Liquid processing apparatus

• US 9,663,391 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yuya, Yoshikawa, Naoki, Nakanishi, Shuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, CAMERON J
• Application Number:
  US14/784,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46157 Perforated or foraminous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46161 Porous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/16 Nitrogen compounds, e.g. ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46105 Details relating to the electrolytic devices
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46115 Electrolytic cell with membranes or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/06 Sludge reduction, e.g. by lysis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/005 Combined electrochemical biological processes aeration by electrolytically produced oxygen bubbles C02F3/202
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/101 Arranged-type packing, e.g. stacks, arrays
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/2806 Anaerobic processes using solid supports for microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A liquid treatment device (100) including: a structure (10) having a first surface (10a) and a second surface (10b), the structure including: a conductor (11) arranged between the first surface (10a) and the second surface (10b), the conductor including a first portion (11a) exposed to outside at the first surface (10a) and a second portion (11b) exposed to outside at the second surface (10b), and the conductor electrically connecting the first portion (11a) and the second portion (11b); and an ion transfer layer (15) arranged between the first surface (10a) and the second surface (10b), the ion transfer layer (15) arranged between the first surface (10a) and the second surface (10b), allowing hydrogen ions to move therethrough; and a first treatment tank (12) for holding a first liquid to be treated (17) therein, wherein the first surface (10a) of the structure (10) is located inside the first treatment tank (12).

Claims

1. A liquid treatment unit having a first surface and a second surface, the liquid treatment unit comprising:

an ion transfer layer arranged between the first surface and the second surface, the ion transfer layer allowing hydrogen ions to move therethrough; and

a conductor arranged between the first surface and the second surface, the conductor including a first portion exposed to outside at the first surface and a second portion exposed to outside at the second surface, at least a part of the conductor being located inside the ion transfer layer, and the conductor electrically connecting the first portion and the second portion.

2. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the conductor is a porous or woven-cloth-like conductor sheet;

the ion transfer layer includes an ion exchange resin; and

the ion exchange resin is filled in voids in the conductor sheet.

3. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 2, wherein:

at least a part of the conductor is located between a surface of the ion transfer layer that is closer to the first surface and a surface of the ion transfer layer that is closer to the second surface; and

a surface of the at least a part of the conductor is covered with an insulating material.

4. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 1, the conductor including:

a first conductive layer arranged on one side of the ion transfer layer that is closer to the first surface and including the first portion;

a second conductive layer arranged on one side of the ion transfer layer that is closer to the second surface and including the second portion; and

a connecting portion connecting together the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer,

wherein at least a part of the connecting portion is located between a surface of the ion transfer layer that is closer to the first surface and a surface of the ion transfer layer that is closer to the second surface.

5. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 4, wherein the connecting portion extends in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface, passing through the ion transfer layer.

6. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 5, wherein the ion transfer layer includes an ion exchange membrane.

7. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 4, wherein:

the ion transfer layer includes an ion exchange resin;

the connecting portion includes a plurality of conductive particles; and

the plurality of conductive particles are dispersed in the ion exchange resin.

8. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the ion transfer layer includes an ion exchange resin;

the conductor includes;

a first conductive layer arranged on one side of the ion transfer layer that is closer to the first surface and including the first portion; and

a second conductive layer including a plurality of conductive particles,

wherein at least some of the plurality of conductive particles are dispersed in the ion exchange resin, and some of the plurality of conductive particles include the second portion.

9. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 4, wherein a surface of the at least a part of the connecting portion is covered with an insulating material.

10. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 4, wherein the first conductive layer is porous or woven-cloth-like.

11. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 4, wherein the second conductive layer is porous or woven-cloth-like.

12. The liquid treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the conductor extends across the ion transfer layer in a thickness direction.

13. A liquid treatment device comprising:

the liquid treatment unit of claim 1,

and

a first treatment tank for holding a first liquid to be treated therein,

wherein the first surface of the structure is located inside the first treatment tank.

14. The liquid treatment device according to claim 13, wherein the first portion of the conductor is arranged so as to be in contact with the first liquid to be treated in the first treatment tank, and the second portion of the conductor is arranged so as to be in contact with a gas containing oxygen.

15. The liquid treatment device according to claim 14, wherein the first liquid to be treated contains at least one of an organic matter and ammonia.

16. The liquid treatment device according to claim 13, wherein the structure supports anaerobic microorganisms on the first surface and supports an oxygen reduction catalyst on the second surface.

17. The liquid treatment device according to claim 13, further comprising a second treatment tank for holding a second liquid to be treated therein,

wherein the second surface of the structure is located inside the second treatment tank.

18. The liquid treatment device according to claim 17, wherein the first portion of the conductor is arranged so as to be in contact with the first liquid to be treated in the first treatment tank, and the second portion of the conductor is arranged so as to be in contact with the second liquid to be treated in the second treatment tank.

19. The liquid treatment device according to claim 17, wherein:

the first liquid to be treated contains at least one of an organic matter and ammonia; and

the second liquid to be treated contains nitrogen oxide ions.

20. The liquid treatment device according to claim 17, wherein the structure supports anaerobic microorganisms on the first surface and the second surface.