Using Membrane Patents (Class 205/746)
  • Patent number: 8216445
    Abstract: A nanoporous insulating oxide deionization device, method of manufacture and method of use thereof for deionizing a water supply (such as a hard water supply), for desalinating a salt water supply, and for treating a bacteria-containing water supply. The device contains two composite electrodes each constructed from a conductive backing electrode and a composite oxide layer being an insulating oxide or a non-insulating oxide and an intermediate porous layer. The composite layer being substantially free of mixed oxidation states and nanoporous and having a median pore diameter of 0.5-500 nanometers and average surface area of 300-600 m2/g. The composite layer made from a stable sol-gel suspension containing particles of the insulating oxide, the median primary particle diameter being 1-50 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Marc A. Anderson, Kevin C. Leonard
  • Patent number: 8211288
    Abstract: Feed water comprising an aqueous salt solution is supplied to an anode chamber and to a cathode chamber. The feed water is cathodically electrolyzed in the cathode chamber to produce alkaline electrolyzed water (catholyte) and is anodically electrolyzed in the anode chamber to produce electrolyzed water (anolyte) whose pH is modified. A portion of alkaline catholyte from the cathode chamber is recycled back to the feed water during continuous electrolysis to provide a blend of feed water and alkaline catholyte to the anode chamber to control pH of the anodically electrolyzed water therein to provide more stable bactericidal activity thereof over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-Con Hung, Donghwan Chung
  • Patent number: 8173006
    Abstract: An electrolyzed water production apparatus and method safely and simply produce electrolyzed water having a sterilizing action, having a physiologically neutral pH value, and, in addition, simultaneously with strong acidic electrolyzed water and strong alkaline electrolyzed water depending upon the structure. The electrolyzed water production apparatus has an electrolyzer tank with an end that receives or stores raw water, and a power supply. The interior portion of the electrolyzer tank is partitioned by a plurality of diaphragms into a plurality of regions. An anode and a cathode (constituting an electrode pair) are positioned on either side of the diaphragm. In a certain region of the electrolyzer tank, an anode and a cathode are arranged so as to face each other without a diaphragm sandwiched between them. When raw water for electrolysis is electrolyzed, electrolyzed water having a desired pH of a neutral range is produced during electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Osaka Electro-Communication University
    Inventors: Koichi Umimoto, Shunji Nagata
  • Patent number: 8157981
    Abstract: The present electrolytic system and method for extracting components includes a means for providing a carrier fluid; a means for providing a pair of electrodes interposed by a permeable membrane to create a first channel and a second channel; a means for flowing the carrier fluid through the first and second channel; a means for applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes to produce a first ionized carrier fluid in the first channel and a second ionized carrier fluid in the second channel; a means for injecting at least one of the first ionized carrier fluid and the second ionized carrier fluid into the subsurface reservoir to release the components; and a means for recovering the at least one of the first ionized carrier fluid and the second ionized carrier fluid and the components from a subsurface strata or ex-situ mineral deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Strategic Resource Optimization, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Peters, David D. Faulder
  • Patent number: 8147701
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a treatment process applicable to degrade or transform organic and inorganic pollutants, commonly found in industrial wastewaters, contaminated aquifers and gas emissions, in which reduction or oxidation reactions (e.g. redox reactions) are involved. The treatment concept comprises reactors in which catalysts, with redox mediating properties, have been immobilized on ion exchange resins in order to improve and accelerate the transformation of priority pollutants by chemical or biological means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Instituto Potosino De Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica A.C.
