CATALYST FOR DISINFECTION, STERILIZATION AND PURIFICATION OF AIR, AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A method of utilizing a catalyst for the sterilization, disinfection and purification of indoor air. The catalyst carrier is made of inorganic porous material such as Silica, Zeolite, Diatomite, Sepiolite, Montmoroillonite, and Aluminum oxide. The catalyst carrier can also be made of Cordierite, or Mullite ceramic honeycomb. After dipping into stabilized sodium hypochlorite solution or stabilized chlorine dioxide solution, the catalyst is produced after dehydration. The catalyst is irradiated with ultraviolet lamp to generate gas-phase free radicals including reactive particles such as .OH, .ClO2, .HO2, .O, thereby sterilizing microbial air pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms, and remove chemical air pollutants such as formaldehyde.

Claims

1. A catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air the catalyst comprises a porous inorganic catalyst carrier, the catalyst can generates a large scale of free radicals in gas phase comprising OH, .ClO.sub.2, .HO.sub.2 and .O, which absorb and oxidize the virus, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms in the air, and clears the formaldehyde and other chemical contaminants by oxidation.

2. The catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air according to claim 1, wherein the porous inorganic catalyst carrier is impregnated in stabilized chlorine dioxide solution or stabilized sodium hypochlorite solution, and the catalyst is formed after the carrier is dried at a temperature lower than 85 C.

3. The catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air according to claim 2, wherein the porous inorganic catalyst carrier can be a structured carrier with hole density between 30 mesh to 900 mesh, such as cordierite or mullite ceramic honeycomb, which is designed into a certain size that is suitable for manufacture, and is combined in series or in parallel according to actual requirements to meet different using requirements for purification filter air flow and air resistance, the porous inorganic catalyst carrier with hole density of 400 mesh is preferred.

4. The catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air according to claim 2, wherein the porous inorganic catalyst carrier comprises one or more of aluminum oxide, silica, zeolite, sepiolite, montmorillonite, and diatomite, with density greater than 100 meshes, the porous inorganic catalyst material has specific surface area greater than 10 m.sup.2 per gram.

5. The catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air according to claim 2, wherein the stabilized chlorine dioxide solution is prepared by the following procedures: a high purity chlorine dioxide generator is used to obtain chlorine dioxide gas with purity over 98%, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate is used as stabilizer, a absorbing liquid is prepared and finally a solution with chlorine dioxide content of 2%-5% is prepared.

6. The catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air according to claim 2, wherein the stabilized chlorite solution comprises: chlorite 0.1-10%; stabilizer solution 0.1-5%; buffer solution 0.05-15%; absorbers 0.1-75%; chlorite can be an alkali metal salt or alkaline metal salt of chlorous acid, such as sodium chlorite, potassium chlorite, or lithium chlorite.

7. A disinfection and purification method, wherein a catalyst according to claim 9 is used, the catalyst can be pre-processed into any shape according to different requirements; when the catalyst is placed on the microenvironment of air filtration system or portable air disinfection and purification equipment, after it is activated by ultraviolet with density greater than 30 mW/cm.sup.2, microbial contaminants and chemical pollutants can be effectively removed.

8. The disinfection and purification method according to claim 7, wherein the ultraviolet is provided by either mercury UV lamp or LED UV lamp, each of three wavelengths in UV light (A, B, and C) can activate the catalyst to generate a large amount of free radicals in gas phase.

9. The catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is irradiated by ultraviolet.

10. The catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air according to claim 2, wherein the catalyst is irradiated by ultraviolet.

11. The catalyst for disinfection, sterilization and purification of air according to claim 4, wherein, preferably, the porous inorganic catalyst material has specific surface area greater than 100 m.sup.2 per gram, and the particle size thereof is preferably 2-3 mm or 3-5 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a view of a test prototype KF-501A installed with the catalyst of this invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows the sterilization rate using KF-501A;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows the formaldehyde removal rate using KF-501A;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows the formaldehyde removal rate using KF-501A in comparison with acknowledged brand of air purification machine and high concentration of ozone;

[0025] FIG. 5 shows formaldehyde removal rate using KF-501A at lowest power rating in comparison with a Swiss acknowledged brand at its highest power rating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiment

[0026] First, stabilized sodium chlorite solution was prepared,

[0027] 5000 ml of purified water was measured, 400 g sodium chlorite with 80% purity was weighed and dissolved in water. Then, weigh 100 g sodium chloride was weighed and added in the solution, stirred till fully dissolved. Then 20 g sodium borate tetrahydrate was added, and 20 ml 30% hydrogen peroxide was added. The solution was filtered after stirring. Finally, the pH value was adjusted to the range between 8.0 and 9.5 with sodium carbonate. Then 3000 g silica with particle size between 3-5 mm was added and fully immersed into the solution, stirred for 1 to 2 hours, the remaining liquid was filtered, the catalyst was blown dry and then heated dry at 65 C. in a vacuum furnace till moisture level 8%. After cooling, the material can be used to make two air filters that are assembled in a double-sided inlet air disinfection purifier KF-501A. This purifier is not equipped with UV lamp, and the air filters are used in conjunction with H13HEPA air filter for indoor air purification, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] Third party testing data for sterilization rate in a 30 m.sup.3 test chamber is shown in FIG. 2.

[0029] Third party testing data for formaldehyde removal rate in a 30 m3 test chamber, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0030] Formaldehyde removal rate curve comparison between KF-501A and other international well-known air purifier brand in a 10 m.sup.3 test chamber is shown in FIG. 4.

[0031] Formaldehyde removal rate curve comparison between KF-501A operates at its lowest power rating and a Swiss acknowledged air purifier brand operates at its highest power rating in a 10 m.sup.3 test chamber is shown in FIG. 5.