PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN-CONTAINING WATER FOR DRINKING

• US 20120070540A1
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shefco Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shefco Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Igarashi, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,511,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/67
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/54 Mixing with gases
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/12 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0031 by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 19/0036 Flash degasification the other groups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/232 using flow-mixing means for introducing the gases, e.g. baffles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2362 for aerating or carbonating within receptacles or tanks, e.g. distribution machines B01F23/2361 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2363 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams; Arrangements, e.g. comprising controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/23764 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31421 the conduit being porous
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/02 by heating methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/20 by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases degasification of liquids in general B01D19/00; arrangement of degassing apparatus in boiler feed supply F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4676 by electroreduction
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/70 by reduction C02F1/4676 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage

Abstract

There is provided a process for producing hydrogen-containing water for drinking, by which the dissolved hydrogen concentration of the obtained hydrogen water can be more efficiently increased. A process for continuously producing hydrogen-containing water for drinking, comprising (a) a purifying step of filtering and purifying water as a raw material; (b) a degassing step of degassing the purified water supplied to a degasser; (c) a hydrogen-dissolving step of dissolving hydrogen gas in the degassed water supplied to a hydrogen dissolution device; (d) a sterilizing step of sterilizing the hydrogen-dissolved water supplied to a sterilizer; (e) a filling step of filling the hydrogen-containing water supplied to a filling device in a sealed container and transferring the filled water product to a heat sterilizer; and (f) a heat-sterilizing step of heat-sterilizing the water product supplied to the heat sterilizer, wherein part of the hydrogen-containing water obtained in the step (d) is returned to the degasser in the step (b) and the water is circulated through the steps (b) to (d).

Claims

1. A process for continuously producing hydrogen-containing water for drinking, characterized by comprising:

(a) a purifying step of filtering and purifying water as a raw material in a purification device and transferring the purified water obtained to a degasser;

(b) a degassing step of degassing the purified water supplied to the degasser and transferring the degassed water obtained to a hydrogen dissolution device;

(c) a hydrogen-dissolving step of dissolving hydrogen gas in the degassed water supplied to the hydrogen dissolution device and transferring the hydrogen-dissolved water obtained to a sterilizer;

(d) a sterilizing step of sterilizing the hydrogen-dissolved water supplied to the sterilizer and transferring the hydrogen-containing water obtained to a filling device;

(e) a filling step of filling the hydrogen-containing water supplied to the filling device in a sealed container and transferring the filled water product to a heat sterilizer; and

(f) a heat-sterilizing step of heat-sterilizing the water product supplied to the heat sterilizer, wherein

the hydrogen dissolution device is partitioned into a water room and a gas room by a gas permeable membrane and includes a gas permeable membrane module that dissolves hydrogen gas in the degassed water by allowing the degassed water to pass through the water room and by pressurizing the hydrogen gas and supplying the pressurized hydrogen gas into the gas room, and part of the hydrogen-containing water obtained in the step (d) is returned to the degasser in the step (b) and the water is circulated through the steps (b) to (d).

2. The process for producing hydrogen-containing water for drinking according to claim 1, wherein the purification device includes an activated carbon filtration device and an MF membrane filtration device.

3. The process for producing hydrogen-containing water for drinking according to claim 1, wherein the degasser is partitioned into a water room and a gas room by a degassing membrane and includes a degassing membrane module that allows the purified water to pass through the water room and depressurizes the gas room.

4. The process for producing hydrogen-containing water for drinking according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizer includes an ultraviolet irradiation device and an MF membrane filtration device.

5. The process for producing hydrogen-containing water for drinking according to claim 1, wherein supply of the purified water to the degasser is temporarily stopped and the water is circulated through (b) the degassing step, (c) the hydrogen-dissolving step, to (d) the sterilizing step.