Cleansing agent generator and dispenser
AssigneeCeramatec, Inc.
InventorsAshok V. Joshi, Shekar Balagopal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electrochemical apparatus and processes for the point-of-use production of cleansing, sanitizing, and antimicrobial agents, such as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or hypochlorous acid (HOCl). The processes may be used to produce NaOCl from seawater, low purity un-softened or NaCl-based salt solutions. HOCl may be produced from HCl solutions and water. NaOCl is produced using a sodium ion conductive ceramic membrane, such as membranes based on NASICON-type materials, in an electrolytic cell. HOCl is produced using an anion conductive membrane in an electrolytic cell. The cleansing, sanitizing, and antimicrobial agent may be generated on demand and used in household, industrial, and water treatment applications.
Claims14
A system to generate and dispense a cleansing agent at the point-of-use comprising:
- an electrolytic cell configured to generate a cleansing agent comprising:
- an anode in an anolyte compartment comprising anolyte solution, wherein the cleansing agent is generated in the anolyte compartment;
- a cathode in a catholyte compartment comprising catholyte solution;
- and
- a cleansing agent discharge opening to remove the cleansing agent generated in the anolyte compartment at the point-of-use;
- a power source to supply electric current to the electrolytic cell;
- a controller electrically coupled to the electrolytic cell and to the power source to control the rate and amount of cleansing agent generated;
- and
- wherein the electrolytic cell generates HOCl and comprises a chlorine ion conductive membrane.
A system to generate and dispense a cleansing agent at the point-of-use comprising:
- an electrolytic cell configured to generate a cleansing agent comprising:
- an anode in an anolyte compartment comprising anolyte solution, wherein the cleansing agent is generated in the anolyte compartment and the cleansing agent is selected from NaOCl and HOCl;
- a cathode in a catholyte compartment comprising catholyte solution;
- and
- a cleansing agent discharge opening to remove the cleansing agent generated in the anolyte compartment at the point-of-use;
- a power source to supply electric current to the electrolytic cell;
- a feeder to resupply one or more of the catholyte compartment or anolyte compartment with catholyte solution or anolyte solution;
- a controller electrically coupled to the electrolytic cell, to the power source, to the feeder, and to a plurality of sensors, wherein the controller controls the rate and amount of cleansing agent generated, wherein the controller determines anolyte solution requirements in the anolyte compartment or catholyte solution requirements in the catholyte compartment, wherein the controller resupplies one or more of the catholyte compartment or anolyte compartment with catholyte solution or anolyte solution according to the anolyte or catholyte solution requirements;
- and,
- wherein the electrolytic cell generates HOCl and comprises a chlorine ion conductive membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.