Water purification filter assembly and water purifier

Abstract

To provide a water purification filter assembly capable of removing PFAS from tap water, and a water purifier having the water purification filter assembly.SOLUTION: A water purification filter assembly F for producing purified water V from tap water W includes a hollow cylindrical filter housing 100 having an inflow part 130 to which the tap water W is supplied and an outflow part 331 for discharging the purified water V to the outside, and a filter module 200 built in the filter housing 100, and the filter module 200 has a PFAS removing agent 240 for removing an organic fluorine compound.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter assembly and a water purifier. More particularly, the present invention relates to a water filter assembly capable of removing PFAS from tap water and a water purifier having the water filter assembly. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Various water purifiers are used as a means for filtering impurities contained in tap water to obtain purified water. Such water purifiers are equipped with a number of filters for filtering tap water.

[0003] PFAS contamination of tap water is becoming a social issue. PFAS is a collective term for over 4,730 types of organic fluorine compounds that are difficult to decompose in nature and accumulate in water. PFAS are also known to be toxic to humans, and international treaties are being enacted to eliminate and restrict their use. Among PFAS, PFOS and PFOA have the properties of repelling water and oil and being stable against heat, and have been used in fire extinguishing agents, coating agents for frying pans, etc. In Japan, the production and import of PFOS and PFOA will be prohibited in principle by 2021. Surveys of rivers and groundwater conducted in fiscal 2021 detected high concentrations of PFAS (PFOS, PFOA) exceeding target levels at 81 locations in 13 prefectures. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-017890 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The water treatment device in Patent Document 1 removes PFAS from drinking water stored in a water tank and purifies it. However, the water treatment device of Patent Document 1 is a large-scale device that is mounted on a transport vehicle, and it is difficult to apply it to a water purifier. In addition, the method of removing PFAS from tap water using a water purifier requires that a filter assembly be delivered to the user, who then replaces the filter assembly in the water purifier.

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a water purification filter assembly that can remove PFAS from tap water and a water purifier that has this water purification filter assembly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a water purification filter assembly for producing purified water from tap water, the water purification filter assembly including: a hollow cylindrical filter housing having an inlet port to which tap water is supplied and an outlet port through which purified water is discharged to the outside; and a filter module incorporated in the filter housing, wherein the filter module contains a PFAS removal agent that removes organofluorine compounds.

[0008] The filter module includes a hollow cylindrical outer carbon filter, a hollow cylindrical screen filter disposed inside the outer carbon filter, and a hollow cylindrical inner carbon filter disposed inside the screen filter, and is characterized in that the PFAS removal agent is filled in an outlet flow path inside the inner carbon filter that communicates with the outlet port.

[0009] The PFAS removal agent is packaged in a nonwoven fabric pack and filled and arranged downstream of the outflow channel.

[0010] In a water purifier equipped with a water purification filter assembly, the water purification filter assembly is the water purification filter puller assembly. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The water purification filter assembly of the present invention and a water purifier having this water purification filter assembly can reliably remove PFAS from tap water. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a water purification filter assembly F of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the water purification filter assembly F. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the water purification filter assembly F. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the water purification filter assembly F. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view (section AA) of the water purification filter assembly F. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 shows a filter module 200. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the filter module 200. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, a water filter and a water purifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] [Water Purification Filter Assembly F] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a water purification filter assembly F of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the water purification filter assembly F. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the water purification filter assembly F. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the water purification filter assembly F.

[0015] The water purification filter assembly F is detachably attached to a water purifier (not shown) to produce purified water V from tap water W. By replacing the water purification filter assembly F, the water purification function of the water purifier can be maintained.

[0016] The water purification filter assembly F is composed of a filter housing 100 and a filter module 200 housed in the filter housing 100. The filter housing 100 comprises a hollow cylindrical housing body 110 and a housing lid 120 that covers the upper side of the housing body 110 to close it. Between the outer wall of the filter housing 100 and the filter module 200, a supply passage 140 is formed through which drinking water such as tap water W is supplied.

[0017] A pipe-shaped inlet 130 for introducing tap water W into the filter housing 100 is formed on the lower surface of the housing body 110 that closes the lower side. The inlet portion 130 is formed to protrude downward from the center of the underside of the housing body 110. The inlet portion 130 has a ring-shaped step formed in the center, a through-hole formed inside the step to serve as an inlet passage for tap water, and two O-ring insertion grooves formed side by side on the outside of the step.

[0018] [Filter module 200] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a filter module 200. As shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the filter module 200.

[0019] The filter module 200 includes a filter lid portion 300 and a filter group. The filter lid unit 300 is made up of an upper lid 310 that forms the upper surface and a lower lid 330 that forms the lower surface, and a group of filters are arranged between the upper lid 310 and the lower lid 330.

[0020] A protrusion 311 for supporting the filter group is formed on the upper cover 310 so as to protrude downward from the center of the lower surface. This protrusion 311 fits into a hollow portion (outflow channel 250) of the inner carbon filter 230, which will be described later.

[0021] The lower cover 330 is formed with an inner lower cover 320 that supports the filter group and a pipe-shaped outlet part 331 that allows purified water V to flow out. The outlet portion 331 is formed to protrude downward from the center of the lower surface of the inner lower cover 320. The outlet portion 331 is inserted into the inlet portion 130, and its lower end is positioned at the same position as the lower end of the inlet portion 130. In other words, the outlet portion 331 is positioned concentrically with the inlet portion 130. As a result, the outlet portion 331 also functions as a part of the filter housing 100.

