Adsorption structure, adsorption structure unit, and method for manufacturing same

#The present invention relates to an adsorption structure, an adsorption structure unit, and a method for manufacturing the same and, more particularly, to a ceramic filter for water treatment used for adsorption-based contaminant removal, a ceramic filter unit, and a method for manufacturing the same.

#A water treatment system using a reverse osmosis membrane has been put to practical use in advanced treatment for water purification. The reverse osmosis membrane is a type of separation membrane and contaminants deposited on the separation membrane are removed by a regular flow of a washing liquid through the surface of the membrane. Usually, the reverse osmosis membrane gradually deteriorates due to the washing liquid, and thus reverse osmosis membrane modules are exchanged. It necessary to stop the water treatment operation for a long time during the reverse osmosis membrane module exchange. In addition, the reverse osmosis membrane module cannot be recycled, and thus replacement with a new reverse osmosis membrane module becomes necessary. These necessities lead to a decline in capacity utilization and an increase in running costs per unit water quantity such as waste disposal costs and reverse osmosis membrane-related consumables costs.

#Proposed in this regard is a technique for achieving an extension in life until reverse osmosis membrane exchange by adding a pretreatment process of pre-removing contaminants such as organic matter ahead of the reverse osmosis membrane. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a honeycomb-shaped adsorption structure provided with an outer wall, a plurality of flow paths provided inside the outer wall, and a partition wall separating the flow paths. The thickness of partition wall is smaller than the diameter of the flow path. The adsorption structure performs organic matter adsorption by having interconnected pores allowing communication between the flow paths. Unlike particulate adsorption materials, this adsorption structure has no fluidity. Accordingly, this adsorption structure is advantageous in terms of maintenance work convenience such as exchange convenience and cost reduction can be achieved as a result.

#FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a ceramic filter according to a first embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a ceramic filter unit of the first embodiment.

#FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a ceramic filter according to a second embodiment.

#Preferred configurations of an adsorption structure and an adsorption structure unit according to the present invention will be schematically described before embodiments of the present invention are described.

#A ceramic filter portion and a water-impermeable outer tube storing the filter portion constitute the adsorption structure such as a ceramic filter for water treatment. The adsorption structure unit is configured by the adsorption structure being stored in a housing.

#Preferably, a ceramic honeycomb structure can be used for the filter portion. The filter portion has a plurality of flow paths and a porous ceramic partition wall the separating adjacent flow paths. The plurality of flow paths are disposed such that the cross sections of the plurality of flow paths are closely arranged on the end surfaces of the flow paths, and the end surfaces on an inflow side or an outflow side are formed so as to be plugged with each other. Specifically, the filter portion has a first flow path and a second flow path. As for the first flow path, the inflow end for water before treatment is open and the outflow end for water after treatment on the opposite side is shut by a plugged portion. As for the second flow path, the outflow end for water after treatment is open and the inflow end for water before treatment on the opposite side is shut by a plugged portion. The first flow path and the second flow path are alternately disposed. With such a structure, feed water introduced to the surface of the inflow-side end of the filter portion always passes through the inner portion of the Partition wall and contaminants contained in the water are adsorbed and removed on the surfaces of pores in the porous ceramic partition wall.