Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1331689
OZONE DECOMPOSING MATERIAL AND OZONE DECOMPOSING APPARATUS
USING THE OZONE DECOMPOSING MATERIAL
BACKGROUND OF TH~ INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ozone decomposing
material for decomposing ozone and an ozone decomposing
apparatus using the ozone decomposing material, which can be ~;~
employed, for instance, not only in electrostatic coping
machines provlded with a corona charger and laser printers,
: , , .
but also in waterworks and sewerage systems, and an `~
apparatus for activat~ng the surface of synthetic resin -
films for improving the ink receptivity and adhesiveness~
~; thereof.
ozone is generated, for instance, in the above-
;~ mentioned apparatus and ls toxic to humans when breathing
~ air containing more than 0.1 ppm of ozone for a long period
i ~ ~
of time. According to the safety standards for ozone to
humans proposed by Japanese Association of Industrial
.,.~, ~ .
ealth~, ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental
Industrial and Hygienists),~and OSHA tOccupational Safety
and He~al~h Administration~), the permissible maximum average ~-
~-m ~ concentration of ozone in the air is 0.1 ppm when breathing
the air ~or 8 hourls. Many! apRaratus for indus~trial use are
produced by observing these standards. Ozone has a
ch~racteristic;pungent~ddor, and the odor is noticeable even
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1331689
at concentrations as low as 0.01 to 0.0~ ppm. Some
operators of an ~ndustrial apparatus which generates o~one
at such oncentrations may complain about the odor. When the
concentra~ion amounts to ab~ut 0.05 ppm, it has an
unpleasa~t o~o~, and when the concen~ratlon exce~ds 0.1 ppm,
it is irritat~ng to mucus membranes of the eyes and
respirator~ orga~s.
Further, ozone is a powerful oxidizing a~ent which
oxidizes and deteriorates organic materials. There~ore, it
is desirable that the concentration of ozone be as low a~ -
possible, not only to humans, but also to industrial
apparatus and devices.
Conventional~y, various ozone decomposin~ materials
and ozone decom20sing apparatus have been invented.
However, when preparing an ozone decomposing apparatus is
made, the ozone decomposin~ performance, the pressure loss
and the flow rate of the air from which ozone is eliminated,
the humidit~ condi~ions, and the deterioration of the ozone
decomposin~ material with time, have to take into
consideration. However }t is extremely difficult to make an
~,
ozone decomposing apparatus and an ozone decomposing
material which satisfy the above-mentioned cond~tions as a
~:~ whole. ~, , , ~ . , !
Electrophotographic cop~ing machines including a ~orona
,~ ~
charger and air clean~rs generate ozone at low
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concentrations. Most of th~m are provided with an ozone
decomposing apparatus in the shape of a filter, in which an
ozone decomposlng member made of, for instance, an activated
carbon filter, is employed.
~ owever, the aoncentration o~ the ozone generated in
the aurrently e~p~oyed PPC is about ~ ppm or less and a
honeycomb-like activated carbon filter for decomposing the
ozone at such low concentrations deteriora~e with time to a
not negligible extent and lasts only for several months.
Further a large size corona charger ~or activating the
surface of a resin film, and sterilizat~on apparatus using -~
an ultra-violet light source and decolorization apparatus ~ -
generate ozone at high concentrations. ~or decomposing
020ne at a high concentration, a large amount of granular
active carbon, metal catalysts, organic compound~ such as
manganese dioxide, and mixtures thereof Are employed.
However, the ozone decomposing performance of these agents
is not yet satlsfactory.
Furthermore, when a variety of filters such as
actlva~ed carbon filter and Hopcalite filter a~e employed,
the ai~r containlng ozone has to be passed through such a
filter. When the density of the ~ilter is increased, the -~
~ozone abso,rptionland ~ecomposition pe~formanpe is also !: ~
iocreased. However, the air aannot be passed through the ~ :
filter smoothly, since the pressure loss is increased as
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1331~8~
well. As a result, the problem is caused that the problem
is caused that the temperature within the apparatus
inaluding t~e ozone decomposing filter is disadvantageously
elevated. The elevation of the t~mperature w~thln the
apparatus will eventuall~ shorten th~ life ~f the apparatus.
On the contraryr when the den~ity of the filter i5
decreased, the ozone adsorption and decomposing performance
is also decreased.
In any event, it is necessary to provide a powerful
suction apparatus or blower ~n order to cause the ozone- : -
containing air to pass through the filler. However, such
suction apparatus or blowsr causes noise. Furthermore, in
order to minimize the elevation o the temperature within
the ozone ~enerating apparatus, a cooling apparatus is also ~ .
necessary, ~o that apparatus including the conventional .:
020ne decomposin~ apparatus ls:aostly as a whole. Further
there is a demand for a small:slze, powerul o~one
decomposing apparat~s for use in the activation of the :~
surfa~e~of resin fllms:and sterlsation apparaeus~ ~owever, ~;
such a demand is not yet met. : ~-
SU~Y OF THE INVENTION~
`It i~ therefor'ei~a firsitio~ject o~ the pregent invention
to p~ovide~an improve:d ozone decomposing materlaL, the ozone
decomposing performance of~which lasts for an extended
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period of time, which ozone decomposing material comprises,
preferably, any of the te~penold ozone decomposing agents
(as disclosed in J~panese Laid Open Patent Application
61-64315 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent App~ication
61-2~2268) and a Bupport material by which the ozone
decomposing agent is adsorbsd.
