Disinfection material, water purification method, air purification method, and method for determining disinfection material replacement timing

Abstract

The present invention provides a disinfection material for purifying water and / or air. Specifically provided is a disinfection material 100 that contains foam glass 101 and a photocatalyst 102.

Description

Disinfecting materials, water purification methods, air purification methods, and methods for determining when to replace disinfecting materials

[0001] The present invention relates to a disinfecting material for purifying water or air, a water purification method, an air purification method, or a method for determining the timing of replacing the disinfecting material.

[0002] Sterilization methods using photocatalysts have been known for some time. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2021-037285 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technology for sterilizing air. Patent Document 1 provides a photocatalyst device that includes a housing, a photocatalyst unit that is disposed inside the housing and includes a photocatalyst, a light for providing light to the photocatalyst, and a fan for blowing air over the surface of the photocatalyst. The photocatalyst unit is configured to be removable from the housing.

[0003] International Publication No. 2018 / 123456 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technology for sterilizing water used in a humidifier. Patent Document 2 provides a humidifier that includes a photocatalyst placed in an area for storing water, a light that irradiates the photocatalyst with light, and an ultrasonic unit that atomizes the water that has passed through the photocatalyst.

[0004] JP 2021-037285 A International Publication No. 2018 / 123456 Pamphlet

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a disinfecting material, a water purification method, an air purification method, or a method for determining the timing of replacing the disinfecting material, which is easy to use for purifying water and / or air.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disinfecting material comprising foam glass and a photocatalyst.

[0007] As described above, the present invention provides a disinfecting material, a water purification method, an air purification method, or a method for determining the timing to replace the disinfecting material that is easy to use for purifying water and / or air.

[0008] 1 is a photograph of the disinfecting material according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a photograph of the disinfecting material according to the first embodiment in a state where light is irradiated from below; FIG. 3 is a photograph showing a state where a large number of disinfecting materials according to the first embodiment are floating on a pond; and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for determining the timing of replacing and cleaning the disinfecting material according to the first embodiment.

[0009] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of the components are also the same. [First embodiment]

[0010] First, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a disinfecting material 100 according to this embodiment is composed of foam glass 101 and a photocatalyst 102 coated on the surface thereof.

[0011] The foam glass 101 is preferably produced by foaming a colorless and transparent glass. The size of the foam glass 101 is preferably a sphere or cube of several centimeters square.

[0012] By adjusting the foaming rate, the specific gravity of the sterilizing material 100 becomes 1.0 g / cm ３ Preferably, the specific gravity of the sterilizing material 100 is less than 0.3 g / cm ３ greater than 0.7 g / cm ３ More preferably, the specific gravity of the disinfecting material 100 is 0.4 g / cm ３ greater than 0.5 g / cm ３ is smaller than.

[0013] Furthermore, the foam glass 101 is configured so that the effective transmittance of light with a wavelength of 450 nm or less is 75% or more by adjusting the foaming rate.

[0014] The semiconductor photocatalyst 102 is made of titanium oxide, or alternatively, the semiconductor photocatalyst 102 is a mixture of titanium oxide and tungsten oxide.

[0015] In this embodiment, a liquid containing photocatalyst 102 is applied to the surface of foamed glass 101 and then dried. However, foamed glass 101 may also be coated with photocatalyst 102 by immersing it in a liquid containing photocatalyst 102.

[0016] As a result, the disinfecting material 100 according to this embodiment can be used by floating it in a pond or aquarium, as shown in FIG. 3 . When the disinfecting material 100 is exposed to sunlight or lighting (such as LED), the photocatalyst on its surface is activated, allowing it to disinfect the air above and the water below. Depending on its specific gravity, the disinfecting material 100 can disinfect the air below and around itself, as well as the water above and around itself. Specifically, it can decompose harmful substances (pesticides and antibiotics) and reduce bacteria.

[0017] Furthermore, since irradiation of the water with ultraviolet rays can be suppressed, bromate can be suppressed, algae growth can be suppressed, and water evaporation can also be suppressed.

[0018] In the above embodiment, the surface of the foamed glass 101 is coated with the photocatalyst 102. However, the semiconductor photocatalyst 102 may be mixed into the glass 101 before foaming.

[0019] For example, the photocatalyst 102 before foaming contains titanium oxide or tungsten oxide. Then, the glass 101 containing the photocatalyst 102 may be foamed.

[0020] Alternatively, a titanium compound or a tungsten compound may be contained in the glass 101 before foaming, and then the glass 101 may be foamed to finally realize the foam glass 101 containing the photocatalyst 102. [Third embodiment]

[0021] Furthermore, a fluorescent material may be applied to or mixed into the surface of the disinfecting material 100. For example, a fluorescent material may be applied to the foam glass 101 at the same time as the photocatalyst 102.

