DE10002400A1 - Deodorizing unit in which the principal reagent is aluminum alum - Google Patents

Abstract

Alum, in which the trivalent metal is aluminum, has true deodorizing properties in contradistinction to materials that merely overlay unpleasant odors with pleasant ones. The other radical of the alum could be ammonia or a univalent metal such as potassium. The alum can be crystallized around a plastic former of an aesthetically pleasing shape. Where the deodorizer is in contact with food, it is preferred to place the former inside a cover, preferably a transparent one, with suitable openings to permit the circulation of air.

Description

The invention relates to a method for deodorising indoor air, wherein the process is particularly suitable for the deodorization of refrigerators having. The invention also relates to a device for deodorization of indoor air, which in various embodiments is particularly suitable for has use in refrigerators. In addition, the invention relates to Her Positioning method for different embodiments of the claimed Contraption.

Problems with unpleasant smelling indoor air are in industry and technology just as common in everyday life. Breathable from unpleasant odors, air is one of the basic human beings needs.

For preventing or reducing undesirable odors Various means and methods have been proposed over time hit and applied.

So are for living and work rooms, but also for toilets, changing rooms and the like, preparations with synthetic or natural etheri commercial oils that are sprayed or vaporized by less  pleasant smell impressions thanks to a pleasant fragrance ken.

Perfumed cleaning agents are also offered for the same purpose These should primarily be the sources of the unpleasant smell, mostly it is degrading organic matter, when cleaning it removes nen. They often have microbicidal properties to enhance this effect Bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that Breakdown of organic substances produce malodorous compounds, be killed. In addition, reinforce or suggest custom cleaning agents give the impression of pleasant freshness due to their perfume lubrication on the cleaned surfaces and objects more or is transmitted less persistently.

In commercial operations, the air pollution with odor nuisance cause, is considerable effort to keep clean in the atmosphere sphere emitted air and protecting workers from worse Indoor air required. Air-circulating filter systems for air purification are the rule. In these the malodorous components from the ver uncleaned air, for example through adsorbents, for example activated carbon with small particle size or other solids with large surface, removed by adhesion. Activated carbon filter, also with additives such as Sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda) are also available in smaller dimensions solutions and used for household air deodorization.

Wet chemical oxidation processes are also available in industry drive, the combustion of contaminants in the exhaust air, or in newer Time also biotechnological processes.  

All procedures and products known to date in the prior art however, have disadvantages, which more or depending on the application come into play less.

This is the case when using air filters, such as those used in the home are known in connection with air conditioning and kitchen fume cupboards, the An purchase price not insignificant. In addition, the air circulation causes ongoing energy costs and is often associated with noise pollution. Air filters are also usually not maintenance-free. Filter change and filter disposal must be carried out at longer or shorter intervals and, in addition to running costs, also cause disposal problems. The size of conventional air filter systems also prohibit their use because where little space is available, such as in a cool box or in an egg a smaller fridge.

Frequently repeated cleaning with water and cleaning agents with or Without disinfectant effect means work that is in ge advertising area in personnel costs and therefore according to Mög is avoided.

So with refrigerators, every cleaning is longer opening and therefore easier associated with loss of energy due to warming up.

Also from the point of view of water consumption and environmental impact In many cases, the frequency of wet scrub is minimized aspirations. Everywhere there is a smell-free environment Desired environment, the use of cleaning agents with or without disinfectant  and / or perfuming, however, is not only positive everywhere Aspects.

On the one hand, the problematic smell of many disinfectants plays a role agents and detergents play a role. Where food is not quite under hermetic seal must be stored, they can smell disinfectant or cleaning agent. That be indicates impairment due to aroma change.

On the other hand, in some cases the maintenance of an intact Mi kroflora absolutely necessary for air deodorization. The use of mi Crobicidal agents are problematic in such cases. Like as an example Serve cold rooms in which cheese is matured; the variety-specific microbes must be preserved there; nevertheless the Air in such ripening rooms makes it easy for employees to breathe enable even without filter masks.

The covering of an unpleasant room smell by odor scent better based on perfume, be it as a room, toilet or refrigerator spray, as a perfume oil for vaporizers or as an additional component in cleaning agents also has disadvantages.

That perfumes, also those with a so-called fresh scent, are related with food and luxury goods (storage rooms, refrigerators) not optimal are, because of the risk of undesirable influence on the respective pro duct aromas understandable.

Another problem is that people use perfumes differently react. A uniformly positive assessment of the surplus chosen ten scents by the people confronted with it cannot be guaranteed become. Air-enhancing perfumes are used especially in higher concentrations  rejected by many people. The possibility of education of particularly offensive mixed smells from the inside put perfume and the smell of air to be covered like one Role-play.

In view of this prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for deodorising indoor air, in particular refrigerators, that does not have the disadvantages of the known prior art and, in addition to its efficiency as an air freshener, above all

• - does not require any equipment,
• - can be realized in a small space,
• - causes no running costs and
• - does not pose any noise or disposal problems.

