JP2008539836A - Method and apparatus for purifying, sterilizing and disinfecting tableware and other kitchen utensils - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention relates to a method for cleaning, disinfecting and disinfecting dishes and other kitchen utensils with a cleaning liquid (5). In order to allow an economical and technically advantageous cleaning, current is directly applied to the electrodes (15, 16) which are arranged in the cleaning liquid (5) and realized as diamond and / or lead tin electrodes. OH radicals (14) are generated in the cleaning liquid (5), and the OH radicals can clean, sterilize and disinfect dishes and other kitchenware. The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein an electrolytic cell (20) having an electrode pair (15, 16) comprising a diamond electrode for generating OH radicals (14) comprises a dishwasher ( It relates to an apparatus that is directly integrated in the washing water circuit of 1).

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for purifying, disinfecting and disinfecting tableware and other kitchen utensils according to the generic definition of claim 1 and to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

  Methods and apparatus for purifying various forms of household items, tableware or other kitchen utensils are known. In order to achieve good cleaning and cleanliness of the articles to be cleaned, their surfaces must be free of contamination, bacteria or bacteria. This can be done in a relatively simple manner, for example by washing with household appliances or electric dishwashers. For this purpose, dirty dishes come into contact with the cleaning liquid in the dishwasher.

  Dirty articles or dishes are first placed in a dishwasher. And specifically, tap water or household water and detergents, for example in the form of powder or liquid, are added. By means of the heating element, for example by a preselected program, the water or cleaning liquid is brought to the required temperature or the cleaning liquid or water is mixed with the detergent. A chemical or physical degradation process can then be carried out, for example, contamination, bacteria and bacteria are removed from the surface of the dish to be cleaned, or they are transferred to a cleaning solution. After the actual cleaning operation, the surface of the dishes or kitchen utensils can be rinsed, for example with pure water. The washing or drying operation has been completed after drying of the dishes or kitchen utensils thus treated or purified.

  The object of the present invention is to make it possible to further improve the purification of household articles, tableware etc. or other kitchen utensils or to provide a method or apparatus which can be advantageously carried out in terms of economic and technical aspects. is there.

  This problem is solved by claims 1 and 11.

  Variations of the means of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

  The present invention is primarily based on a method of cleaning, sterilizing and disinfecting dishes and other kitchenware with a cleaning liquid. One essential aspect of the present invention is that OH radicals are generated in the cleaning liquid by direct application of electric current to electrodes arranged in the cleaning liquid and realized as diamond and / or lead tin electrodes. The fact is that it is possible to clean, sterilize and disinfect dishes and other kitchenware. This ensures effective and reliable purification or sterilization and disinfection of tableware and kitchenware. In particular, large amounts of OH radicals can be generated by the method according to the invention or with the help of the proposed electrode. Specifically, the generated OH radicals can make the purification process feasible without detergents or without any cleaning additives that were previously necessary. It is particularly advantageous that water or drinking water is sufficient as the cleaning liquid, from which OH radicals are generated by the proposed electrode. OH radicals are distinguished by their high activity and reaction or oxidation capacity, especially compared to oxidants. Furthermore, it is possible to achieve a cell-killing effect with OH radicals against microorganisms, bacteria and bacteria.

  In any case, it is also advantageous that generally available currents are used in the method according to the invention. In this method, current is applied directly to the electrodes in the dishwasher. The electrode is preferably arranged in the circulating water, in particular connected to the variable power supply unit. In this way, the electrode can be brought into relatively intensive contact with the cleaning liquid or water, and the surroundings of the electrode can be cleaned with water or, if applicable, another substance contained in the cleaning liquid. The ability to react with occasional hydrogen formation and associated oxygen, for example by using a semi-permeable membrane, can easily be taken into account in known devices, or a potential hazard that can occur is reliably eliminated.