A second obi~ct of the prescnt inventio~ is to provide
an ozone decomposLng apparatus in which the above ozone
decomposing material is employed, for which ~he ozone~ ~ .
decomposing performance i- max1~ized and the pressure loss
of the air to be passed through th¢ ozone decomposing
apparatus is minimized. :~
The first object of the present invention is attained ~:
by an ozone decomposing material comprising any of the :-
f above-~entioned terpenoid ozone decomposing agents and a :;
support material for the ozone deaompos~ng agent, which may
be in a granular, honeycomb-like or ~ibrous form, or in any
~:~ other structure, and which may~be madè of any materials,;~
prefera~ly~a material having ozone decomposing performance ;~
itselr,~suah as`activated~:carbon, metal catalysts and
norganL~;materlals,~whlch:absorb the ~zone decomposing:~ :
~ sgent at the surfaoe thereaf or in the porous portions
. ~ :thereof. ~ ,. , i j i ! ' ` ~"`
Th-e second ob~ect of the present invention is attained ~ ~.
f~ by an ozone deaomposing~apparatus~whi:ch comprises a first ~ ~`
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1331689
container containing therein a terpenoid ozone decomposing
agent, and a second container containin~ therein a supp~rt
material for the ozo~e decomposing agent, which first and
second containers are connected to each other through an air
~low path by ~hi~h the vapor o~ the terpenoid ozone
decomposing agent is transported onto ~he support material
so as to be adsorbed thereon. The ozone decompo~ing
apparatus is constructed in such a fashion that the ozone
decomposing agent is ca~sed to be dispersed in the form of
vapor throughout the air to be subjected to ozone
decomposing treatment by utllizing the energy of the air
which is moved onto the ozone decomposing material, and the
ozone decomposing agent is constantly adsorbed by the
support material, whereby the ozone decomposing performance
is caused to last for an extended pe~iod of time.
BRIEF D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS :
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is an:illustrative diag~am in explanation of the
steps through which the ozone decomposing performance of
activated carbon is decreased wh~le in use.
Fig. 2 i8 a schematiic diagram of an ozone ~ecomposing
apparatus 100 according to the present invention
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Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the main
portion of the ozone decomposing apparatus as shown in Fig.
2.
Fig. 4 i8 a schematic perspective view of a container
~or an oz~ne decomposlng agent in the ozone decomposing
apparatus as shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. S is a schematia perspective view o~ another
container fox an ozone decomposing agen~ ior use in the
ozone decamposing apparatus as sho~n in ~ig. 2. -:
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an ozone deaomposing ~ ~
apparatus 200 accordiing to the present invention. ~ .
Fig. 7 is a graph showing the ozone decomposing
per~ormance obtained by the pre~ent invention an~ that :~
obtained by the conventlonal ozone decomposing apparatus.
Fi~. 8 is a schematic perspective vie~ of an ozone
decomposing apparatus 300 according to the presene invention :
Fi~. 9 is a section taken on line X - X of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a conta~ner ;; --~.
or~aD ozone decomposing agent in the ozone decomposing
s ~
apparatus 300 shown in Fig. 9.
:Figs. 11 through~13 schematically show the application
e~xamples of the ozone decomposing apparatus 300 according to ~.
the ,present!invention~
n~ TT~n ~n~ oT~n~T ff~ OO~ O~ J~ ~a ~
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The terpenoid compounds employed as ozone decomposing
agent in the present invention are such terpenoids having a
general formula of CmH2n+l40p(m = 9 ~15, n - O ~4, p = O~
2~, which are readily oxidized by o~one. It is consldered
that a representative example of terpenoid compounds,
d-limonene, reacts with ozone as follows:
:
~ + O, ~ ~ H~O ~ ~ + O,
H3 H2 H3 H2 H3 H~
In the present invention, when as a support material
~or the ozone decomposing agent, a support material having
an ozone decomposing performance, such as activated carbon,
is used in combination with any of the abvove terpenoid
compounds, the deterioration of the ozone decomposing .
~ material can be minimized.
`~`` Specific examples of the terpenoid compounds
~ .:
represented by the above general formula are as follows:
9H14 ! santene;
~ ~ .