    Inventors: Francisco J. Cervantes, Jose Rene Rangel-Mendez, Alberto Garcia-Espinosa, Maria Antonieta Moreno Reynosa, Elias Razo-Flores
  • Publication number: 20120067738
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating and applying a sanitizing liquid. The method includes moving a mobile floor cleaning device along a floor and electrochemically activating a liquid on the mobile floor cleaning device by passing the liquid through a functional generator having first and second electrode chambers that are separated by an ion exchange membrane such that the liquid activated in the first electrode chamber comprises O3 molecules. Substantially all of the liquid activated in the first and second electrode chambers are dispensed from the device within 5 seconds of the time at which the liquids are activated by the functional generator without an intermediate step of storing either of the liquids produced in the first or second electrode chambers. At least some of the dispensed liquid is recovered from the floor with a recovery device carried by the mobile floor cleaning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Publication number: 20120055806
    Abstract: A method for continuously manufacturing lithium transition metal phosphates of the formula LiMPO4, comprising the steps of providing an aqueous reaction mixture containing LION, H3PO4, and a transition metal sulphate, converting the reaction mixture into a lithium transition metal phosphate, separating the solid lithium transition metal phosphate from the soluble part of the reaction mixture, subjecting the soluble part (diluate) to an electrodialysis, and isolating the part of the electrodialysate that contains an aqueous LiOH solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Josef Fischer, Johannes Hartel
  • Publication number: 20120037511
    Abstract: A super-capacitor desalination device is described and includes a pair of terminal electrodes and at least one bipolar electrode located between the terminal electrodes. The at least one bipolar electrode has an ion exchange material disposed on opposing surfaces thereof The ion exchange material is a cation exchange material or an anion exchange material. A method for super-capacitor desalination is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Rihua Xiong, Hai Yang, Wei Cai
  • Patent number: 8110089
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for creating at least two flows of water from a reactor, derived from substantially pH7 water, for various applications and having widely divergent pH readings between 2 and 14 without need for chemicals. In addition, the reactor generates said divergent flows without need of an RF or A/C generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Craig A Mortensen
  • Publication number: 20110284392
    Abstract: An electrochemical reactor comprises at least one electrolytic cell, each cell is divided by a membrane (12) into two electrode chambers (7, 8), each one is crossed by flows of liquid and each having at least a corresponding electrode (13, 14). Both the electrodes (13, 14) have one own face directly in contact with the membrane (12) and have a plurality of openings (21) for the passage of the liquid. Each electrode (13, 14) is provided with one or more contact means (15) for the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: GIMA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Sandro Quadrelli, Sergio Ferro
  • Publication number: 20110281959
    Abstract: Apparatus for seawater acidification including an ion exchange, cathode and anode electrode compartments and cation-permeable membranes that separate the electrode compartments from the ion exchange compartment. Means is provided for feeding seawater through the ion exchange compartment and for feeding a dissociable liquid media through the anode and cathode electrode compartments. A cathode is located in the cathode electrode compartment and an anode is located in the anode electrode compartment and a means for application of current to the cathode and anode is provided. A method for the acidification of seawater by subjecting the seawater to an ion exchange reaction to exchange H+ ions for Na+ ions. Carbon dioxide may be extracted from the acidified seawater. Optionally, the ion exchange reaction can be conducted under conditions which produce hydrogen as well as carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen may be used to produce hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Feice DiMascio, Dennis R. Hardy, Heather D. Willauer, M. Kathleen Lewis, Frederick Williams
  • Patent number: 8038867
    Abstract: A device includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode to define a volume. An anion exchange membrane and a cation exchange membrane are disposed within the volume. A controller controls a supply of electrical current from an electrical source to the first electrode and to the second electrode. The electrical current supply is controlled to switch from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation providing electrical current having a reverse polarity during each cycle. The electrical current is supplied at a controlled cycle rate and for a controlled duration. The cycle rate is greater than about 100 hertz and less than about 10 kilohertz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yu Du, Yunfeng Liu, Saijun Mao, Xiaoming Yuan, Chao Yang, Rihua Xiong, Chun Cao, Shengxian Wang, Wei Cai, Chang Wei, Jiyang Xia
  • Publication number: 20110240486
    Abstract: A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus for producing high-pressure hydrogen by electrolyzing pure water and a casing. The casing defines therein an accommodating chamber accommodating the water electrolysis apparatus etc. therein, first electric component compartments separate from the accommodating chamber and housing a controller and an electrolysis power supply therein, the first electric component compartments having first fans for introducing external air, and a second electric component compartment separate from the accommodating chamber and housing a relay, the second electric component compartment being connected to the first electric component compartments by a pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi YOSHIDA, Koji NAKAZAWA, Masanori OKABE, Jun TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 8025786
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Patent number: 8025787
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Patent number: 8016996
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning machine along a floor. Onboard the mobile floor cleaning machine, a liquid is sparged by electrolysis. The sparged liquid is dispensed from the mobile floor cleaning machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Patent number: 8012340
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning device along a floor; electrochemically activating a liquid on the mobile floor cleaning device, and dispensing the electrochemically activated liquid from the mobile floor cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Patent number: 8007654