[0022] The fluorescent material emits fluorescence of around 550 nm when light of a wavelength of 450 nm or less is irradiated onto the surface of the disinfecting material 100, and this fluorescence is measured. For example, LED light of 405 nm may also be irradiated.

[0023] Here, the relationship between contamination and fluorescence intensity can be expressed by the following equation, which is similar to Beer's law for light absorption: -log I / I0=kC I0: Initial fluorescence intensity I: Fluorescence intensity after use K: Constant specific to contamination (in Beer's law, it is a constant specific to the solute) C: Degree of contamination (in Beer's law, it is the concentration of the solute)

[0024] By utilizing this property, when the amount of fluorescence is low, it is possible to know that the disinfecting material 100 is dirty and the timing for replacement or cleaning.

[0025] Hereinafter, the procedure for determining the degree of soiling of the disinfecting material 100 and the timing for replacement or cleaning will be described with reference to FIG.

[0026] First, the user irradiates the disinfecting material 100 before use with light using an LED light (step S102).

[0027] The user measures the amount of fluorescence from the disinfecting material 100 using a light quantity measuring device (step S104).

[0028] After a predetermined period of time, for example, one week or one month, has elapsed (step S106), the user again uses the LED light to irradiate the sterilizing material 100 with light (step S108).

[0029] The user measures the amount of fluorescence from the disinfecting material 100 using a light quantity measuring device (step S110).

[0030] The amount of fluorescence is compared with the amount of fluorescence before use and a determination is made as to whether the amount of fluorescence has decreased by a predetermined percentage or more (step S112). For example, the user determines whether the amount of fluorescence has decreased to 1 / 10 or less of the amount before use.

[0031] If the amount of fluorescence has decreased by more than a predetermined percentage (YES in step S112), the user replaces the disinfecting material 100 with a new one or cleans the surface of the disinfecting material 100 (step S114).

[0032] If the amount of fluorescence has not decreased by more than the predetermined rate (NO in step S112), the procedure from step S106 is repeated again. [Fourth embodiment]

[0033] Note that a phosphor may be included in glass 101 before foaming. For example, foam glass 101 containing a phosphor or sterilization material 100 may be produced by foaming glass from a used fluorescent tube. [Summary]

[0034] In the above embodiment, a disinfecting material including foam glass and a photocatalyst is provided.

[0035] Preferably, the photocatalyst is applied to the surface of the foam glass.

[0036] Preferably, the photocatalyst comprises titanium oxide or a mixture of titanium oxide and tungsten oxide.

[0037] Preferably, the photocatalyst is titanium oxide and / or tungsten oxide that is mixed into the glass prior to forming the foam glass.

[0038] Preferably, the photocatalyst comes from a titanium compound and / or a tungsten compound that is mixed into the glass prior to forming the foam glass.

[0039] Preferably, the disinfecting material further comprises a phosphor.

[0040] Preferably, the foam glass is made from waste fluorescent tubes.

[0041] Preferably, the sterilizing material has a specific gravity of 1.0 / cm ３ is less than.

[0042] Preferably, the foam glass has a transmittance of 75% or more for light having a wavelength of 450 nm or less.

[0043] In the above embodiment, a method for purifying water using a disinfecting material is provided.

[0044] In the above embodiment, a method for purifying air using a disinfecting material is provided.

[0045] In the above embodiment, a method for determining the timing of replacing a disinfecting material is provided, which includes a step of determining the timing of replacement or cleaning by measuring the amount of fluorescence from the disinfecting material.

[0046] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0047] 100: Sterilization material 101: Foam glass 102: Semiconductor photocatalyst

Claims

1. A disinfecting material comprising foam glass and a photocatalyst.

2. The disinfecting material according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is applied to the surface of the foam glass.

3. The disinfecting material according to claim 2, wherein the photocatalyst contains titanium oxide or a mixture of titanium oxide and tungsten oxide.

4. The disinfecting material according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is titanium oxide and / or tungsten oxide mixed into the glass before forming the foam glass.

5. The disinfecting material according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is produced from a titanium compound and / or a tungsten compound that is mixed into the glass before forming the foam glass.

6. The disinfecting material according to claim 1, further comprising a fluorescent substance.

7. The disinfecting material according to claim 6, wherein the foam glass is made from waste fluorescent tubes.

8. Specific gravity is 1.0 / cm ３ The disinfecting material according to claim 1, wherein the denaturing agent is less than 100%.

9. The sterilization material according to claim 1, wherein the foam glass has a transmittance of 75% or more for light with wavelengths of 450 nm or less.

10. A method for purifying water using the disinfecting material according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A method for purifying air using the disinfecting material according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A method for determining the timing of replacing a disinfecting material, comprising a step of determining the timing of replacement or cleaning by measuring the amount of fluorescence of the disinfecting material according to claim 6 or 7.

Images