9H14 cryptone;
9 16 cyclogeraniolene;
, ~ ~
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1331689
CloH14o: safranal, perillaldehyde, carvone, pi~eritenone,
myrtenal, umbellulone, ve~benone and pinocarvone;
c1oH~6: B-myrcene, ocimene, limon~ne, dipentene,
isolimonene, ~erpin~ne, phellandrene, 2,8,~ p-
menthadLene, syLve~ene, aarene plnen~,
ci~mph~nene, bornylene, fenchene and orthodene; ~ -
C1~H16O: citral, tegetone, artemisia~etone,
isoartemisiaket~ne, cyclocitral, perillyl
alcohol, carveol, phellandral, piperitone,
pulegone, isopulegone, carvenone, dihydrocarvone,
~: carvotanacetone, pinol, sabinol, pinoci~rveol,
.. . .
myrtenol, vervenol and cis-3-hexenol;
~: C1oH1~O~ diosphenol and ascarid~le;
.~ C1oH18O: Linaloo}, geraniol, cyclogeraniol, nerol,
~:~ lavandulol, cltronellal, 2,6~-dimethyl-7-octene-4
one-dyhyd~ocarveol, pulegol, isopulegol,
piperitol, terpineol and terpinenol~
C1oHl8 : menthene;
, Cl0~2oo: -tr ~ llol~
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Cl1H180: nopol;
C13H200: ionone and parmone;
C14H220: ironet
15H24: bisabolene, zlngiberene, curcumene, cadinene,
isocadinene, sesquibenihene, selinene,
caryophyllene, metrosiderene, aromadedrene,
cedreen, copaene, longifolene and santalene;
15H240: lanceol, sesguibenihiol, partheniol and santalol;
l5H260: farnesol, nerolLdol, elemol, cadinol, eudesmol,
quaiol, carotol and cedrol;
C15N220: atlantone, turmerone, cyperone, eremophilone
and vetivone.
In the above terpenoLd aompounds represented by the
general formula Cm~2n+140p(m = 9 ~15, n = O ~ 4, p = O ~ 2),
slnce the terpenoid compounds having 8 or less carbon atoms
are in the form of vapor at room temperature, it is extremly
difficult,to mai~tain such ! terpenoid compoun~s at a low
concentration, so that there is the risk that the ~
concentration is easily~increased. Further such terpenoid : -
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compounds are not only liable to catch fire, but also havean ex~remely unpleasant odor. On the other hand, the
terpenoid compounds having 16 or more ~arbon atoms are not
easlly evaporated, therefore the ozone decomposin~
perfoxmance is hardly obtained.
In the above listed terpenoid aompounds, llmonene is
particularly pre~erable for use in the present ~nvention
since it has the most slgnificant ozone decomposing
performance. As a commercial product of limonene,
"Odo-Raser Compound" (Trademark) made by Vaportek Inc. in
the state of wisconsin in the United States, is preferable : -
for use, which is a mixt~re of a variety of terpineol type
vegetable extracts.
Each of the above terpenoid oompounds can be used a~
is by placing the compound in a contalner for an ozone
decomposlng agent. It is preferable that the terpenoid
compound be employed by containing it an an alcoholic gel or
a water-soluble gel so as to cont~ol the e~aporation rate of
he terpernoide compound.
When the tervenoid compound is contained in the abo~e-
mentioned alcohol~gel, at~is pre~erable that the terpenoid ~:
compound be in the r:a~ge of 1 to 80 partç by weight, more
preferably in the range of 20 to 50 parts by weight; an
alcohol in the range of 10 to 97 parts by weight, more
preferably in the range of 40 to :60 parts by weigh~; and a
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saturated solution (about 25~) of dibenzylidene sorbitol or
a phosphoric acSd bis~4-t-butyl-phenyl) sodiu~ in
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in the ~ange of 1 to 10 parts by
weight, to 100 ~arts by weight of the ozone decomposing
a~en'~ .
Further, as an auxlliary ~elation agent, it is
preferable to add to the above ozone decomposing agent a 2
to ~%-benzyl alcohol solution of a cellulose derivative or a
2 to 5~benzyl alcohol of polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
Furthermore, glyaols and qlycerin may be added to the above ~:
for controlling the gelation rate.
As a water-soluble gelation agent, sodium polyacrylate,
sodiw~ alginate, qelatin, agar, gelan gum, and succinoglucan
may be omployed. As an auxil~ary gelation agen~ for such
water-soluble ~elat~on a~ents, cellulose derivatives can be
employed. In this case, lt is preferable tha~ the amount of
the terpenoid compound be in the ran~e of about ~O to 50 . ~-~
, ~ --
.~ wt.~
As the support:material for the ozone decomposing agent
for;use in the present in~eneion, any materials can be ~-~
employed so long as;they~allo~ the~air to pass theretnrough
and are capable of holding or :adsoxbing an ozone decomposing
,,,,, ~ ~,
agent such as terpenoid compounds at the surface thereof.