[0022] The filter group consists of an outer carbon filter 210, a screen filter 220, and an inner carbon filter 230, all of which are formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. The screen filter 220 is disposed inside the outer carbon filter 210, and the inner carbon filter 230 is disposed inside the screen filter 220.

[0023] A nonwoven fabric 212 is wrapped around the outer periphery of the outer carbon filter 210 . The screen filter 220 is a filter made of a filter material having many fine cavities, and for example, a hollow fiber membrane filter or a reverse osmosis membrane (RO membrane) filter can be used. The hollow portion (inside) of the inner carbon filter 230 functions as an outflow passage 250 that communicates with the outflow portion 331 .

[0024] Furthermore, a PFAS removing agent 240 is disposed in the outlet flow path 250 (the hollow portion of the inner carbon filter 230). The PFAS removing agent 240 is packaged in a packaging pack (a nonwoven bag) and disposed on the downstream side of the outlet flow path 250. The PFAS removing agent 240 is filled and disposed so as to fill at least the downstream side of the outlet flow path 250.

[0025] [PFAS Removal Agent 240] PFAS Removal Agent 240 is an additive that removes organic fluorine compounds. PFAS Removal Agent 240 is a plant-derived adsorbent made from beta-cyclodextrin and is formulated into powder or granules. There is widespread concern about the effects of PFAS in drinking water on human health, with PFOA, PFOS, and other anionic (negatively charged) PFAS compounds receiving the most attention. The PFAS removal agent 240 has uniform nano-level cyclodextrin cavities and can reliably remove PFAS from drinking water (tap water W) through hydrophobic interactions with PFAS. As the PFAS removal agent 240, for example, DEXSORB adsorbent from Cyclopure Corporation can be used.

[0026] [Water purification process] Next, the process of purifying tap water using the water purification filter assembly F will be described. Tap water W supplied from the outside flows into the filter housing 100 through the space between the inlet 130 and the outlet 331 . Tap water W is guided by lower lid 330 of filter module 200 to supply passage 140 on the outer periphery of filter housing 100. Then, supply passage 140 of filter housing 100 is filled with tap water W, and filter module 200 is immersed in tap water W. Then, the tap water W flows through the nonwoven fabric 212 , the outer carbon filter 210 , the screen filter 220 and the inner carbon filter 230 and into the outflow channel 250 . This removes chlorine, organic substances, and odors contained in the tap water W. Various bacteria and substances harmful to the human body remaining in the tap water W are also removed, purifying the water.

[0027] Then, the tap water W flows from the outflow channel 250 toward the outflow section 331. At this time, the tap water W immerses the PFAS removing agent 240 filled and arranged in the outflow channel 250. By passing through the PFAS removing agent 240, PFASs such as PFOA and PFOS are completely removed from the tap water W (becoming purified water V). The purified water V from which PFAS has been removed is discharged to the outside via the outlet 331.

[0028] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In other words, the specific shapes and configurations given in the embodiments are merely examples, and can be modified as appropriate.

[0029] The filter group (nonwoven fabric 212, outer carbon filter 210, screen filter 220, inner carbon filter 230) of filter module 200 is an example. That is, the configuration (materials) and arrangement of the filter group of filter module 200 can be set as desired. Filters in the form of thread-wound filters, pleated filters, etc. may also be used.

[0030] In this embodiment, the PFAS removing agent 240 is packaged in a packaging pack (nonwoven bag) and placed downstream of the outflow channel 250, but this is just one example. Instead of the packaging pack, nonwoven fabric or the like may be placed at the lower end of the outflow channel 250 or the outflow section 331. In the present embodiment, the PFAS removal agent 240 is arranged to fill the downstream side of the outlet flow path 250, but this is just one example. The PFAS removal agent 240 may also be arranged to fill the outlet flow path 250 without any gaps.

[0031] In this embodiment, the PFAS removal agent 240 is disposed downstream of the filter module 200, but this is just one example. The PFAS removal agent 240 may be disposed upstream or midstream of the filter module 200. A filter in which the PFAS removal agent 240 is mixed with carbon or the like may also be used.

[0032] In this embodiment, the outlet portion 331 and the inlet portion 130 are arranged concentrically, but this is just an example. The outlet portion 331 and the inlet portion 130 may be arranged at different positions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] F. Water filter assembly 100 filter housing 110 Housing body 120 Housing lid 130 Inlet 140 Supply passage 200 Filter Module 210 outer carbon filter 212 Nonwoven fabric 220 Screen Filter 230 Inner carbon filter 240 PFAS removal agent 250 Outlet 300 Filter lid 310 Upper lid 311 Protrusion 320 Internal lower lid 330 Lower lid 331 Outlet W Tap water, drinking water V Purified Water

Claims

1. A water purification filter assembly for producing purified water from tap water, The water purification filter assembly includes: a hollow cylindrical filter housing having an inlet to which tap water is supplied and an outlet through which purified water is discharged to the outside; a filter module housed in the filter housing; Including, The water purification filter assembly, wherein the filter module contains a PFAS remover that removes organic fluorine compounds.

2. The filter module comprises: a hollow cylindrical outer carbon filter; a hollow cylindrical screen filter disposed inside the outer carbon filter; a hollow cylindrical inner carbon filter disposed inside the screen filter; Including, 2. The water purification filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the PFAS remover is filled in an outlet passage inside the inner carbon filter, the outlet passage communicating with the outlet port.

3. The water purification filter assembly according to claim 2, wherein the PFAS remover is packed in a nonwoven bag and placed downstream of the outlet flow path.

4. In a water purifier equipped with a water purification filter assembly, The water purifier, wherein the water purification filter assembly is the water purification filter assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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