    Abstract: An electrochemically activated fluid is provided, which has an anolyte and a catholyte. For example, a sparged anolyte and a sparged catholyte are provided. In another example, a combined anolyte and catholyte is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Publication number: 20110198236
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing in the home hydrogen-dissolved drinking water that is suitable for drinking, has a high dissolved hydrogen concentration, and a long dissolved hydrogen life. A hydrogen-dissolved drinking water production apparatus includes an electrolytic cell through which water can pass for producing drinking water having a pH in a range of 2.5 to 8.5, and in particular, in a range of 5.8 to 8.5, and a dissolved hydrogen concentration of 0.1 ppm or more by supplying high-purity water having a conductivity of 50 ?S/cm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osao Sumita, Shin Gyo Yim
  • Publication number: 20110198235
    Abstract: A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus including an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is provided between an anode and a cathode. The water electrolysis apparatus is configured to generate oxygen on a side of the anode and hydrogen on a side of the cathode at a pressure higher than a pressure of the oxygen through electrolysis of water. A gas-liquid separation apparatus separates unreacted water and produced gas discharged from a water outlet of the water electrolysis apparatus. A water circulation apparatus circulates the water between the water electrolysis apparatus and the gas-liquid separation apparatus. The water circulation apparatus includes a return pipe having an on-off valve and connecting the water outlet and the gas-liquid separation apparatus. A hydrogen exhaust pipe is connected to the return pipe between the water outlet and the on-off value and extends upward from the water electrolysis apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun TAKEUCHI, Masanori Okabe, Hisashi Nagaoka, Koji Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20110176991
    Abstract: Electrochemically-treated water having an electron deficiency is described, which may be attained by a process comprising the following steps: a) Electrolysing water, b) Withdrawing a portion of the catholyte from the system, and c) Introducing the remaining catholyte into the anodic chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Manuel Czech, André Philipps, Michael Saefkow
  • Patent number: 7964068
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a membrane-electrode assembly having a first electrode having a shape of a rod-form or a cylindrical-form, a strip-form diaphragm covering the periphery of the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the strip-form diaphragm; an electrolytic unit containing the membrane-electrode assembly; an electrolytic water ejecting apparatus containing the electrolytic unit; and a method of sterilization using the membrane-electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: Permelec Electrode Ltd., Institute of National Colleges of Technology, Japan
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kitaori, Kota Sekido, Genzo Yamane, Katsumi Hamaguchi, Hozumi Tanaka, Yoshinori Nishiki, Tsuneto Furuta
  • Patent number: 7959789
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning device along a floor; electrochemically activating a liquid on the mobile floor cleaning device, and dispensing the electrochemically activated liquid from the mobile floor cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Patent number: 7959787
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Patent number: 7959788
    Abstract: A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning machine along a floor. Onboard the mobile floor cleaning machine, a liquid is sparged by electrolysis. The sparged liquid is dispensed from the mobile floor cleaning machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Patrick J. Gronlund
  • Patent number: 7906008
    Abstract: The present invention deals with a device for quick estimation of biochemical oxygen demand of beverage waste water. This device consists of an immobilized microbial membrane attached to an electrode, multimeter and a laptop workstation installed with a developed software. BOD measurement of beverage waste water using this device is rapid, reproducible and effective as compared to conventional titration based methods. This device also excludes COD estimation as required for BOD estimation of waste water. This bio-electrochemical device may find wide commercial application in beverage industries emanating waste waters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Rita Kumar, Abha Joshi, Anil Kumar, Tushya Kumar Saxena
  • Publication number: 20110048966
    Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic device for electrochemically regulating the pH of a fluid comprising: a cathode substrate; an anode substrate facing the cathode substrate and forming a reaction chamber with the cathode substrate; and a nonconductor which forms a boundary between the portions of the cathode substrate and the anode substrate that are capable of contacting one another, wherein at least one of the cathode substrate and the anode substrate is a semiconductor doped with impurities and the other is a metal electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-im Han, Joon-ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20110017610
    Abstract: A device (100) for breaking down pollutants in a liquid (F) by oxidative OH radicals has an arrangement of positively and negatively charged electrodes (104a . . . 104n, 105a . . . 105n), wherein at least one of the positively or negatively charged electrodes (104a . . . 104n, 105a . . . 105n) is surrounded by a separator (107) at least in the contact zone between the liquid (F) and the electrode (104a . . . 104n, 105a . . . 105n).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Alexander Hahn, Jochen Straub, Klaus Strätz, Manfred Waidhas
  • Patent number: 7824538
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying a recycle base solution waste stream of a composition comprising a quaternary ammonium hydroxide comprising the steps of (a) providing an electrolysis cell which comprises an anolyte compartment containing an anode, a catholyte compartment containing a cathode, and a cation-selective membrane separating the anolyte and catholyte compartments, (b) charging the recycle base solution waste stream comprising the quaternary ammonium hydroxide to be purified to the anolyte compartment and charging water, optionally containing a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, to the catholyte compartment, (c) passing a current through the electrolysis cell to produce a purified aqueous quaternary ammonium hydroxide solution in the catholyte compartment, (d) recovering the purified aqueous quaternary ammonium hydroxide solution from the catholyte compartment, (e) washing the anolyte compartment with a suitable solvent, and (f) repeating steps (b)-(e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Flexsys B.V.
