Electrochemically-Activated Liquids Containing Fragrant Compounds

• US 20110048959A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US12/872,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20110048959A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/334
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/134 Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/213 Use of electrochemically treated water, e.g. electrolysed water or water treated by electrical discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation

Abstract

A device for dispensing a fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid, the device comprising an electrolysis cell configured to electrochemically activate the liquid and to diffuse one or more fragrant compounds into the liquid to provide the fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid, the device comprising:

an electrolysis cell configured to electrochemically activate the liquid and to diffuse one or more fragrant compounds into the liquid to provide the fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid;

a switch configured to be actuated between a first state and a second state, wherein the switch energizes the electrolysis cell in the first state and de-energizes the electrolysis cell in the second state; and

a dispenser located downstream from the electrolysis cell and configured to dispense the fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrolysis cell comprises:

a cell housing;

an anode electrode disposed within the cell housing; and

a cathode electrode disposed within the cell housing;

wherein at least one of the housing component, the anode electrode, and the cathode electrode compositionally comprising a polymeric material and a supply of the one or more fragrant compounds.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the electrolysis cell further comprises an ion exchange membrane disposed within the cell housing between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes, polypropylenes, ethylene propylene rubbers, ethylene vinyl acetates, styrene-block copolymers, poly vinyl chlorides, and combinations thereof.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein a concentration of the one or more fragrant compounds in the composition of the cell housing ranges from about 1% by weight to about 40% by weight.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the concentration of the one or more fragrant compounds in the composition of the cell housing ranges from about 3% by weight to about 30% by weight.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the one or more fragrant compounds in the fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid dispensed from the dispenser ranges from about 1 part-per-million by volume to about 1% by volume.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the one or more fragrant compounds in the fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid dispensed from the dispenser ranges from about 10 parts-per-million by volume to about 1,000 parts-per-million by volume.

9. An electrolysis cell comprising:

a component at least partially defining a reaction chamber of the electrolysis cell, the component comprising a polymeric material and one or more fragrant compounds;

an ion exchange membrane;

a first electrode disposed adjacent to a first side of the ion exchange membrane; and

a second electrode disposed adjacent to a second side of the ion exchange membrane, the second side being an opposing side from the first side.

10. The electrolysis cell of claim 9, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes, polypropylenes, ethylene propylene rubbers, ethylene vinyl acetates, styrene-block copolymers, poly vinyl chlorides, and combinations thereof.

11. The electrolysis cell of claim 9, wherein the polymeric material comprises an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer.

12. The electrolysis cell of claim 9, wherein a concentration of the one or more fragrant compounds in the composition of the cell housing ranges from about 1% by weight to about 40% by weight.

13. The electrolysis cell of claim 9, wherein the concentration of the one or more fragrant compounds in the composition of the cell housing ranges from about 3% by weight to about 30% by weight.

14. The electrolysis cell of claim 9, wherein the component comprises a cell housing of the electrolysis cell.

15. A method for dispensing a fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid, the method comprising:

providing a liquid to an electrolysis cell;

electrochemically activating a liquid in the electrolysis cell; and

diffusing one or more fragrant compounds from the electrolysis cell to the liquid.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein diffusing the one or more fragrant compounds from the electrolysis cell to the liquid is performed in a substantially simultaneous manner with electrochemically activating the liquid in the electrolysis cell.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein electrochemically activating the liquid in the electrolysis cell comprises:

introducing the liquid into the electrolysis cell, the electrolysis cell having at least one cathode electrode and at least one anode electrode; and

applying a voltage potential across the at least one cathode electrode and the at least one anode electrode.

18. The method of claim 17, and further comprising maintaining separation of at least two portions of the liquid with at least one ion exchange membrane disposed between the at least one cathode electrode and the at least one anode electrode.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein diffusing the one or more fragrant compounds from the electrolysis cell to the liquid comprises diffusing the one or more fragrant compounds from a housing component of the electrolysis cell.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a concentration of the one or more fragrant compounds in the fragrant, electrochemically-activated liquid ranges from about 1 part-per-million by volume to about 1% by volume.