Method of generating sparged, electrochemically activated liquid

• US 20070187261A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F., Gronlund, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,025,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/742
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• 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 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4618 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/023 Reactive oxygen species, singlet oxygen, OH radical

Abstract

A method is provided, which includes generating a cleaning liquid by a combination of a sparging process and an electrochemical process that produces an anolyte and a catholye.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) sparging a liquid; and

b) electrochemically activating the sparged liquid to produce a sparged anolyte electrochemically activated (EA) liquid and a sparged catholyte EA liquid.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

c) dispensing the sparged anolyte EA liquid and the sparged catholyte EA liquid separately.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

c) combining the sparged anolyte EA liquid with the sparged catholyte EA liquid to produce a combined sparged anolyte and catholyte EA liquid; and

d) dispensing the combined sparged anolyte and catholyte EA liquid.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

c) performing steps a) and b) onboard a mobile surface cleaning apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sparging of step a) comprises at least electrolysis.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sparging of step a) comprises sparging at least by a mechanical process.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein electrochemically activating the sparged liquid in step b) comprises passing the sparged liquid through a functional generator comprising an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, which are separated by an ion exchange membrane.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid of step a) consists essentially of tap water.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid of step a) consists of tap water.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid of step a) comprises water and an electrolyte concentration that is greater than zero and does not exceed 1.0 moles per liter.

11. A method comprising:

a) electrochemically activating a liquid to produce an anolyte electrochemically activated (EA) liquid and a catholyte EA liquid; and

b) sparging at least one of the anolyte EA liquid, the catholyte EA liquid or both of the anolyte EA liquid and the catholyte EA liquid.

12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising:

c) separately dispensing at least one of the sparged anolyte EA liquid and the sparged catholyte EA liquid.

13. The method of claim 11 and further comprising at least one of the following steps:

c) combining the anolyte EA liquid with the catholyte EA liquid to produce a combined anolyte and catholyte EA liquid;

or

d) combining the sparged anolyte EA liquid with the sparged catholyte EA liquid to produce a combined sparged anolyte and catholyte EA liquid.

14. The method of claim 11 and further comprising:

c) performing steps a) and b) onboard a mobile surface cleaning apparatus.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the sparging of step b) comprises at least electrolysis.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the sparging of step b) comprises sparging at least by a mechanical process.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein step a) comprises passing the liquid through a functional generator comprising an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, which are separated by an ion exchange membrane.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the liquid of step a) consists essentially of tap water.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the liquid of step a) consists of tap water.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the liquid of step a) comprises water and an electrolyte concentration that is greater than zero and does not exceed 1.0 moles per liter.

21. A method comprising:

generating a cleaning liquid by a combination of a sparging process and an electrochemical process that produces an anolyte and a catholye.