    Inventors: Fred Korpel, Gerrit Jan Boerman, Roger Keranen Rains
  • Publication number: 20100252448
    Abstract: The process according to the invention is suitable for eliminating organic contaminations and bacterial infections in water by using only electric current without the use of external oxygen source and without adding any oxidative chemicals. According to the process when preconditioning the water contaminated with organic materials and infected with bacteria for the purpose of drinking water the water is introduced to the anode space, where the anode space and the cathode space are separated from each other by anion selective membrane, while the hydroxyl ion containing solution is circulated through the cathode space. Hydroxyl ions passing through the membrane are converted to hydroxyl radicals on the anode, which by their strong oxidative activity intensively oxidize the organic materials, resulting in the control of bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Iván Raisz
  • Publication number: 20100243474
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for creating at least two flows of water from a reactor, derived from substantially pH 7 water, for various applications and having widely divergent pH readings between 2 and 14 without need for chemicals. In addition, the reactor generates said divergent flows without need of an RF or A/C generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Aqua Technology Systems LLC
    Inventor: Craig A. Mortensen
  • Patent number: 7771573
    Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic device for electrochemically regulating the pH of a fluid. The microfluidic device includes: an ion-exchange material; an anode chamber having a surface defined by a surface of the ion-exchange material and an anode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the anode chamber; and a cathode chamber having a surface defined by a surface of the ion-exchange material and a cathode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the cathode chamber, wherein the anode chamber and the cathode chamber are separated by an insulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hun-joo Lee, Joon-ho Kim, Chin-sung Park, Young-sun Lee, Jong-Suk Chung
  • Publication number: 20100187129
    Abstract: A method for producing of electrolyzed water involves, using an electrolyzing apparatus for water having a structural feature of dividing an electrolyzer into an anode chamber (D) and a cathode chamber (E) by a diaphragm (1) and arranging an anode plate (3) in the anode chamber and a cathode plate (4) in the cathode chamber and carrying out the electrolysis by filling water to which electrolyte is previously added, wherein the flow rate of water to be provided to the cathode chamber is restricted to 40 mL/min. per 1 A (ampere) of loading electric current or less, and softening previously the water provided to the cathode chamber (10) alone. It is possible to divide the electrolyzer into three chambers by 2 diaphragms, filling an aqueous solution of electrolysis in the center chamber and to provide the electrolysis by electrophoresis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: ECOLAB, INC.
