Method and apparatus for producting negative and positive oxidative reductive potential (orp) water

• US 20050121334A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MicroMed Laboratories, Inc. (Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sumita, Osao
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/628
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/035 Electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/183 Ozone dissolved in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/186 Peroxide solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/11 Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46114 Electrodes in particulate form or with conductive and/or non conductive particles between them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46195 characterised by the oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4611 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46115 Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4613 Inversing polarity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46145 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4618 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46195 Cells containing solid electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/04 Oxidation reduction potential [ORP]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

A method and apparatus for electrolytically producing oxidation reduction potential water from aqueous salt solutions for use in disinfection, sterilization, decontamination, wound cleansing. The apparatus includes an electrolysis unit having a three-compartment cell (22) comprising a cathode chamber (18), an anode chamber (16), and a saline solution chamber (20) interposed between the anode and cathod chambers. Two communicating (24, 26) membranes separate the three chambers. The center chamber includes a fluid flow inlet (21a) and outlet (21b) and contains insulative material that ensures direct voltage potential does not travel through the chamber. A supply of water flows through the cathode and anode chambers at the respective sides of the saline chamber. Saline solution flows through the center chamber, either by circulating a pre-prepared aqueous solution containing ionic species, or, alternatively, by circulating pure water or an aqueous solution of, e.g., aqueous hydrogen chloride and ammonium hydroxide, over particulate insulative material coated with a solid electrolyte. Electrical current is provided to the communicating membranes separating the chambers, thus causing an electrolytic reaction that produces both oxidative (positive) and reductive (negative) ORP water.

Claims

1. An appartus for producing negative and positive oxidative and reductive potential (ORP) water, comprising:

a three-chambered electrolysis unit having an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a saline solution chamber interposed between said anode and cathode chambers, wherein said anode chamber is separated from said saline solution chamber by a metal anode electrode and a first ion exchange membrane, and wherein said cathode chamber is separated from said saline solution chamber by a metal cathode electrode and a second ion exchange membrane;

at least one water supply in fluid communication with said anode and cathode chambers of said electrolysis unit;

at least one fluid supply of fluid for circulation through said saline solution chamber;

an anode inlet line connecting said water supply with said anode chamber;

a cathode inlet line connecting said water supply with said cathode chamber;

an intermediate inlet line connecting said saline solution chamber with said fluid supply;

a source of electrical potential connected to said anode electrode and said cathode electrode;

an anode outlet line for conveying positive ORP water away from said anode chamber;

a cathode outlet line for conveying negative ORP water away from said cathode chamber;

an intermediate outlet line for conveying fluid from said saline solution to said fluid supply; and

at least one collection receptacle for collecting ORP water conveyed from said electrolysis unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said collection receptable is a tank for collecting negative ORP water conveyed from said cathode chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a source of inert gas in fluid communication with said collection receptacle for providing a blanket of inert gas over ORP water produced by said apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said collection receptacle includes an ultrasonic agitation system and an inductive heater.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said collection receptacle is a tank for collecting positive ORP water conveyed from said anode chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes two collection receptacles, including a tank for collecting negative ORP water conveyed from said cathode chamber and a tank for collecting positive ORP water conveyed from said anode chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said saline solution chamber includes a particulate insulating material which permits the flow of solution through the saline chamber but prevents the migration of ionic species between said anode and cathode chambers.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said particulate insulating is coated with an electrolytic compound.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said saline solution chamber further includes particulate electrolytic compound.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said saline solution chamber contains an electrolytic compound in solid form.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrodes are generally flat and include a plurality of openings exposing said ion exchange membranes to fluid in their respective anode or cathode chambers.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further including at least one flowmeter regulating flow rate of water to each of said anode and cathode chambers when said apparatus is in use.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further a high pH buffer tank and buffer line in fluid communication with said collection receptacle and with said electrolysis unit, thereby providing means for reprocessing ORP water.

14. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said buffer line includes at least particulate filter disposed between said buffer tank and said electrolysis unit.

15. A method of producing negative and positive oxidative reductive potential (ORP) water, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a three-chambered electrolysis unit having an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a saline solution chamber interposed between said anode and cathode chambers, wherein the anode chamber is separated from the saline solution chamber by a metal anode electrode and a first ion exchange membrane, and wherein the cathode chamber is separated from the saline solution chamber by a metal cathode electrode and a second ion exchange membrane;

(b) providing a flow of water to and through the anode and cathode chambers from at least one water supply in fluid communication with the anode and cathode chambers;

(c) providing a fluid flow to and through the saline solution chamber from at least one fluid supply;

(d) simultaneously with steps (b) and (c), providing electrical current to the anode and cathode electrodes from a source of electrical potential connected to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode; and

collecting ORP water produced by the electrolytic reaction in the electrolysis unit.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of filling the saline solution chamber with particualte insulative material permitting the flow of fluid through the saline chamber but preventing the migration of ionic species between the anode and cathode chambers., said step preceding step 15c.

17. The method of claim 16, further including the step of depositing a solid electrolyte on the surfaces of the particulate insultive material before filling the saline solution chamber with the particulate insulative material.

18. The method of claim 15, further including the step of placing a solid electrolyte in the saline solution chamber, said step preceding step 15c.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the solid electrolyte is porous.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the solid electrolyte is particulate.

21. Negative ORP water produced according to any one of claims 15 through 20.

22. The negative ORP water of claim 21, wherein said negative ORP water has a pH ranging from 4 to 14 and an ORP between 0.0 and −

1.25 V_cs NHE.

23. The negative ORP water of claim 21, wherein said negative ORP water has a pH ranging from 6 to 8 and an ORP between 0.25 and 0.75 V_cs NHE.

24. Positive ORP water produced according to the process of claim 15.

25. Positive ORP water of claim 24, wherein said positive ORP water has a pH ranging from 1.0 to 6.0 and an ORP between 0.75 and 1.5 V_cs NHE.

26. The positive ORP water of claim 24, wherein said positive ORP water has a pH ranging from 5 to 7 and an ORP between 0.75 and 1.25 V_cs NHE.