METHOD FOR DECOMPOSING NICOTINE

Abstract

Provided is a method for decomposing nicotine in a simple way. A method for decomposing nicotine, according to the present invention, includes a step(a) of irradiating ultraviolet light with a main peak wavelength of 200 nm to 230 nm in a target room allowing smoking to decompose the nicotine.

Claims

1. A method for decomposing nicotine, the method comprising a step (a) of irradiating ultraviolet light with a main peak wavelength of 200 nm to 230 nm in a target room allowing smoking to decompose the nicotine.

2. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) includes irradiating the ultraviolet light from an excimer lamp enclosed with a light-emitting gas containing Kr and Cl.

3. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 1, wherein the step (a) includes a step of irradiating the ultraviolet light toward an inner wall surface of the target room or a surface of an object installed in the target room.

4. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 1, the method further comprising a step (b) of generating an air current to exhaust an atmosphere in the target room to an outside of the target room, wherein the step (b) includes exhausting the atmosphere containing a nicotine decomposition product generated by the step (a) to the outside of the target room.

5. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 4, wherein the step (b) includes generating the air current flowing along an inner wall surface of the target room.

6. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 2, wherein the step (a) includes a step of irradiating the ultraviolet light toward an inner wall surface of the target room or a surface of an object installed in the target room.

7. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 2, the method further comprising a step (b) of generating an air current to exhaust an atmosphere in the target room to an outside of the target room, wherein the step (b) includes exhausting the atmosphere containing a nicotine decomposition product generated by the step (a) to the outside of the target room.

8. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 3, the method further comprising a step (b) of generating an air current to exhaust an atmosphere in the target room to an outside of the target room, wherein the step (b) includes exhausting the atmosphere containing a nicotine decomposition product generated by the step (a) to the outside of the target room.

9. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 6, the method further comprising a step (b) of generating an air current to exhaust an atmosphere in the target room to an outside of the target room, wherein the step (b) includes exhausting the atmosphere containing a nicotine decomposition product generated by the step (a) to the outside of the target room.

10. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 7, wherein the step (b) includes generating the air current flowing along an inner wall surface of the target room.

11. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 8, wherein the step (b) includes generating the air current flowing along an inner wall surface of the target room.

12. The method for decomposing nicotine, according to claim 9, wherein the step (b) includes generating the air current flowing along an inner wall surface of the target room.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a method for decomposing nicotine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view illustrating a configuration of an excimer lamp as an example of a light source.

[0029] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 2A.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating a spectrum of ultraviolet light L1 emitted from an excimer lamp in which a light-emitting gas contains KrCl.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an exposure dose and a rate of decline of nicotine in response to irradiation with ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 222 nm.

[0032] FIG. 5A is a graph illustrating a measurement result of an absorption spectrum of an aqueous nicotine solution.

[0033] FIG. 5B is a graph of an expanded range of some wavelengths in FIG. 5A.

[0034] FIG. 6 is another schematic view illustrating a method for decomposing nicotine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 7A is another schematic view illustrating a method for decomposing nicotine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 7B is another schematic view illustrating a method for decomposing nicotine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0037] An embodiment of a method for decomposing nicotine according to the present invention will be described regarding the drawings as appropriate.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a method for decomposing nicotine according to an implementation state of the present invention. The method for decomposing nicotine according to the present invention involves irradiating ultraviolet light L1 from a light source 3 in a target room allowing smoking to decompose the nicotine.

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a case example where a wall surface 1a of the target room 1 is irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1 from the light source 3. In the example of FIG. 1, the target room 1 is provided with an air outlet 7 for exhausting the room atmosphere to the outside of the room.

[0040] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a situation in which the target room 1 is a smoking room and a smoker 2 is smoking.

[0041] In the present embodiment, the light source 3 is made up of an excimer lamp that emits the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength of around 222 nm. FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view illustrating a configuration of the excimer lamp, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1 of FIG. 2A.

[0042] An excimer lamp 10 includes a light-emitting tube 11 extending along a direction d1. The light-emitting tube 11 is made of a dielectric such as synthetic quartz glass, a material that transmits ultraviolet light L1. The light-emitting tube 11 is sealed inside, and the inside is enclosed with a light-emitting gas 12G that forms excimer molecules by electrical discharge.

