# US 11,111,160 B2 · Asymmetric electrochemical cell apparatus, and operating methods thereof

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- Number: US 11,111,160 B2
- Document ID: US11111160B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/753,717
- Filed: 2016-08-25
- Published: 2018-08-23
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-25
- Assignees: Bar-Ilan University
- Applicants: Bar-Ilan University
- Inventors: Doron Aurbach; Eran Avraham; Izaak Cohen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111160B2

## CPC

- C02F 1/4618: {for producing "ionised" acidic or basic water}
- A61P 17/10: Anti-acne agents
- A61P 31/04: Antibacterial agents
- C01B 11/04: Hypochlorous acid
- C01B 11/06: Hypochlorites
- C02F 1/467: by electrochemical disinfection; {by electrooxydation or by electroreduction}
- C25B 1/26: Chlorine; Compounds thereof (by simultaneous production of alkali metal hydroxides and chlorine, oxyacids or salts of chlorine C25B1/34)
- C25B 9/17: Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
- C25B 11/057: consisting of a single element or compound
- C25B 11/063: Valve metal, e.g. titanium
- C25B 11/065: Carbon
- C25B 15/02: Process control or regulation
- C25B 15/029: Concentration
- C25B 15/031: pH
- C25B 15/08: Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
- C25B 15/087: {Recycling of electrolyte to electrochemical cell}
- C02F 1/46109: {Electrodes}
- C02F 2001/46133: {characterised by the material}
- C02F 2001/46185: {only anodic or acidic water, e.g. for oxidizing or sterilizing}
- C02F 2001/4619: {only cathodic or alkaline water, e.g. for reducing}
- C02F 2201/4618: Supplying or removing reactants or electrolyte
- C02F 2209/06: pH
- C02F 2307/02: as part of a bottle
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)

## Abstract

Asymmetric electrochemical cell apparatus, and methods of operating such apparatus to produce electrolyzed water.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A towel, comprising:
(a) at least a first electrode layer covered by a cloth suitable to reduce mechanical abrasion;
(b) at least a second electrode layer;
(c) an electrically insulating layer disposed in between said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer; at least one of said first electrode layer, said electrically insulating layer, and said second electrode layer being adapted to absorb a liquid;
(d) connectors to facilitate connection of said first electrode layer and said second electrode layer to a power supply; and
(e) an electrochemical capacitance ratio (Rec) of said at least a first electrode layer to said at least a second electrode layer of at least 7:1.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The towel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first electrode layer comprises activated carbon.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The towel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second electrode layer comprises a construct selected from a graphite sheet, a carbon cloth, a carbon paper and a titanium cloth.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An assembly comprising:
A towel as claimed in claim 1, and a power supply connected to said connectors, said power supply adapted to apply an electrical current between said first and second electrode layers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The assembly as claimed in claim 4 comprising a processor adapted to reverse a polarity of said electrical current.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A method comprising:
wetting a towel in the assembly of claim 4 with tap water;
applying an electrical current between said first and second electrode layers using said power supply;
wherein said current generates hypohalous acid from said tap water.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, comprising wiping a surface with said towel so that said hypohalous acid exerts an antimicrobial effect on said surface.

### Claim 8

An asymmetric electrochemical cell comprising:
(a) at least a first electrode layer;
(b) at least a second electrode layer;
(c) an electrochemical capacitance ratio (Rec) of the first electrode layer to the second electrode layer of at least 3:1;
(d) a housing adapted to contain the first and the second electrodes such that they are immersed in an aqueous solution during use;
(e) a processor; and
(f) a power supply;
wherein the electrodes are connected to the opposite poles of the power supply, and wherein the processor and the power supply are adapted to apply a first electric current between said first and said second electrodes layers during a first mode and a second electric current during a second mode, suitable to produce hypohalous acid from a solution containing alkali metal cations and halogen anions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The asymmetric electrochemical cell according to claim 8, installed in a vessel equipped with a spraying head operable to spray a liquid contained in said vessel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The asymmetric electrochemical cell according to claim 8, wherein the second electrode layer comprises a construct selected from a graphite sheet, a carbon cloth, a carbon paper and a titanium sponge.