~: Examples of such ma~erials are~honeycomb-like cera~,ics and
honeycomb-like oera~lcs:iibers (made~of cordierite)
- .,,
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1331689
tTrademark "Honeycle" made by Nichiasu Corporation), and
activated carbon.
of the above materials, activated carbon is one of the
most preferable material~ since it not only ~raps or adsorbs
the ~erpenoid compounds at the surface thereof, but al90 ha~ !
the func~ion of decomposing oxone to some extent. ~n other
words, activated carbon has adsorptivity not only for the
terpenoid ozone decomposing agent, but also for ozone. In
particular, honeycomb-like paper in whiah honeycomb~like
activated carbon is contained during the manufacturing of
the paper is preferable for use in the prsent invention.
When the terpenoid compound is adsorbed in the activate~ --
~arbon, the ozone decomposing performance is enhanced by the :-
synergism of the two when 020ne comes into contact with the :~
ter~enoid compound which is adsorbed by activated carbon.
Activated carbon, which is considered to be one of the
: best support materials for the terpenoid ~ompounds, has
numerous fine holes having a radius of about 100 A, which is . -
considered to adsorb ozone and decompose the same. ~owever,
~- 030ne iS S0 extremely strong an oxidizing agent that the
surface o~ activated car~on or the surface of the fine holes
thereof is oxidized in the course of the adsorption of
ozone, following the steps as,illus~rated in Fig. 1.
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Eventually, the oxidizing performance of the activated
carbon is significantly decreased.
Tests for investigating the synergism of activated
carbon and terpenoid for decomposition of ozone will now be
explained.
~Test 1}
An activated carbon filter which had been used for
about 25 hours in an electrophotographic copying machine,
corresponding to the time required for makinq about 10,000
copies in the copying machine, was adsorbed with about
6 wt.% of terpenoid (d-limonene) and subjected to an ozone
decomposing test in which the filter was incorporated in an
experimental copy making machine and copies were made
continuously. The amount of the ozone dischargQd from the
copying machinQ per hour during the copy making procQs~ was
0.7 mQ/hr.
[Te-t 2]
T~st 1 was repeated except that-the activated carbon
fllter employed in Test 1 was replaced by an activated
`~ carbon filter which had been used for 25 hours, without
~ ab~orption of the terpenoid,employed in Test 1. The amo!unt
:.
of the ozone discharged from the copying machine per hour
during the COW making process was 4.0 mQ/hr.
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1331689
tTest 3~
Test 1 was repeated except that the activated carbon
filter employed in Test 1 was removed. The amount of the
ozone discharged from the copying machine per hour during
5 the copy making process was 13.4 mQ/hr.
The above data indicate that the ozone decomposing
performance of the used activated carbon can be
significantly recovered by the adsorption of terpenoid.
It is considered from the above data that when
10 aativated ¢arbon is employed in the present invention,
terpenoid is adsorbed by the surface of the fine pores of
the activated carbon, and when ozone comes into contact
with the actlvated carbon, the ozone is decomposed before
the activated carbon is oxidized. Therefore, if terpenoid
15 is constantly supplied onto the activated carbon, the
docompo~ition rato of ozono i8 improved and tho
detQrioration of the activated carbon can be prevented.
Fig. 2 illustrate~ an example of an ozone decomposing
apparatus 100 according to the present invention, in which
20 an ozone decomposing mat-rial according to the preoent
invention is employed. In the figure, reference numeral 1
-~ indi¢ates an air duct in which the air from which ozone is
to be oliminatad flow:o in the diroction of thejarrow. In
the air duct 1, a container 2a containing therein a
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1~31689
terpenoid ozone decomposing agent 3 is dlsposed upstream of
the air flow. Reference numeral 6a indicates a hole made in
the container 2, from which the vapor of the terpenoid ozone
dec~mposing agent 3 comes out. A honeycomb-like activ~ted
carbon filter 4, wh~ch ~erves not only as a ~upport ~aterial
for the ozone decomposing agent, but also as an ozone
decomposing element, ~s d~sposed down~tream of the air flow.
Be~ween the container 2a and the activated ~iarbon filter 4,
a fan S is disposed. By the ventilating force of the fan 5,
the vapor of the terpenoid ozone decomposin~ agent 3 is
dispersed from ~he container 2a and caused to be adsorbed
throuqhou~ the acti~rated carbon filter 4.
Fig. 3 is a perspec~ive ~riew of the main portion of the
ozone decomposing apparatus as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is
a~ enlarged perspective view of the container 2. In these
figures, reference n~meral 7 indicates a guide plate for
dispersing the vapor of the terpenoid 020ne decomposing
agent 3 uniformly.
Fig. 5 shows another examp~e of t~e container ~or the
terpenoid ozone decomposing agent 3, a container 2b, in
which a pl~rality of holes 6b are made.
When the concentration of 020ne is high, for instance, ~:~
100 ppm or more, as in an apparat~s for activatin~ the
" , , ~
~-~ surface of resin films and a sterilization apparatus for
.