[0043] The excimer lamp 10 includes a pair of electrodes 13 (13a, 13b) formed on a tube wall of the light-emitting tube 11. In an example of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the electrode 13a disposed on a side of the excimer lamp 10 (+d2 side) from which the ultraviolet light L1 is extracted has a mesh or linear shape. The electrode 13b disposed on the opposite side has a film shape. In this case, it is preferable that the electrode 13b is made of a metallic material (such as A1 or an A1 alloy) that exhibits reflectivity to the ultraviolet light L1 or that a reflective film (not illustrated) is disposed of on the tube wall of the light-emitting tube 11 on the side on which the electrode 13b is formed. The reflective film may be made of A1, an A1 alloy, stainless steel, silica, silica-alumina, or the like.

[0044] However, if the ultraviolet light L1 is extracted from the excimer lamp 10 in both +d2 and −d2 directions, the electrode 13b may also have a mesh or linear shape.

[0045] When a high-frequency alternating voltage of about 50 kHz to 5 MHz, for example, is applied between the pair of the electrodes 13 (13a, 13b) of the excimer lamp 10 from a lighting power source (not illustrated) via a feeder, the voltage is applied to the light-emitting gas 12G via the light-emitting tube 11. At this time, discharge plasma is generated in a discharge space in which the light-emitting gas 12G is enclosed, so that atoms of the light-emitting gas 12G are excited to be brought into an excimer state, and excimer light emission occurs when the atoms shift to the ground state.

[0046] The light-emitting gas 12G is made of a material that emits the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength of 200 nm to 230 nm both inclusive at the time of excimer emission. In one example, the light-emitting gas 12G contains KrCl or KrBr.

[0047] For example, when the light-emitting gas 12G contains KrCl, the excimer lamp 10 emits the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength of around 222 nm. When the light-emitting gas 12G contains KrBr, the excimer lamp 10 emits the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength of around 207 nm. FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating a spectrum of the ultraviolet light L1 emitted from the excimer lamp 10 in which the light-emitting gas 12G contains KrCl.

[0048] A verification was conducted to confirm that nicotine can be decomposed through irradiation of the nicotine with the ultraviolet light L1 that has a main peak wavelength of 222 nm as shown with the spectrum in FIG. 3.

[0049] Specifically, nicotine (FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation-made, Wako 1st Grade) was diluted with isopropyl alcohol (hereinafter abbreviated as “IPA”). Two dilution ratios, 1/10.sup.5 and 1/10.sup.6, were used. A 10 μL dilute solution prepared in this way was applied to a polycarbonate (PC) plate 1 cm square to make a specimen.

[0050] As a preliminary experiment, an area 10 cm square on a wall surface of a smoking room was wiped with filament nonwoven fabric (e.g., Asahi Kasei Corporation-made BEMCOT (registered trademark)) containing IPA to collect a sample, and the collected sample was analyzed using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS, JEOL Ltd.-made, JMS-Q1500GC). As a result, nicotine concentration was in a range from 1/10.sup.5 to 1/10.sup.6 both inclusive when the concentration was converted to a corresponding dilution ratio. Since it was probable, based on the results of the preliminary experiment, that nicotine at a concentration in the range from 1/10.sup.5 to 1/10.sup.6 both inclusive was attached to the wall surface of the smoking room, specimens containing nicotine diluted at the dilution ratios described above were made.

[0051] A surface of each of the made specimens was irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength of 222 nm at an irradiance of 1 mW/cm.sup.2 from the excimer lamp 10. After that, each specimen was inserted in a headspace screw-thread vial for GC-MS (GL Sciences Inc.-made: 1030-51096) and was heated at 60° C. for 60 minutes. Then, the specimen was absorbed by a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber (PDMS/DVB df 65 μm: Sigma-Aldrich-made) and was analyzed using a GC-MS (JEOL Ltd.-made, JMS-Q1500GC). The result of this analysis is shown in FIG. 4.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a graph with the horizontal axis representing an exposure dose [mJ/cm.sup.2] of the ultraviolet light L1 and the vertical axis representing a rate of decline of nicotine from an initial stage. In this verification, the specimens were irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1 at an irradiance of 1 mW/cm.sup.2, as described above. Thus, the exposure dose [mJ/cm.sup.2] of the horizontal axis can be read as irradiation time [seconds].