    Inventor: YOICHI SANO
  • Patent number: 7740749
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrolytic cell that is completely sealed during the electrolysis operation during production of oxidant. Gasses generated within the electrolysis operation, primarily hydrogen that is liberated at the cathode surface, increase the pressure within the cell, and the gas pressure is ultimately utilized to expel the oxidant from the cell chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: MIOX Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney E. Herrington, Greg C. Mich, Kevin Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20100133115
    Abstract: Electrochemical devices and methods for acid and base generation are disclosed. A source of purified water is fluidly connected to at least one compartment of the device. A source of an ionic species, such as an acid or base precursor, is also provided to at least one compartment of the device. An applied electrical field promotes ion transport across selective membranes which at least partially define the compartments. The purified water may be dissociated into hydronium and hydroxyl ions in an electrolyzing compartment of the device. Acid and/or base product streams may be recovered as desired at outlets of the various compartments. In some embodiments, a bipolar membrane may be used to split water in place of the electrolyzing compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS WATER TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventor: Joseph D. Gifford
  • Publication number: 20100116752
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for enhanced electrocoagulation processing using enhanced membrane aeration are disclosed for effluent treatment. The apparatus has an enrichment means for establishing an ion rich air/gas stream and a membrane aerator for receiving the ionized air/gas stream and effluent to be treated. An ionized air/gas rich effluent feed stream flows out of the membrane aerator and is received at an electrocoagulation processing assembly for diffused ion enhanced electrocoagulation treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Reginald A. Wiemers, Robert Kohlheb, Peter H. Zahn
  • Patent number: 7713403
    Abstract: In a water treatment method, a first embodiment of the treatment method comprises the steps of producing electrolyzed acid water by electrolysis of raw water in an anode chamber of an electrolytic cell with an ion permeable partition membrane; removing volatile component in an acid property of the electrolyzed water; and producing electrolyzed neutral water without the volatile component by electrolysis of the electrolyzed acid water in a cathode chamber of the electrolytic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kamitani
  • Publication number: 20090071843
    Abstract: Electrolyzed water producing method and apparatus are provided which are capable of producing electrolyzed water having a desired property irrespective of the quality of raw water supplied and the like while allowing the size and weight of the apparatus and the cost to be reduced by limiting the capacity of an electrolysis power source. The electrolyzed water producing method includes: circulating an aqueous electrolyte solution to a first electrolytic chamber of a pair of electrolytic chambers opposed to each other across an intervening ion permeable diaphragm while supplying raw water to the second electrolytic chamber; and applying a predetermined voltage to a pair of electrodes disposed in the respective electrolytic chambers with the diaphragm intervening there between, to electrolyze the raw water and the aqueous electrolyte solution, thereby producing electrolyzed water in the second electrolytic chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kohichi Miyashita, Ryuichi Kimata, Makoto Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20090038961
    Abstract: A process and system for treating waste water containing contaminants to prevent excessive accumulation on demineralizer media of a driver contaminate capable of such accumulation before another contaminant can reach a predetermined level of accumulation. The waste water is treated upstream of the demineralizer media with removal means for specifically removing the driver contaminant while leaving the other contaminant for subsequent removal by the demineralizer media. The amount of accumulation on the demineralizer media of the other contaminant is monitored, and the supplying of treated waste water to the demineralizer media is terminated when its accumulation reaches the predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Mark S. Denton, John M. Raymont, JR., Hubert W. Arrowsmith
  • Patent number: 7488409
    Abstract: Animal waste is contacted with an electrolyte containing the oxidized form of one or more reversible redox couples, produced electrochemically by anodic oxidation at the anode of an electrochemical cell. The oxidized forms of any other redox couples present are produced either by similar anodic oxidation or reaction with the oxidized form of other redox couples present and capable of affecting the required redox reaction. The oxidized species of the redox couples oxidize the organic waste molecules and are themselves converted to their reduced form, whereupon they are reoxidized by either of the aforementioned mechanisms. The redox cycle continues until all oxidizable waste species, including intermediate reaction products, have undergone the desired degree of oxidation. The entire process takes place between zero degrees centigrade and slightly below the boiling point of the electrolyte, avoiding formation of either dioxins or furans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Scimist, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger W. Carson, Bruce W. Bremer
  • Publication number: 20090008268
    Abstract: A description is given of a process for the production of a disinfectant by electrochemical activation (ECA) of water, in that to the water to be disinfected is added an electrolytic solution, particularly a sodium or potassium chloride solution and the water to which the electrolytic solution has been added in the form of a dilute water/electrolytic solution is supplied with an electrical current in an electrolytic reactor with a cathode compartment having a cathode and with an anode compartment having an anode separated spatially from the cathode compartment by applying a d.c. voltage to the electrodes, in order to bring the water/electrolytic solution into a metastable state suitable for disinfection. To bring about a reliable disinfecting action of the electrochemically activated water and with high reproducibility, the invention proposes that the pH-value of the dilute water/electrolytic solution in the reactor anode compartment is controlled to a value between 2.5 and 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Salathe, Christian Fischer, Bernd Jost, Steven Gross, Volkmar Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7442288