Accordingly, the invention shown here is equally based on the task of providing a suitable device for deodorising indoor air, in particular for refrigerators, which

• - inexpensive to manufacture and operate,
• - not prone to failure,
• - Realizable even with small dimensions and
• - as far as possible in manufacture, application and disposal environmentally neutral

is. The two aspects of the task mentioned are handled by the process ren according to claim 1 and the device according to claim 10 solved. The Subclaims 2 to 9 give appropriate configurations of the bean claimed procedure. The subclaims 11 to 15 relate to expedient embodiments of the claimed device.  

For the method according to the invention, it is crucial that the room air to be deodorized is exposed to one with a low molecular weight anion or a mixture of several Al ^III salts with low molecular weight anions.

The technical effect of the invention is surprising. Al ^III salts have long played a role in cosmetic deodorants. However, their effect as a body deodorant is attributed to the inhibition of microbial decomposition of the proteins contained in sweat by Al ^III ions. This inhibits the formation of odor-intensive volatile, unpleasant smelling compounds. In addition, the tanning effect of the Al ^III salts is said to reduce the sweat secretion. This mechanism presupposes direct contact of the Al ^III ions with the possible source of the compounds which are responsible for the malodor impression.

In the process claimed here, a meeting of Al Sal zen and sources of smell (food residues in refrigerators, deposits conditions in toilet drains) excluded.

Also with regard to the known adhesive effect of finely divided matter on (malodorous) volatile compounds, the success of the method according to the invention is surprising, since the Al used in each case also act in coarse crystalline form, as glass-like coatings, or even in solution. Increasing the surface, for example when using Al ^III salts or salt mixtures in amorphous granulate form or as crystal sand, also results in an increase in efficiency in the process claimed here.

The respective Al ^III salt or salt mixture can be exposed statically to the room air to be deodorized, for example by placing it in a refrigerator and leaving it there. No volatile chemical compounds are released into the room air from the Al ^III salt or compound mixture. The Al ^III salt or salt mixture remains effective for a long time. In the trial phase of the invention, no decrease in the effect was found in all cases over a 6-month service life. In the case of water-soluble salts, disposal, if necessary, can be done by dissolving, diluting and adding to compost batches. Al ^III salts that are not water-soluble do not pose any environmental problems anyway.

The air deodorization according to the invention consumes during static operation no additional energy.

However, the claimed method can also advantageously be used when the Al ^III salt or salt mixture is in dynamic contact with the room air to be deodorized. The energy expenditure for pressure or suction in the ventilation, suction or circulation systems known per se is inevitable. However, the 'musty' smell of older air conditioning systems is eliminated without additional filter disposal.

To carry out the claimed process, it is possible to set up open containers with a more or less concentrated solution of the selected Al ^III salt or the corresponding salt mixture in containers, which may also contain ^third- party additives, which allow air access. In the simplest case, the open bowls could his.

For reasons of safety and efficiency, however, it is preferred to use the Al ^III salt or the corresponding salt mixture as a solid. For this purpose, Al ^III salts are used, which are stable under the usual room conditions, ie have no hygroscopic properties or are decomposable. A large number of suitable salts are commercially available to the person skilled in the art.

As anions for carrying out this embodiment of the claimed method, for example fluoride, phosphate, sulfate, formate, acetate and / or tarfrate ions are suitable. The corresponding Al ^III salts are easy to obtain as synthetic substances or from natural sources. Some of them can be used as minerals without preparation.

Al ^III salts with sulfate anions have proven particularly favorable in every respect when testing the invention for the deodorization of indoor air. In addition, the actual aluminum sulfate [Al ₂ (SO ₄ ) ₃ ] mainly uses potassium alum and ammonium alum. These sulfates are not only very effective; as substances containing water of crystallization, they also form aesthetically very appealing, colorless, macrocrystalline crystal aggregates. Are these macrocrystalline crystal aggregates installed in the room to be deodorized, such as a toilet room, a pantry or a refrigerator. they combine technical functionality with an effect as a decorative element.

However, the Al ^III salt selected in each case can also completely or partially line pores or depressions in a surface-rich adhesive body, such as a natural sponge or a correspondingly designed plastic body. Likewise, Al ^III salts can be exposed as a glass-like layer without or with an adhesive body made of plastic, wood, stone and the like that supports this layer to the room air to be deodorized. In the latter case, the surface available for air contact is particularly small. Nevertheless, excellent results are achieved, especially with Al ^III sulfates. According to the experience in the test phase, a surface of the Al ^III salt layer of 2.5 cm ² per liter of tree air in a refrigerator containing food is sufficient to keep this refrigerator free of the otherwise typical refrigerator smell for more than half a year.

The device according to the invention presented here is based on the attached, sketchy drawings explained.