[0053] According to the result in FIG. 4, it is observed that 75% or more of the nicotine can be decomposed by irradiating the specimens with the ultraviolet light L1 at an exposure dose of 200 mJ/cm.sup.2. When the nicotine dilution ratio is 1/10.sup.6, all the nicotine is decomposed by irradiating the specimen with the ultraviolet light L1 at an exposure dose of 300 mJ/cm.sup.2.

[0054] As described above in the “MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS” section, if human skin is irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength of 200 nm to 230 nm both inclusive, the ultraviolet light is absorbed by the Stratum corneum of the skin and does not advance further inside (toward the Stratum basale). Thus, even in a period during which a human (the smoker 2 in FIG. 1) is present in the target room 1, the inner wall surface 1a of the target room 1 can be irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1 from the light source 3.

[0055] In particular, when the target room 1 is a smoking room, the smoker 2 is expected to leave the room once the smoker finishes smoking. As a result, any identical person is less likely to stay in the room for a long time. Hence, if the light source 3 is placed in the target room 1 and the wall surface is irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1 in a period during which a smoker 2 is present, the risk of causing the smoker 2 to be exposed to the light to such an extent that the body of the smoker is influenced is extremely low.

[0056] However, there may exist a smoker 2 unwilling to be in the target room 1 in which the ultraviolet light L1 is radiated despite virtually no influence on the human body. Thus, when the target room 1 is a smoking room, a control unit (not illustrated) included in the light source 3 may take control to stop irradiation with the ultraviolet light L1 in response to the detection of the presence of the smoker 2 in the target room 1. More specifically, the control unit may take control to stop the flow of electricity to the pair of the electrodes 13 (13a,13b). In one example, a method of detecting the presence of the smoker 2 in the target room 1 can be implemented with a device such as a motion sensor disposed of in the target room 1 or a sensor for detecting entry of a human into the target room 1 (e.g., automatic door opening and closing).

[0057] When the light source 3 includes the control unit, the control unit may take control such that the light source 3 alternates lighting on and off at predetermined time intervals. As observed from the result in FIG. 4, an amount of the decomposed nicotine increases with a rise in the exposure dose to the nicotine. Thus, even if the ultraviolet light L1 is intermittently radiated at a plurality of times, the nicotine remaining in the target room 1 can be decomposed in a similar way.

[0058] In the example of FIG. 1, an atmosphere G1 in the target room 1 is exhausted through the air outlet 7 provided for the target room 1. Thus, the nicotine decomposition product generated through the decomposition of the nicotine by irradiation with the ultraviolet light L1 is exhausted out of the target room 1 by riding an air current of the atmosphere G1. The products generated through the decomposition by irradiation of the nicotine with the ultraviolet light L1 include nicotinamide and nornicotine. However, any nitrosamine is not generated. This substantially reduces the amount of nitrosamine, a carcinogen, generated over time due to the nicotine remaining in the target room 1.

[0059] FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphs each illustrating an absorption spectrum of an aqueous nicotine solution. After solutions in which nicotine was diluted at dilution ratios, 1/10.sup.4 and 1/10.sup.5 were made in the similar way described above, the absorbance of the solutions was measured using an absorptiometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.-made, NanoDrop One). The graph of FIG. 5A shows measurement results. It is observed that even with a further increase in nicotine concentration by adjustment of the dilution ratio, absorbance at a wavelength of 300 nm or less does not virtually rise. This result illustrates that the light absorbency of nicotine is low. FIG. 5B is a graph showing an expanded range of some wavelengths in FIG. 5A.

[0060] Given the results of FIGS. 5A and 5B, it is observed that the light absorptive power of nicotine is extremely low on a side of long wavelengths, i.e., wavelengths longer than and equal to 300 nm. While the spectrum has an absorptive peak at a wavelength of around 260 nm, absorption of light by the nicotine is also observed in a wavelength range from 200 nm to 230 nm both inclusive. According to the result in FIG. 4, it is observed that the nicotine can be decomposed by radiation of the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength of around 222 nm. Thus, given the results of FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B, it is found that the nicotine can be decomposed similarly by radiation of the ultraviolet light L1 not only with a wavelength of around 222 nm but also with a main peak wavelength ranging from 200 nm to 230 nm.