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1331689
waterworks and sewage-trea~ment systems, it is pref erable to
place the ozone d~compo~ing filter 4 (comprising any of
granular activated carbon, honeycomb-like activated carbon,
and fibrous acti~a~ed carbon) and the container 2a or 2b ~or
the terpenoid ozone decomposing agent 3 alternati~ely in
the air duct 1, th~eby constructln~ an ozone d~composing
apparatus 200, as illu~trated in Flg. 6. Ihis ozone
decomposLnq appar4tus ~orks better than the conventional
ozone deaomposing apparatus. Further, this apparatus is not
only less expensive, but also smaller in si~e than the
conventional ozone decomposing apparatus.
In particular, when the concentr~tion of ozone is, for
instance, as high as S00 ppm or more, ~ince the ozone cannot
be decomposed to 0.1 ppm by a singl¢ step, the 020ne
. .
decomposlng apparatus as illustra~ed in Pig. 6 is effective
in which ozone is decomposed step by step by use of a
plurali~y of combinations o~ the ozone decomposing agent 3
contained ln the container:2a or 2b and the ozone
decomposing ~ilter 4. The number of the contai~ers 2a or 2b ~.
and the 020ne decomposing fllters 4, the length of the ai~
duct l, tho power of~the~fan 5, and the number of the holes
:~ made~in each container 2b are dete~mined in accordance with
the desired o,~one deç~ompositiQn rate.~ ;
' ~ As in an electrophotographic copying machine, when the
ozone decomposinq fi~ltor 4, the fan S and th~ terpenoid
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1331689
container 20 are closely disposed, it is preferable to use
the guide plate 7 for guiding the vapor of t~e terpenoid
ozone decomposing agent 3 onto the entire sur~ace of the
ozone decomposin~ fllt~r 4.
Example l-l
A honeycomb-lLke activated carbon filter ~made by
Toyobo Co.,~td.), which was used in an electrophotographic
~opying machine for a period of time correspondin~ to the
time required for making about 15,000 copies in the cop~ing
machine, was.placed together with d-limonene in a desiccator
for 2 days, so that d-limonene was adsorbed by the used
activated carbon filter. The wei~ht ratio of the absorbed
amount of d-limonene to the weight o~ the activated carbon
was 1 to 17, that is, lg of d-limenene was adsorbed by 17g
of activated carbo~.
': .
{Measurement ll ~ :
Air containing ozone was caused to flow, without
.. - .
incorporating the above activated carbon therein, through an ~ :
air duct at a flow rate of 1 m/sec and the amount of ozone
which was accumulated for 1 hour at the outlet thereo~ was
measured by.an ozonelanalyze~ ~Trademark `'Monito,r Labs Ozone
Analyzer 4BlOE). The ~esult was 14.0 m~/hr.
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tMea8urement 2]
Measurement 1 was repeated except that the
above-mentioned used activated carbon filter, without
d-limonene being absorbed therein, was incorporated in the
5 air duct, 80 that the amount of ozone at the out}et was
measured by the same ozone analyzer. The result wa~
5.0 mQ/hr.
tMea8urement 3~
Measurement 1 was repeated except that the
above-mentioned d-limonene absorbed, activated carbon
filter was incorporated in the alr duct, so that the
amount of ozone at the outlet was measured by the same
ozone analyzer. The result was 1.0 mQ/hr.
Exampl- 1-2
Hydroxy propylcellulose was added at a concentration
of 3% to purified benzyl alcohol and the mixture wa~
sub~eot-d to high speed stirrinq, 80 that hydroxy
0 propylcellulose was dls~o1ved in benzyl alcohol.
40 parts by weight of the above solution, 40 parts by
weight of d-limonene, and 15 parts by weight of propylene
~ glyco} were ~ixed anq~the mixture was 6tirred 810wly.
- 5 parts by weight of a saturated solution of
Z5 dibenzylidenesorbitol in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone were
dropwise added to the above ~ixture and stirred for 10
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1331~89
minites to prepare a viscous liquid. This vicous liquid was
allowed to stand at room tempexature for 1 hour, ~hereby a
jelly-like gelled terpenoid ozone decomposing agent was
o~tained.
In the air duct as illustrated ln Fig. 2, the same
actlvated carbon filter as that emplo~ed in Example 1-1, the
fan S, and ~he container 2a containln~ therein the above
prepared terpenoid ozone decomposing agent 3, having an
opening 6 with a diamete~ of 2 mm, were placed. Air
containing ozone was then ca~sed to flow through the air
duct at a flow rate of 1 m/sec. :~:
B~ use of the same ozone analyzer as that employed in -~
Example 1-1, the concentration of ozone at the outlet was :
measured. Initially the concentration of ozone was 0.02
ppm. ~his concentration was maintained for 5 hours.
The above indicates that the deterioration o~ the
activated carbon filter ~as prevented by the supply of ~-
d-limonene from the container 2a.
. ~
- The evaporation amount of the terpe~oid per~hour at :
~:~ 20C at the above flow rate of the air was 0.1 g and the
amount of the terpneoide contained in the container was lOOq.