  Another important advantage of using diamond or lead tin electrodes is that they do not have any adverse effects that can occur when other electrode materials are used in aqueous systems. In the case of known electrodes, in particular those containing metals such as platinum, some or a fraction of these metals, such as atomic platinum or platinum-containing substances, may dissolve in the cleaning solution or the surrounding water and And may deposit on the surface of kitchen utensils. From there, platinum can be ingested through food by the person using the tableware, thus reaching the human body. Platinum, however, is a substance that is harmful to health, even in relatively small quantities, and is particularly a substance that harms cells. According to the present invention, harmful use of platinum electrodes can be avoided.

  It is also proposed to use diamond and / or lead tin anodes. For example, by using synthetically manufactured diamond electrodes and / or lead tin electrodes, very effective OH radicals can be generated, especially during electrolysis performed on the anode. In principle, one anode or several anodes made of the proposed material can also be provided in the cleaning liquid.

The cleaning liquid is preferably mixed with an agent that increases the electrical conductivity, particularly a dishwashing detergent. In order to increase the conductivity of the cleaning liquid or the water that cleans around the electrode, the corresponding substance can be placed in or dissolved therein. For example, commercially available dishwashing detergents and / or non-degradable inorganic salt solutions can be used to increase conductivity or as an electrolyte. For example, Na ₂ SO _4r , Na ₃ PO ₄ , NaCl, H ₃ BO ₃ or mixtures of these salts can be used here. These substances or detergents are placed in the dishwasher, in particular via devices that will be known per se. In this way, for example, the surface of the article to be cleaned can be cleaned, sterilized or disinfected with a commercially available cleaning solution. On the one hand, the cleaning solution or cleaning solution is used as an electrolyte for applying an electric current to the solution, and at the same time used as a cleaning solution for the chemical decomposition of contamination and the electrochemical sterilization, purification and disinfection of tableware surfaces. Is done. Thus, the generation of OH radicals on the anode, or the possible simultaneous generation of strong oxidants oxygen and / or ozone, is a widely usable addition, especially for chemical decomposition or removal of contamination by cleaning solutions. Use as a substitute.

  It is particularly advantageous that a pulsation or continuous current is applied directly to the electrodes arranged in the cleaning liquid. As a result, a necessary concentration or amount of OH radicals in the cleaning liquid can be reliably generated. In particular, the application of pulsation of current makes it possible to generate clearly more OH radicals than when the applied current is not pulsating. Thus, one very important aspect of the present invention is found in the fact that a direct current applied to the electrode, preferably directly or pulsatile, is applied to the electrode. As a result of the relatively high OH radical production rate possible in this way or the relatively high OH radical concentration in the cleaning liquid thus achieved, cleaning is carried out in comparison with known methods or devices used so far. The time or cleaning cycle time can be clearly shortened. This is due to the generation of highly efficient OH radicals on the anode or simultaneous chemical and / or physical cleaning and sterilization, especially during the purification process. The pulsating current application can basically be performed according to one of the different profiles, which can be defined, for example, according to a wavy or sinusoidal ramp or spike profile as a function of time. The alternating current is preferably applied directly to the electrode disposed in the cleaning liquid. Particularly effective generation of OH radicals can be achieved by alternating application of current to the electrode, in particular alternating polarity from positive to negative or reversing the electrical polarity.

  It is also proposed to use a mixture of organic and / or inorganic cleaning solutions, such as commercial detergents for cleaning, sterilizing and disinfecting dishes and other kitchenware. Additional positive effects during the purification process can be realized in this way. The purification effect can be clearly improved by, for example, a surface active substance or an enzyme active substance. The method according to the invention is preferably used in combination with or using commercially available detergents.

  In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the dishes are cleaned by OH radicals and simultaneous chemical and physical decontamination.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning solution for cleaning, disinfecting and disinfecting dishes and other kitchenware is water and Na ₂ SO ₄ or sodium sulfate, Na ₃ PO ₄ or sodium phosphate, NaCl or It consists of a mixture of sodium chloride and / or H ₃ BO _3, ie inorganic salts such as boric acid, and / or a mixture of the individual components. With these substances or where applicable, particularly high purification performance can be achieved in a manner according to the invention using a mixture of individual components. Thus, the electrolytic solution can be provided as an alkaline aqueous cleaning solution or with a conventional detergent or a mixture of the above salts.

