus 10 may also be provided with a nearly saturated saltwater producing device 13 that can automatically produce nearly saturated saltwater. Nearly saturated saltwater refers to an aqueous solution with a salt (NaCl) concentration of 24 mass % or more at the measurement temperature.

[0017] A method for producing artificial seawater according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of preparing nearly saturated saltwater, diluting the nearly saturated saltwater, and adding trace components other than NaCl to the nearly saturated saltwater. The trace components include at least magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, and sulfate ions.

[0018] (Preparing nearly saturated saltwater) The method for preparing near-saturated salt water is not particularly limited, and various known methods can be used. For example, near-saturated salt water can be prepared by supplying and dissolving an excess amount of salt (NaCl) that exceeds the amount that can be dissolved in fresh water at a predetermined water temperature (e.g., approximately 20°C to 25°C), and then removing only the supernatant so that no salt precipitate is contained. Near-saturated salt water can be produced by an operator as needed, or by using an automatic device. Naturally, by using a near-saturated salt water production device that can automatically produce near-saturated salt water, the burden on the operator can be significantly reduced.

[0019] The artificial seawater production apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1 is an example equipped with a nearly saturated saltwater production apparatus 13 capable of automatically producing nearly saturated saltwater. A preferred example of a nearly saturated saltwater production apparatus is the nearly saturated saltwater production apparatus equipped with an upflow dissolution tank described in Utility Model Registration No. 3080948. A commercially available product that can be used is, for example, the multipurpose agitator "Shiomaru" manufactured by Ishimura Kogyo Co., Ltd.

[0020] In an upflow dissolution tank, after salt is supplied, water is allowed to flow from the bottom at a constant speed, causing nearly saturated brine to overflow from the top, automatically producing nearly saturated brine. This nearly saturated brine can then be stored in the brine storage tank 11.

[0021] Near-saturated saltwater prepared in advance as described above is stored in the saltwater storage tank 11, and an appropriate amount of near-saturated saltwater is extracted and used when producing artificial seawater, thereby shortening the time required to produce artificial seawater. Furthermore, by supplying the salt to the near-saturated brine production equipment at the same time as transporting it, only trace components need to be stocked as raw materials for the artificial seawater, which reduces the storage space required for raw materials within the facility.

[0022] (Process of diluting near-saturated saltwater) This step involves diluting the nearly saturated saltwater prepared in the step of preparing nearly saturated saltwater with fresh water to a predetermined salt concentration. In the artificial seawater production apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1, when producing artificial seawater, a certain amount of nearly saturated saltwater stored in a saltwater storage tank 11 is transferred to a preparation tank 12, and fresh water is supplied to this tank to dilute the nearly saturated saltwater.

[0023] The salt concentration at which the near-saturated saltwater is diluted can be changed as appropriate depending on the intended use of the artificial seawater. For example, the artificial seawater can be diluted to a salt concentration suitable for the growth of the aquatic organisms to be reared. In general, fresh water is added for dilution so that the salt concentration is approximately 3.0% to 3.5% by mass. The amount of salt contained in the near-saturated saltwater can be calculated by measuring the specific gravity of the near-saturated saltwater.

[0024] (Step of adding trace elements to near-saturated saltwater) In this step, trace elements other than NaCl are added to the nearly saturated saltwater prepared in the step of preparing nearly saturated saltwater described above or to a diluted solution of the nearly saturated saltwater. In the artificial seawater production apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1, fresh water is supplied to the nearly saturated saltwater in the preparation tank 12, and the trace elements are added to the diluted aqueous solution.

[0025] The step of diluting the nearly saturated saltwater and the step of adding trace elements to the nearly saturated saltwater may be performed separately or simultaneously. If they are performed simultaneously, it is preferable to add the trace elements after a certain amount of fresh water has been supplied to increase the volume of the dilution water. This allows the trace elements to dissolve more quickly.

[0026] As described above, the trace elements include at least calcium ions, magnesium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, sulfate ions, and bicarbonate ions. The other trace elements and their contents can be appropriately changed depending on the intended use of the artificial seawater. That is, as in the case of adjusting the salinity concentration described above, the artificial seawater may contain trace elements at appropriate concentrations suitable for the growth of the aquatic organisms to be reared. For example, the artificial seawater may contain various minerals and vitamins other than those contained in natural seawater. The amounts of trace elements added are not particularly limited and may be adjusted as appropriate depending on the intended use of the artificial seawater. The concentrations of each element in the trace elements may be, for example, 2.7% to 3.3% by mass of calcium ions, 12.1% to 12.3% by mass of magnesium ions, 3.2% to 3.7% by mass of potassium ions, 0.51% to 0.52% by mass of sodium ions, 22.1% to 24.9% by mass of sulfate ions, 1.23% to 1.26% by mass of bicarbonate ions, and 26.2% to 27.2% by mass of chloride ions, relative to the total mass of the trace elements.