[0061] From the viewpoint of efficient nicotine decomposition, it is expected that radiation of ultraviolet light with a wavelength of around 260 nm provides a higher decomposition rate compared to radiation of the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength ranging from 200 nm to 230 nm. A light source that emits ultraviolet light in the longer-wavelength range is a low-pressure mercury lamp, for example.

[0062] However, there is a risk that ultraviolet light with a wavelength of around 260 nm may harm the human body, such as DNA damage if the human body is irradiated with such ultraviolet light. Hence, the use of such a light source is required to be strictly controlled such that the light source turns on only when the nonexistence of any human (e.g., the smoker 2) in the target room 1 is confirmed. A conceivable way of minimizing the risk is, for example, an embodiment where the nonexistence of any human in the target room 1 can be confirmed with a device such as a motion sensor placed in the target room 1, and control is taken to allow the light source to turn on only in a limited period during which any human is thought to never enter the target room 1. However, this control may result in a short time for which the light source is allowed to turn on in the target room 1 and thus the efficiency of nicotine decomposition does not improve much. There is also a risk that a profound influence may be exerted on the human body in case the sensor malfunctions.

[0063] In contrast to this, the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength ranging from 200 nm to 230 nm does not cause the anxiety above because such ultraviolet light has hardly any influence on the human body even if a human (e.g., the smoker 2) is present in the target room 1. For instance, the effect of making nicotine less likely to get attached to the wall surface 1a of the target room 1 lasts if the light source 3 is turned off while cleaning is performed inside the target room 1 and the light source 3 is turned on when cleaning finishes and is kept turned on thereafter.

[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the light source 3 may be installed to emit the ultraviolet light L1 downward. In this case, nicotine attached to a floor surface 1b of the target room 1 can also be decomposed. A direction in which the ultraviolet light L1 emitted from the light source 3 travels may be variable. In one example, the light source 3 can be configured to be rotatable on one axis, two axes, or three axes such that a direction normal to a surface from which the ultraviolet light L1 is emitted, i.e., the direction in which the ultraviolet light L1 travels, is variable. In another example, the light source 3 may be placed in the target room 1 in such a manner that a position of the placed light source 3 can be freely changed.

[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the target room 1 may be equipped with a fan 8 to generate an air current. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the target room may be equipped with an air inlet 9. As a result of this, nicotine decomposition product generated through decomposition by irradiation of the nicotine attached to areas such as the wall surface 1a with the ultraviolet light L1 is readily exhausted through the air outlet 7 by riding the air current of the atmosphere G1 flowing along the wall surface 1a.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0066] Other embodiments will be described below.

[0067] <1> In the embodiment above, a case is described in which the light source 3 is an excimer lamp. However, in the method for decomposing nicotine according to the present invention, the light source is not limited to the excimer lamp, as long as the light source emits the ultraviolet light L1 with a main peak wavelength of 200 nm to 230 nm. For instance, the light source 3 may be a solid-state light source such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode (LD).

[0068] Even when the light source 3 is made up of an excimer lamp, a structure of the light source 3 is not limited to that illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. For instance, the light-emitting tube 11 may have a double-tube structure in which the light-emitting tube including an inside tube and an outside tube is sealed off at both ends in a tube axis direction and an annular tube-shaped region defined between the inside tube and the outside tube constitutes a light-emitting space. In another example, the light-emitting tube 11 may be cylindrical and may have a structure in which one electrode is inserted inside of the tube whereas another electrode is disposed on an outer wall surface of the light-emitting tube 11, and the inside of the tube constitutes a light-emitting space.

[0069] <2> In the embodiment described above, the wall surface 1a or the floor surface 1b of the target room 1 is irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1. However, a ceiling surface of the target room 1 may be irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1. If objects such as a table, a chair, or a television screen are placed in the target room 1, the surfaces of these objects may be irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1. This reduces the risk that nicotine will get attached to not just the wall surface of the target room 1 but the whole of the target room 1 for hours.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0070] 1 Target room [0071] 1a Wall surface [0072] 1b Floor surface [0073] 2 Smoker [0074] 3 Light source [0075] 7 Air outlet [0076] 8 Fan [0077] 9 Air inlet [0078] 10 Excimer lamp [0079] 11 Light-emitting tube [0080] 12G Light-emitting gas [0081] 13 Electrode [0082] 13a Electrode [0083] 13b Electrode [0084] 15G Light-emitting gas [0085] G1 Atmosphere [0086] L1 Ultraviolet light