Cleaning solutions for cleaning, disinfecting and disinfecting dishes and other kitchenware include water and commercial detergents and / or inorganic salts Na ₂ SO ₄ or sodium sulfate, Na ₃ PO ₄ or sodium phosphate, NaCl or chloride. It is particularly advantageous to be made from a mixture of sodium and / or H ₃ BO _3, ie one of boric acid, and / or a mixture of individual components and / or a mixture of organic / inorganic aqueous solutions used as electrolyte. It is. The method according to the present invention can be effectively and reliably realized with such an electrolyte.

In particular, setting the current density on the electrode in amperes per unit area for the material to be purified, and the current density is from about 5 amperes per square decimeter (A / dm ² ) to about 300 per square decimeter. It has proven particularly advantageous to be ampere (A / dm ² ). The relatively high efficiency of the method according to the invention can be ensured in the above current density range.

  The invention is also based on an apparatus capable of performing the above method. One essential aspect resides in the fact that an electrolysis cell having an electrode pair including a diamond electrode for generating OH radicals is integrated directly into the wash water circuit of the dishwasher. In the device formed in this way, the above-mentioned advantages can be realized with a purification device or a dishwasher.

  In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, there is an electrically insulated spacer that prevents an electrical short between the anode and the cathode. Thus, the device according to the invention can meet the safety standards required when using current in an electrolysis cell. Electrically insulated or insulating spacers in corresponding areas of the electrolysis cell can eliminate negative effects, in particular due to electrical shorts in the excited state of the electrode pairs.

  In a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is proposed that the electrolysis cell is supplied with water by means of a circulation pump and is brought into contact with tableware via a spray arm. In this way, the electrolytic solution or cleaning solution collected in the cleaning water reservoir can be supplied to the electrolytic cell in a compact and reliable manner with a relatively sturdy circulation pump. The OH radical enrichment is carried out as described above via the excitation electrode or electrolysis cell, and then the cleaning liquid is brought into contact with the object or tableware to be cleaned by means of a circulation pump via a spray arm or a correspondingly shaped preparation device. It is done.

  It is also proposed that the anode be composed of a material that allows anode overvoltage, thereby allowing OH radical generation. Achieving voltage so that, with a correspondingly designed anode or corresponding anode material, OH radical generation is possible or a relatively high rate of OH radical generation can be achieved with respect to the voltage applied to the anode. Can do.

  It is also proposed that the anode includes a synthetic manufactured diamond. All dimensions, shapes or configurations of the diamond electrode can be manufactured with good reproducibility in a synthetic manufacturing diamond. For example, synthetic manufactured diamond can be applied to other suitable substrate materials such as titanium sheets or plastics.

  It is preferable to dope a specific material or compound into a diamond material, particularly a synthetic diamond material. For example, different metals can be incorporated into the synthetic diamond. In particular, synthetic diamond doped with boron exhibits particularly advantageous performance against the overvoltage of the anode thus formed. As a result of the doping of the synthetic diamond, the diamond is made conductive or conductive.

Moreover, the characteristic of a diamond electrode exists in the form of water decomposition. While water is typically ionized into hydrogen (H ₂ ) and oxygen (O ₂ ) during electrolysis, the diamond electrode is highly reactive or oxidative hydroxyl radical or oxygen instead of oxygen in a certain operating range. OH radicals and / or intermediate or decomposition products ozone or O ₃ are supplied.

  For example, it is possible to sterilize drinking water in this way. In particular, the chemical oxygen demand value or CSB value in the sewer can be reduced. In these fields of application, publications by Waco, Condias and Gerus are published in Germany. These publications exclusively discuss the use of diamond electrodes for the sewage or drinking water industry.

  It is also proposed that the anode consists of a platinum-coated electrode. Rugged or electrochemically particularly elastic electrodes can be provided in the form of platinum-coated metal electrodes. Apart from diamond electrodes which show great stability against invasive, in particular alkaline cleaning solutions, in particular platinum-coated metal electrodes can be used advantageously as anodes.