[0027] Furthermore, trace elements may be added to the nearly saturated saltwater or its diluted solution in powder form or in the form of an aqueous solution. When added in the form of an aqueous solution, for example, powdered trace elements dissolved in water can be used. Adding trace elements in the form of an aqueous solution has the advantage of being easy to mix with the nearly saturated saltwater or its aqueous solution, but has the disadvantage of taking up space to store the trace elements. The amount of trace components added is approximately 1% by mass relative to the amount of artificial seawater to be produced, so even if they are in powder form, they can be dissolved relatively quickly.

[0028] Artificial seawater can be easily produced through the steps described above. In the artificial seawater production apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1, artificial seawater is produced in a preparation tank 12. The artificial seawater can be transported in an appropriate amount to an appropriate location depending on the purpose.

[0029] The embodiment of the method for producing artificial seawater of the present invention is as follows. (1) A method for producing artificial seawater, comprising: providing a near-saturated saltwater solution; diluting the near-saturated saltwater; adding trace components other than NaCl to the near-saturated salt water; and The trace components include at least magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, and sulfate ions. How to make artificial seawater. (2) The trace elements are added in powder form to the near-saturated saltwater; A method for producing artificial seawater according to (1) above. (3) The trace elements are added to the near-saturated saltwater in the form of an aqueous solution. A method for producing artificial seawater according to (1) above. (4) The nearly saturated salt water is prepared by a nearly saturated salt water production device capable of automatically producing nearly saturated salt water. A method for producing artificial seawater according to (1) above.

[0030] The embodiment of the artificial seawater producing apparatus of the present invention is as follows. (5) a brine reservoir for storing near-saturated brine; a preparation tank for diluting the near-saturated saltwater and adding trace components other than NaCl to prepare artificial seawater; Equipped with The trace components include at least magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, and sulfate ions. Artificial seawater production equipment. (6) Further provided with a brine producing device capable of automatically producing the nearly saturated brine, The apparatus for producing artificial seawater according to (5) above. [Example]

[0031] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0032] [Example] Near-saturated saltwater was diluted and trace elements were added to measure the time required to prepare artificial seawater. 500 g of near-saturated brine (25.4% by mass sodium chloride solution) at 20°C was placed in a 5 L beaker and tap water at 20°C was added to make up to 5 L. A stirrer (As One P-3) with a stirring rod equipped with blades (two blades: 20 mm flat plate, 50 mm long) adjusted to a position 10 mm from the bottom of the beaker was placed in this 5 L beaker, and 49 g of trace components was added while stirring at 200 rpm. Visual observation showed that it took 9 minutes for the minor components to completely dissolve. The component values ​​(g / L) of the obtained artificial seawater are shown in Table 1 under "Examples."

[0033] [Comparative Example] As a conventional method, the time required for existing artificial seawater to dissolve was measured under the same conditions as in the examples. Five liters of tap water at 20°C was placed in a 5-liter beaker, and the stirrer was set as in the example. While stirring at 200 rpm, 175 g of existing artificial seawater "Marine Standard" was added. Visual observation showed that it took 18 minutes for the existing artificial seawater to completely dissolve. It was confirmed that the preparation time of artificial seawater can be shortened in the present embodiment compared to the conventional method, suggesting that this can reduce the workload of workers when producing large amounts of artificial seawater. The component values ​​(g / L) of the obtained artificial seawater are shown in Table 1 under "Comparative Example."

[0034] [Table 1] [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10. Artificial seawater production equipment 11 Saltwater Reservoir 12 Preparation tank 13 Near-saturated saltwater production equipment

Claims

1. A method for producing artificial seawater, comprising: Providing near-saturated saltwater; diluting the near-saturated saltwater; adding trace components other than NaCl to the near-saturated salt water; and The trace components include at least magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, and sulfate ions. How to make artificial seawater.

2. The trace elements are added to the near-saturated saltwater in powder form. The method for producing artificial seawater according to claim 1.

3. The trace elements are added to the near-saturated saltwater in the form of an aqueous solution. The method for producing artificial seawater according to claim 1.

4. The nearly saturated salt water is prepared by a nearly saturated salt water producing device capable of automatically producing nearly saturated salt water. The method for producing artificial seawater according to claim 1.

5. a saltwater reservoir for storing near-saturated saltwater; a preparation tank for diluting the nearly saturated saltwater and adding trace components other than NaCl to prepare artificial seawater; Equipped with The trace components include at least magnesium ions, calcium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, chloride ions, bicarbonate ions, and sulfate ions. Artificial seawater production equipment.

6. Further provided is a brine producing device capable of automatically producing the nearly saturated brine. The apparatus for producing artificial seawater according to claim 5.

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