.~ ~
Therefore, if it is Lncorporated in an electro~
photographic photoqonduqtor! which is operated for 5~hours~ a
~: : da~, the ozone decomposing agent will last for abou~ 20Q
day5.
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The pressure loss through the activatéd carbon filter
in the air duct was 2 mm/H20. This pressure 108s was not
changed at ali.
Example 1-3
A gas discharqe outlet of an apparatus for activating
the sur~ace of a resin film (~or example, polyester film and
polethylene ~ilm) was connected to the air duct of the ozone
decomposing apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 6.
The concentration of ozone dlscharged from the gas
discharge outlet of the apparatus was 500 ppm. The diameter
of the air duct was lO0 mm and the length of the duct was 3
m. In this air duct, lO activated carbon filters ~Trademark
"TAK Filter 800 Cell" made by Tokyo Roki.Company, 1td.) were
placed and lO contalners (50 x 50 ~ 5 mm) made of a 1exible
thin aluminum plate, with 3 openings having a diameter of 2
mm, were fixed to the bottom of the air duct ~y use of a
duplex adhesive tape as illust~ated in Fig. 6.
The flow rate of the discharged air at the outlet of
the duct was 0.5 m~sec. The pressure loss by each filter
~ was 4 mm~H O.
;:~ 2
~ .
When only the activated carbon filters were
incorporated, the oæone decomposing ratio was decreased to
: 45% ~n 25 hours ~s s~owh by curve B in Fig.. 7. In contrast ~
to this, when t~e containers containing the terpenoid were ::
.. j: .
2 1
.
~ ~
~. .
~.
~c.~
` ~ : :
::
1331689
placed in combination with the ~ctivated carbon filters, the
ozone decomposing ratio was ma~ntain~d at gS% as shown by
curve A in Fig. 7. It is considered that such high ozone
tecomposing per~ormance for an extended period o~ t~me was
attdined since the terpenoid (d-limonene) was eva~orated
from the openings o~ the 10 contain~rs and the vapor was
absorbed by the activated ~arbon, so that d-limonene was
oxidized ~y ozone, thereby decomposing ozone, ~efore the
activated carbon was oxidized.
Fig. 8 shows a fu~ther example of an ozone d~composing
apparatus 300 acc~rding to the present invention. ~ ;~
The ozone decomposing apparatus 300 comprises an upper
ozone decomposing material holding por~ion A and a lower
ozone decomposing agent holding portion B, which are held by
an external wall 12. The ozone decom~osing material holding
portion A comprises, for instance, an activated carbon
f~lter 13 wlth an vacant portion 1~ (as shown Ln Fig. 9),
and ~he ozone decomposing agent holding portion B comprises
, ~:
~r,,~ a con~ainer 14 in which, for instance, a ge}led terpenoid
~: ozone decomposing aqent 17 is contained. The ozone -
decomposing agent holding portion B includes an opening ~1
nrougn wnlcn tne vapor os a ~erpenold os the gelled
.-~
~erpenoid ozone decomposin~jagent l? comes out and is ! ~
di~persed. The vapor of the te~penoid is dispersed through
22 -
~ ~ '
`~'` ~ ' '
~,,";~
1331689
the vacan~ portion 19 and absorbed by the activated carbon
filter 13.
In this ozone decomposing apparatu~, the size of the
opening 11 of ~he contaLner 14 and the shape of the vacant
portion 19 are chan~ed, depending, for ~nstance, upon the
volatility of ~he terpenoid and the degree o~ the gellation
o the gelled terpenoid ozone decompo3$ng agent in such a
manner that the consumption of the terpenoid and the supply
of ~he same are well balanced.
The container 14 includes a window 20 with a use limit ~
line 18 thereon, through which the amount of the residual ~;
gelled terpenoid ozone decomposing agent 17 ca~ be seen.
W~en the amount of the gelled t~rpeno~d 17 is decreased
~èlow ~he level indi~ated by the use limit line 18, the
gelled terpenoid ozon~ decomposing agent 17 is discarded.
FLg. 9 ls a se~tion taken on line X - X in Fig. 8. As
shown in this figure, an opening rod 16 is held by a rod
support member 30 so as to be movable in the direction of
; ~ the arrow. The openLng 11 of the container 1~ is closed ~
w~th an aluminum sealing~sheet 15. ~he outer ~all lZ is ~ -
made o~,~for instance, an elastic plastic film, metal foil
or adheslve tape. When the oute~ wall 12 is depre~ieed in- ~ the direction of the arrow so as to move down the openin~
rod 16, a hole is mad~ in the aluminum sealing sheet 15, so
that the closed~opening l1;is~opened. The resul~ is that
.;~ :: ~
~ 23 -
.
:
i~
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the vapor of the terpenoid component evaporated fro~ the
gelled terpenoid spreads throughout the activated carbon
filter 13 through the vacant portion 19.