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolytic cell, which can efficiently produce charged water having an excellent performance of improving surface cleaning or treatment of an object, e.g., semiconductor, glass, or resin and of cleaning and sterilizing medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Osao Sumita
  • Patent number: 7387719
    Abstract: Mediated electrochemical oxidation to treats, oxidizes and destroys biological waste, medical, infectious, pathological, animal, sanitary, mortuary, ship, veterinary, pharmaceutical and combined waste. Electrolytes contain oxidized forms of reversible redox couples produced. Oxidized forms of redox couples are produced by anodic oxidation or reaction with oxidized forms of other redox couples. Oxidized species of the redox couples oxidize the biological waste molecules and are reduced and reoxidized. The redox cycle continues until all oxidizable waste and intermediate reaction products have undergone oxidation. Temperatures between ambient and 100° C. avoid formation of dioxins or furans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Scimist, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger W. Carson, Bruce W. Bremer
  • Publication number: 20080121531
    Abstract: A nanoporous insulating oxide deionization device, method of manufacture and method of use thereof for deionizing a water supply (such as a hard water supply), for desalinating a salt water supply, and for treating a bacteria-containing water supply. The device contains two composite electrodes each constructed from a conductive backing electrode and a composite oxide layer being an insulating oxide or a non-insulating oxide and an intermediate porous layer. The composite layer being substantially free of mixed oxidation states and nanoporous and having a median pore diameter of 0.5-500 nanometers and average surface area of 300-600 m2/g. The composite layer made from a stable sol-gel suspension containing particles of the insulating oxide, the median primary particle diameter being 1-50 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Marc A. Anderson, Kevin C. Leonard
  • Publication number: 20080067078
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a membrane-electrode assembly having a first electrode having a shape of a rod-form or a cylindrical-form, a strip-form diaphragm covering the periphery of the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the strip-form diaphragm; an electrolytic unit containing the membrane-electrode assembly; an electrolytic water ejecting apparatus containing the electrolytic unit; and a method of sterilization using the membrane-electrode assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicants: PERMELEC ELECTRODE LTD., INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY JAPAN
    Inventors: Noriyuki KITAORI, Kota SEKIDO, Genzo YAMANE, Katsumi HAMAGUCHI, Hozumi TANAKA, Yoshinori NISHIKI, Tsuneto FURUTA
  • Patent number: 7318888
    Abstract: A method for the photoelectrolysis of a liquid or gaseous species, comprises irradiating an ion exchange membrane of a membrane electrode assembly, wherein the membrane is an optically transparent material and comprises the species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: ITM Power Ltd
    Inventors: Donald James Highgate, Jonathan Anthony Lloyd
  • Patent number: 7241373
    Abstract: There is provided a nitrogen treating method capable of treating nitrogen compounds efficiently. The method is a nitrogen treating method of treating nitrogen compounds in for-treatment water by electrolysis and performs a first treating step of producing ammonia from the nitrogen compounds in the for-treatment water by electrolysis using a cathode and an anode between which a cation exchange film is interposed so as to define a cathode reaction region and an anode reaction region, and a second treating step of removing the ammonia in the for-treatment water treated in the cathode reaction region by the first treating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Hiro, Motoki Kouchi, Tomohito Koizumi, Tsuyoshi Rakuma
  • Patent number: 7238272
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for producing electrolytic water using three chambers, rigid plates and ion exchange membranes. Benefits include reduced scale production and increased long-term bactericidal effects of the water produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Yoichi Sano
  • Publication number: 20070138025
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes; an ion exchange membrane, an anode chamber one side of which contacts a surface of the ion exchange membrane, wherein the anode chamber further includes a ladder-shaped anode and an anode support part, and a cathode chamber, one side of which contacts a surface of the ion exchange membrane opposite the anode chamber, wherein the cathode chamber further comprises a cathode, wherein the ladder-shaped anode is formed on a first surface of the anode support part, openings are formed in the anode support part which conform to the shape of the ladder-shaped anode, and a second surface of the anode support part which opposes the first surface of the anode contacts and supports the ion exchange membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hun-joo LEE, Joon-ho KIM, Kyu-youn HWANG
  • Patent number: 7074316
    Abstract: A functional water containing a fluorine-containing component obtained by electrolyzing an aqueous solution containing fluoride ion using electrodes having conductive diamonds, a method of producing the same, and a method and an apparatus of rinsing electronic parts using the functional water as a rinsing water. The fluorine-containing component produced by electrolyzing the fluoride ion using the conductive diamond, has stronger rinsing effect than that of a fluorine-containing component obtained by electrolyzing the fluoride ion itself before electrolysis or the fluoride ion using other electrodes. Therefore, an amount of hydrofluoric acid used can greatly be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignees: Permelec Electrode Ltd., Puretron Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Haibara, Kenichi Uemura, Masaaki Kato, Kuniaki Yamada, Yoshinori Nishiki, Tsuneto Furuta