  Further features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings with reference to the figures.

  FIG. 1 shows in particular a commercially available dishwasher 1 having an electrolyzer 2 corresponding to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the electrolyzer 2 is shown schematically only, in particular outside the housing 3 of the dishwasher 1. In principle, the electrolysis device 2 is in particular integrated directly into the dishwasher 1. The dishwasher 1 shown in a longitudinal section with the individual components omitted is provided with a cleaning water reservoir 4 in which a cleaning electrolyte solution 5 is collected in the bottom inner region. The main area inside the dishwasher 1 is occupied by a storage device 6 for the articles to be cleaned, for example the storage device 6 can consist of a cupboard 7. A spray device 8, for example in the form of a spray arm, is provided in the upper region of the dishwasher 1 in order to distribute or apply the cleaning electrolyte 5 onto an article (not shown) contained in the cupboard 7. For this purpose, the spray device 8 can comprise several spray nozzles 9, for example on the distribution strip 10. A circulation pump 11 is integrated in the line 12 in order to circulate the cleaning electrolyte 5 or to convey it from the cleaning water reservoir 4 to the spraying device 8. In addition to the electrolyzer 2, the circulation pump 11 and the line 12 are usually accommodated in the housing 3 of the dishwasher 1.

  The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 also includes an electrode pair 13 for generating OH radicals 14 shown as dots to clarify the object. In order to generate OH radicals 14, for example, a direct current is applied via electrical contacts to an anode 15 with a positive electrode and a cathode 16 with a negative electrode. During operation of the dishwasher 1 or during electrolysis, the washing water or the washing electrolyte 5 wash around the electrodes 15 and 16. The electrodes 15 and 16 are connected to the variable rectifier 18 via the conducting wire 17. By particularly using the anode 15 which is a synthetically produced diamond electrode, relatively efficient OH radical generation is achieved at the anode 15 while electrolysis is taking place in the electrolyzer 2. The cleaning electrolyte 5 can in particular contain normal household water. Even ordinary tap water having a certain conductivity can basically generate OH radicals. In order to give higher electrical conductivity to domestic water, for example, commercial dishwashing detergents or other salts that generate ions in the aqueous solution after dissolution, for example through the filling funnel 19 at the top of the dishwasher 1 Can be added to. The thus obtained cleaning electrolytic solution 5 that is electrically conductive or contains ions is supplied from the cleaning water reservoir 4 to the electrolytic cell 20 via the circulation pump 11. Here, OH radicals are generated especially at the anode 15 when current is applied to the electrodes. Through the line 12, the distribution strip 10 and the spray nozzle 9, the chemical or physical decomposition of the contamination by the cleaning electrolyte solution 5 is completely or almost completely due to, for example, OH radicals 14 reaching the dishes in the dishwasher 1. Can be done. The OH radicals 14 are conveyed by the line 12 through the cleaning electrolyte 5 from the electrolytic cell 20 to the spray nozzle in the flow direction and from there to the article to be purified. The spraying device 8 or the spray nozzle 9 is shaped such that a completely wet or fine jet of the cleaning electrolysis solution 5 takes place, thus ensuring a cleaning effect on the surface of the article to be cleaned. It is guaranteed that you can. After the actual purification process, the washing electrolytic solution 5 containing the washed-out substance can be collected in the washing water reservoir 4 by gravity, and the supernatant of the collected washing electrolytic solution 5 as described above. From the region, it can be mixed again with the OH radicals 14 via the electrolysis device 2.

  The electrolyzer of FIG. 1 is shown in greater detail in FIG. According to the arrow P1, the cleaning electrolyte 5 passes through the electrolytic cell 20 through the line 12 by the circulation pump 11. OH radicals 14 are generated at the anode 15. In this process, the cleaning electrolyte 5 is also enriched with oxygen or ozone. These substances acting as oxidant carriers support or facilitate the cleaning or cleaning process on the surface of the article or tableware to be cleaned. A direct current is generated by variable rectifier 18 and is brought into conductive contact with anode 15 or cathode 16 via supply cable or conductor 17. The electrically insulating spacer 21 is provided to electrically insulate the anode arm 15a that extends vertically downward from the cathode arm 16a that extends upward and alternately exists between the anode arms 15a. In particular, the spacer 21 prevents an electrical short circuit between the anode arm 15a and the cathode arm 16a during electrolysis. The OH radicals reaching the surface of the tableware to be cleaned can cause an oxidizing effect on the surface.