Fig. 10 is a perspective ~iew of the container 14 for
the ~elled ~erpenold. As m~ntion~d prev~ously, th~ opening
11 in the upper surface of the contalner 14 i~ ~ealed by the
aluminum seallng sheet 15, and ~hen the opening rod 16 i&
pushed in the direction o~ the arrow, a hole is made ln the
aluminum sealing sheet 15 so that the covered opening ll is
opened. As a matter of course, a plurality of openings can
be formed in the upper surface of the container 14 when ~.
necessary. In general, when the air does not flow above the
openin~ 11, the dispersion rate of the vapor of the
terpenoid component from the openinq ll~depends upon the
vapor pressure of the terpenoid component since the
diameter of ~he opening 11 is as small as 1 to 3 mm.
However, when the air flows above the openLng 11, the -
~ .
,~ ' dispersion rate of the vapor o~ the terpenoid component '~
significantly Lncreases depending upon the difference ~
bet~een~,the pressure withln the,container 14 and the '`'''
pressure outside the container 14.
Fi~. 11 is a schematic illustxation of an ozone
~ decomposing apparatus 400 according to the present
'~;': ~ invention, which is suitable for use with an apparatus for ::
~ activating the surface~o~:resin films for impro~ement of the -,
~::: ;~- ~
~ 24
: ~ .
. ~ ~
. -
1331689
ink recep~ivi~y and adhesiveness, and a sterilization
appara~us for waterworks and sewage-treatment system~ from
which ozone is generated with a conc~ntration of 500 ppm or
moxe. In this ozone decomposing apparatus, a plurality of
the ozone decomposln~ apparat~s shown t n Fig. 8 thraugh Fig. :.
10 are incorp~ated in an air duct 1 as shown in ~ig. ll.
In this sense, th~s apparatus i8 much sLmpler in structure
as compared with conventional ozonei decomposing systems for
use with the above~mentioned ap~aratus.
~ ig. 12 is ~ diag~am of a test apparatus for
investigating the performance of the ozone decomposing
apparatus 300 shown in~Fig. 8 ~hen it is used for a corona
~harging apparatus 115 of an electrophotographic copying ~i.
machine, in which test apparatu~ a blower 114 is provided
bet~een the corona charging apparatus 115 and the ozone
decomposing appar~tus 300.
Fig. 13 schematicall~ show~ an electrophotographic
copying machine in which the ozone decomposing apparatus
shown in Fig. ~ is incorporated.
In both the ozone decomposing apparatus 400 as shown in
.:
`~ Fig. 11 and the ozone decomposing appara~us incorporated in
the electrophotographic copying apparatus 300 shown in Fig.
11, the timing for exchang~n~,the used gel~ed terpenoid
with a new gelled terpenoid can be checked from the
: previously mentioned use limit line 18 in the window 20.
~, ~
~ 25 ~:
133168~
Example 2-1
The ozone decomposing apparatus 300 as shown in Fig. 8
through Fig. 10 was constructed in the following manner:
A pair of honeycomb-like activated carbon filters (80
S mm (H) x 80 mm (W) x 10 mm (P)) (made by Toyobo Co.,
Ltd.), with a gap of 10 mm therebetween, were fixed to a
container (80 x 30 x 30 mm) containing 50 g of a gelled
terpenoid by use of an adhesive tape. As the gelled
terpenoid ozone decomposing agent, the same ozone
10 decomposing agent as that prepared in Example 1-2 was
employed.
The container was made of transparent polypropylene,
with an opening having a diameter of 2 mm made in the
upper side thereof. The opening was sealed by an aluminum
15 foil. An opening rod, made of wood, having a length of 80
mm and a tip having a diamQter of 1.8 mm, was supported by
use of an adhesive tape and an opening rod support member
in ~uch a configuration as illustrated in Fig. 9.
20 Examp}e 2-2
A honeycomb-likQ a¢tivated carbon filter (made by
, .
Toyobo Co., Ltd.) was used in a conventional
electropho~tographiclcopying~machinQ~ for a period of time
corrQsponding to the time for making about 15,000 copiQs
25 in the~elQctrophotographic copying machlne, whereby a
first used honeycomb-like activated carbon filter was
prepared.
- 26 -
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1331689
In the same manner, a second used honeycomb-like
aativated carbon filter was prepared. The second used
honeycomb-~ike activated aarbon filter was placed together
with the ~elled terpenoid prepared in Example 1-2 in a
~e~iccator for 1 day, so that the terpenoid was adsorbed by
the second used honeycomb-llke activated carbon filter.
The first activated carbon fil~er free from the
terpenoid and the second a~tivated carbon filter with ~he
terpenoid absorbed therein were successively incorporated
in an electrophoto~raphic copying tes~ machine as
illustra~ed 1n ~ig. 13.
The air flow rate at an air outlet of ~he test machine,
at which any of the above activated carbon filters was
incorporat~d, ~as 1 m/sec. The amount of the ozone
discharqed from the test copying machine was measured by
Monitor Labs Ozone Anal~2er 8410E.
