Cleaning solution, and method and apparatus for cleaning using the same

• US 20030109398A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoneda, Tetsuya, Ohhori, Shin-Ichi, Emoto, Kazuhiro, Sumida, Yasutake
• Granted Patent: US 7,015,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/276
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/42 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4238 by using electrolytic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4674 with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/46 applying energy, e.g. irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/046 Salts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/10 Carbonates ; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3956 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/02 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/10 Salts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/12 Carbonates bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/003 using electrochemical cells

Abstract

There is provided a washing method which imposes a minimized burden on environment, uses a detergent solution significantly safe for human body, and is also capable of safe and hygienic washing and sterilization and prevents effluents from contributing to pollution, eutrophication and the like. An alkaline buffer solution can be used to swell and dissociate stain from an object to be washed and in the solution a component of the stain mainly of an oily component can be floated to effectively wash the object. It is thus no longer necessary to use a surfactant, as conventional. Furthermore, a substance capable of electrolytically producing hypohalogenous acid having a bactericidal effect can be added so as to electrolytically produce hypohalogenous acid in the buffer solution to more effectively wash and sterilize the object to be washed.

Claims

1. A detergent solution obtained by electrolyzing a solution of a mixture of an alkaline metal ion-containing aqueous solution and an inorganic salt of halogenous acid, said detergent solution being obtained in a vicinity of a cathode and in a vicinity of an anode.

2. The detergent solution of claim 1, wherein said aqueous solution is one of sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate, and a complex salt thereof.

3. The detergent solution of claim 1, wherein said inorganic salt of halogenous acid is sodium chloride, potassium chloride.

4. The detergent solution of claim 1, having a surfactant added thereto.

5. A washing apparatus having a detergent solution producing device provided with an electrolytic cell receiving a solution of a mixture of an alkaline metal ion-containing aqueous solution and an inorganic salt of halogenous acid.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, having a detergent solution producing device, wherein said electrolytic cell is divided between a cathode and an anode by an ion exchange membrane.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said ion exchange membrane is a cation exchange membrane.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electrolytic cell closer to the cathode contains a solution of a mixture of an alkaline metal ion-containing aqueous solution and an inorganic salt of halogenous acid and said electrolytic cell closer to the anode contains an alkaline metal ion-containing aqueous solution.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said electrolytic cell is divided between the cathode and the anode by an ion exchange membrane into three, said ion exchange membrane being an anion exchange membrane positioned closer to the cathode and a cation exchange membrane positioned closer to the anode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein in said electrolytic cell divided in three, a portion closer to the cathode contains an inorganic salt of halogenous acid, a portion closer to the anode contains an alkaline metal ion-containing aqueous solution, and a portion sandwiched by said cation and anion ion exchange membranes contains an alkaline metal ion-containing aqueous solution and an inorganic salt of halogenous acid.

11. A method using an alkaline buffer solution to wash an object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said alkaline buffer solution contains a salt of a weak acid containing an alkaline metal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said salt of said weak acid is one of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate, sodium tetraborate and a complex thereof.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said alkaline buffer solution previously has a re-adherence preventive added thereto.

15. A method of washing an object, comprising the steps of:

washing the object with an alkaline buffer solution; and

subsequently sterilizing the object with a solution of hypochlorous acid.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of washing and the step of sterilizing are effected in a single washing chamber.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of sterilizing is followed by the step of further rinsing the object.

17. A method of washing an object, comprising the steps of:

washing the object with an alkaline buffer solution;

rinsing the object with water; and

sterilizing the object with a solution of hypochlorus acid.

19. A detergent solution containing a solution of hypochlorous acid obtained in a vicinity of a cathode by electrolyzing a solution of a mixture of an alkaline metal ion-containing aqueous solution and an inorganic salt of halogenous acid.

20. A detergent solution containing an alkaline buffer solution obtained in a vicinity of an anode by electrolyzing a solution of a mixture of an alkaline metal ion-containing aqueous solution and an inorganic salt of halogenous acid.