  The proposed apparatus or method according to the present invention saves in particular by saving commercial detergents containing surfactants, phosphorus or other additives and thus reducing waste water contamination from the purification equipment. It is possible not only to achieve the effect, but also to save resources or to reduce the burden on the environment, or to realize overall energy savings by shortening the purification time.

1 is a very schematic cross-sectional view of a purification device having a device according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged partial view of details of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tableware washing machine 2 Electrolysis apparatus 3 Housing 4 Washing water reservoir 5 Washing electrolyte solution 6 Storage device 7 Cupboard 8 Spraying device 9 Spray nozzle 10 Distribution strip 11 Circulation pump 12 Line 13 Electrode pair 14 OH radical 15 Anode 15a Anode arm 16 Cathode 16a Cathode arm 17 Line 18 Rectifier 19 Filling funnel 20 Electrolytic cell 21 Spacer

Claims (16)

  OH radicals (14) are generated in the cleaning liquid (5) by direct application of electric current to electrodes (15, 16) arranged in the cleaning liquid and comprising diamond and / or lead tin electrodes, and the radicals are generated in dishes and A method for cleaning, disinfecting and disinfecting dishes and other kitchenware with a cleaning liquid (5), characterized in that it allows the purification, disinfection and disinfection of other kitchenware.   2. The method according to claim 1, wherein diamond and / or lead tin anodes are used.   Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning liquid (5) is mixed with means, in particular for increasing the conductivity of the dishwashing detergent.   4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pulsating or continuous current is applied directly to the electrodes (15, 16) arranged in the cleaning liquid (5).   5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an alternating current is applied directly to the electrodes (15, 16) arranged in the cleaning liquid (5).   6. A mixture of organic and / or inorganic cleaning solutions, such as commercially available detergents, is used for cleaning, sterilizing and disinfecting the dishes and other kitchen utensils. Method.   7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tableware is cleaned by chemical and physical removal of OH radicals (14) and simultaneously contamination. The cleaning solution for purifying, disinfecting and disinfecting the tableware and other kitchen utensils includes water and Na ₂ SO ₄ or sodium sulfate, Na ₃ PO ₄ or sodium phosphate, NaCl or sodium chloride and / or H ₃ BO ₃ or boron. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a mixture with an inorganic salt such as an acid and / or a mixture of individual components. In order to purify, sterilize and disinfect the dishes and other kitchen utensils, the cleaning solution is made from water and commercial detergents and / or mineral salts, Na ₂ SO ₄ or sodium sulfate, Na ₃ PO ₄ or sodium phosphate, NaCl. Ie prepared from a mixture of sodium chloride and / or H ₃ BO ₃ or one of boric acid and / or a mixture of individual components and / or a mixture of organic / inorganic aqueous solutions used as electrolyte. 9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The current density on the electrodes (15, 16) is set in amperes per unit area, especially for the material to be purified, and the current density is about 5 A / dm ² to about 300 A / dm ² 10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that   Electrolytic cell (20) having an electrode pair with a diamond electrode for generating OH radicals (14) is integrated directly into the washing water circuit (1). The apparatus which implements the method as described in any one of these.   11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that an electrically insulating spacer (21) is provided which prevents an electrical short between the anode (15) and the cathode (16).   The washing cell (4) is supplied to the electrolysis cell (20) by a circulation pump (11) and the tableware can be contacted via a spray arm (10). Equipment.   13. A device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the anode (15) is composed of a material that allows overvoltage of the anode (15) and thus the generation of OH radicals.   14. Device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the anode (15) comprises synthetically produced diamond.   15. A device according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the anode (15) comprises a platinum-coated metal electrode.

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