~Test 4]
The test copying machine was run without incorporati~g
any activated carbon filter.
.~ ~
Test 5l
he test copying machine was run with the first
activated carbon fLlter!incorporated therein.
t Test 6 ]
,~ ~ :
~:
,.,
27 -
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1331689
The test copyinS~ machine was run wi~ch the second
activated carbon f ilter incorporated therein .
~ he amounts of ozone discharged ~rom the copying
machine in the above tests were as follows: ~.
'
r:
-
' :' ' "
~;~" : / ;
? ~
- 2 8
.~ - ,.
~ -
: .
`::
: .
:, . . ,. - ~. :. r: :.'. - , . . ;.~ : :` `:':: - i : .
1331~89
. .,
Test 4 Test 5 Test 6
(without Filter) (with First Filter) (~ith Second ~ilterl
1st day 14.0 mQ/hr 5.0 mQ/hr 1.0 mQ/hr ;:
_ .
~nd day 14.~ mQ/hr 5.1 m2/h~ 1.1 m~hr
_ .-, _.,
3rd day 14.0 mQ/hr 5.3 m~/hr 0.9 mQ/hr
5th da~ 14.0 m~/hr 5.8 mQ/hr 0,~ r
In the above tests, on ~he first day, the data were
obtained one hour after the starting of the copying mach~ne
and thereafter the copying machine ~as run for S hours. On
the second day, the third day and the fifth day, the data.
were obtained 10 minutes after the starting of the copying
machine and thereafter the aop~ing machine was run for 5
hours.
The first activated carbon filter free from the
terpenoid had ozone decomposing performance to some extent.
However, the ozone decomposing performance gradually
decreased as can be seen from the aboYe.
~ n contrast to this, the second activated carbo~ filter
with the terpenoid adsorbed therebY maintained high ozone
decomposing performance for an extended period of time,
possibly because the terpenoid was continuously supplied to
th~ activated carbon filter.
i
- 29 -
.
Example 2-3 1331689
The following two types o~ used acti~ated carbon
filters were prepared with the 8ame shape and ~truature as
in the used activated carbon filter emploYed in Example 2
EActivated Ca~on F~lter Al
A ~one~comb-like filter with activated carbon deposited
on paper fibers.
[Activated Carbon Filter B3
- A honeycomb-like filter with activated c?~rbon contained
in ceramics.
~.
The above two types acti~?ted carbon filters A and B - .
were employed individually and in combination with the s~me
gelled terpenoid employed in Example 1-2, ~hereby ~he
following four different ozone decomposin~ apparatuses were
set up and lncorporated in the:test apparatus as shown in .
Fig. 12. They are Ozone Decomposing Apparatus A (Activated
Car~on Filter A + Gelled Terpenoide), Ozone Decomposing
, ~ :
Apparat~s A'~Activated Carbon Filter A only), Ozone
Decomposing Apparatus ~ (ActLvated Carbon Filter B + Gelled
Terpenolde), and ozone ~ecomposing Apparatus B' (Activated
~-~ Carbon Filter B' only).
The ozone decomposing cond~tions were as ~ollows:
30 -
~ .
~`:
1331689
Air ~low rate at the outlet: 0.8 m/sec
Te~perature and humidity; 20 to 25C, 60 to 80%R~
Pressure loss; 2 mm/H~O
Ozone detection Appara~us: ozone Analyzer 8410E
Measurement position: within an area of 10 cm
from the air outl~t
Amoun~ of ozone ~nerated: 25 m~/hr within an area
of 10 cm from ~he air
outlet without ozone
decomposing apparatus
Concentration of ozone 1.0 to 1.2 ppm within an
generated: area of 10 cm from the
air outlet without ozone
deco~posing apparatus
Met~od of measuring the
concentration of ozone: same as in Example 2-2
Evaporation rate of
terpenoid: 0.1 g/hr at the above
air flow rate from an
opening having a diameter
of 2 mm, and 0.01 g/hr
from the opening when no
air flows thereabove
The results of the above measurement were as follows:
. .... , ~
Ozone Decomposing Concentration of Ozone (ppm)
~ Apparatu~ :- .
;.: 1st Day 2nd Day 3rd Day 5th Day : .-
:~ A 0.10 0.10 0.08 0.07 .-~- ~ ~
A' 0.10 0.10 0~11 0.14
.~ .. .. .
: s 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.06
,. _ ! ~ ~ . . . . . l
: ~' 0.10 0.1~ 0.1Z 0.13
~:
~. ,
~: - 31 -
~:
~:
1331689
~ he above results indicate that the terpenoid which
evaporates from the opening of the container is ads~rbed by
any of the above activated carbon filters, regardless of t~ie
kind and shape ~hereof, so that the ozone decomposing:~`
performance of each of the activated ca~bon filters A and B
is maintained.
. . ~.
! - . ~
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. ~` .
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. - 32 -
.-
