Method and apparatus for generating, applying and neutralizing an electrochemically activated liquid

• US 20070187263A1
• 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 8,025,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/742
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4618 for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46185 only anodic or acidic water, e.g. for oxidizing or sterilizing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/4619 only cathodic or alkaline water, e.g. for reducing
• 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: C25B 9/73 of the filter-press type
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/77 having diaphragms

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for receiving a cleaning liquid having a pH in a range between pH6-pH8 and an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) between ±50 mV. The liquid is converted into an anolyte liquid and a catholyte liquid having respective pHs outside of the range between pH6-pH8 and having respective ORPs outside the range between ±50 mV. The anolyte and catholyte liquids are applied to a surface, wherein the anolyte and catholyte liquids are, for example, in a combined state on the surface and substantially neutralize to a pH between pH6-pH8 and an ORP between ±50 mV within one minute of the time at which the anolyte and catholyte liquids are converted.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) receiving a liquid having a pH in a range between pH6-pH8 and an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) between ±

50 mV;

b) converting the liquid into an anolyte liquid and a catholyte liquid, which have respective pHs outside of the range between pH6-pH8 and have respective ORPs outside the range between ±

50 mV;

c) applying the anolyte and catholyte liquids to a surface for a residence time; and

d) recovering at least a portion of the anolyte and catholyte liquids from the surface after the residence time and placing the anolyte and catholyte liquids in a common recovery tank, wherein the anolyte and catholyte liquids substantially neutralize to a pH between pH6-pH8 and an ORP between ±

50 mV within one minute of the time at which the anolyte and catholyte liquids are converted in step b).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the anolyte liquid has a pH in a range of pH2.5 to pH6; and

the catholyte liquid has pH in a range of pH8-pH12.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the anolyte liquid has an ORP in a range of +100 mV to +1200 mV; and

the catholyte liquid has an ORP in a range of −

150 mV to −

1000 mV.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the anolyte liquid has an ORP in a range of +400 mV to +700 mV; and

the catholyte liquid has an ORP in a range of −

300 mV to −

700 mV.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying in step c) is performed within 5 seconds of performing the converting in step b).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying in step c) is performed within 3 seconds of performing the converting in step b).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pH and the ORP of the anolyte liquid and the catholyte liquid remain outside of the respective ranges between pH6-pH8 and between ±

50 mV for the entire residence time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the residence time is greater than zero seconds and less than five seconds.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the residence time is in a range of 2-3 seconds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anolyte and catholyte liquids substantially neutralize to a pH between pH6-pH8 and an ORP between ±

50 mV within 30 seconds of the time at which the anolyte and catholyte liquids are converted in step b).

11. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

e) combining the anolyte liquid with the catholyte liquid to form a combined anolyte and catholyte liquid prior to applying the combined anolyte liquid and catholyte liquid to the surface in step c).

12. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

e) on the surface, combining the anolyte liquid with the catholyte liquid to form a combined anolyte and catholyte liquid.

13. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

e) combining the anolyte liquid with the catholyte liquid within the recovery tank to form a combined anolyte and catholyte liquid.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying in step c) comprises applying the anolyte liquid and the catholyte liquid to the surface substantially simultaneously.

15. A method comprising:

a) receiving a liquid having a pH in a range between pH6-pH8 and an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) between ±

50 mV;

b) converting the liquid into an anolyte liquid and a catholyte liquid having respective pHs outside of the range between pH6-pH8 and having respective ORPs outside the range between ±

50 mV; and

c) applying the anolyte and catholyte liquids to a surface, wherein the anolyte and catholyte liquids are in a blended state on the surface and substantially neutralize to a pH between pH6-pH8 and an ORP between ±

50 mV within one minute of the time at which the anolyte and catholyte liquids are converted in step b).

16. An apparatus comprising:

a source, which receives a liquid having a pH in a range between pH6-pH8 and an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) between ±

50 mV;

an electrolyzer, which converts the received liquid to an anolyte liquid and a catholyte liquid, which have respective pHs outside of the range between pH6-pH8 and have respective ORPs outside the range between ±

50 mV;

a flow path from the electrolyzer, which is configured to dispense the anolyte and catholyte liquids from the apparatus;

a common recovery tank; and

a recovery device, which recovers at least a portion of the anolyte and catholyte liquids from a surface after a residence time on the surface and places the liquids in the common recovery tank, wherein the anolyte and catholyte liquids substantially neutralize to a pH between pH6-pH8 and an ORP between ±

50 mV within one minute of that time at which the anolyte and catholyte liquids are converted by the electrolyzer.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the recovery device is configured to recover at least a portion of the anolyte and catholyte liquids from the surface after a residence time on the surface in a range of greater than zero seconds and less than five seconds, and wherein the respective pH and the respective ORP of the anolyte liquid and the catholyte liquid remain outside of the range between pH6-pH8 and the range between ±

50 mV for the entire residence time.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the residence time is less than 5 seconds.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the flow path is configured to dispense the anolyte liquid and the catholyte liquid within 5 seconds of the time at which the anolyte liquid and the catholyte liquid are converted by the electrolyzer.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the anolyte liquid has a pH in a range of pH2.5 to pH6; and

the catholyte liquid has pH in a range of pH8-pH12.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the anolyte liquid has an ORP in a range of +100 mV to +1200 mV; and

the catholyte liquid has an ORP in a range of −

150 mV to −

1000 mV.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the anolyte liquid has an ORP in a range of +400 mV to +700 mV; and

the catholyte liquid has an ORP in a range of −

300 mV to −

700 mV.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the flow path is configured to combine the anolyte liquid with the catholyte liquid to form a combined anolyte and catholyte liquid and to dispense the combined anolyte liquid and the catholyte liquid to the surface.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the flow path is configured to dispense the anolyte liquid and the catholyte liquid separately and the apparatus further comprises a cleaning device, which combines the anolyte liquid with the catholyte liquid on the surface to form a combined anolyte and catholyte liquid.