Fig. 1 shows an aesthetically particularly attractive embodiment with a crystal aggregate as an effective salt layer in side view. Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b represent cross sections of the device type shown in Fig. 1 before.

Fig. 2 shows the cross-sectional sketch of a particularly inexpensive to produce embodiment of the device according to the invention with a salt layer of granules.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 3a represent cross-sectional sketches of devices with glass-like salt layers.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional sketch with microcrystalline salt layers, which more or less completely line recesses in an adhesive body.

All these embodiments, which can only serve as examples from a wealth of embodiments of the technical teaching of the invention in the form of devices ( 1 ), are the presence of a layer ( 5 ) of Al ^III salt or a mixture of several Al ^III salts, foreign substances may also be present in the layer to a lesser extent.

According to the current knowledge, the device according to FIG. 1 can best be produced with ammonium alum or potassium alum as the material for the crystal aggregate ( 8 ). The crystallization process is expediently carried out using an adhesive body ( 6 ) which, as can be removed in FIG. 1a or, as shown in FIG. 1b, remains in the finished device ( 1 ). To increase stability, this is mounted on a carrier ( 2 ), for example glued on. The carrier ( 2 ) can be made of any stable material. Conventional plastics, best approved for food use in refrigerators, serve this purpose. To protect the crystal aggregate ( 5 , 8 ) from damage, but also to avoid contact of food or hands with the Al ^III salt or salts and at the same time to ensure access of the air to be deodorized, there is a casing ( 3 ) with through openings ( 4 ) is provided which, together with the carrier ( 2 ), encloses the macrocrystalline crystal aggregate ( 5 , 8 ). In the embodiment outlined here, this casing ( 3 ) is expediently made of transparent material in order to expose the view of the aesthetically pleasing crystal aggregate ( 5 , 8 ).

Fig. 2 shows as a device according to the invention a cup-shaped carrier Ger ( 2 ) which is filled with a pure or mixed Al ^III salt granules. A shell-shaped cover with through openings ( 4 ) for the room air to be deodorized serves as the cover ( 3 ). This variant can be produced easily and inexpensively using plastics for the carrier ( 2 ) and sleeve ( 3 ). Even ground raw minerals can be used as inexpensive granules for the layer ( 5 , 11 ). If the Al ^III salt layer ( 5 , 11 ) was exhausted, it would be easy to open and refill.

FIGS. 3 and 3a show embodiments having an amorphous, glassy, or looking at least glass-like layer (5, 10) salt ^III from an Al or more Al ^III salts. Here, too, foreign substances can be present in a minor amount without interfering with the deodorant effect.

The layer ( 5 , 10 ) is expediently on an adhesive body (b) provided with externally open cavities ( 7 ), the layer ( 5 , 8 ) penetrating into the cavities and being anchored therein. The adhesive body ( 6 ) can consist of a natural material, for example a lava rock, as indicated in FIG. 34. Here the cavities ( 7 ) as pores ( 7 b) are naturally present.

However, the adhesive body (6 can also represent a correspondingly designed plastic object, as outlined in Fig. 3. The cavities ( 7 ) in which the glass-like layer is anchored here are depressions ( 7 a). The shape of the depressions ( 7 a) can largely arbitrarily chosen.

Carrier ( 2 ) and sleeve ( 3 ) form in the embodiment of FIG. 3 an integral, mesh-like container ( 12 ), which can also be made of flexible material.

Overall, the embodiment shown in FIGS . 3 and 3a is mechanically less sensitive than that shown in FIG. 1. Nevertheless, it is also aesthetically pleasing, especially if it is formed from optically frosted-glass-like Al ^III sulfates such as potassium alum, ammonium alum, the actual aluminum sulfate or mixtures thereof.

The embodiment which is sketched in FIG. 4 manages for its deodorising effect with a very small amount of Al ^III salts for the active layers ( 5 , 9 ). Cavities ( 7 ) in the form of depressions ( 7 b) in an adhesive body ( 6 ) of natural or synthetic origin are completely or partially lined with microcrystalline salt layers ( 9 ). Because here there is no Al ^III salt on the outer surface of the adhesive body (b), one could even do without the carrier ( 2 ) and shell ( 3 ) here, which are shown in FIG. 4 as a net-grid container ( 12 ).

The devices ( 1 ) according to the invention explained and claimed here are - especially when plastics for carrier ( 2 ), shell ( 3 ) and adhesive body ( 6 ) are used - suitability for damp rooms.

All devices ( 1 ) according to the invention explained and claimed here, he also has in common that they can be used in a very small space. However, they can be easily connected to larger batteries if there is a large room volume to be deodorized or there is a heavy odor load.

Reference list

1

Device for deodorising indoor air

2

carrier

3rd

Cover

4

Passage opening for room air to be deodorized

5

Al ^III layer

-Salt)

6

Adhesive body

7

cavity

7

a deepening

7

b pore

8th

macrocrystalline crystal aggregate

9

microcrystalline salt layer

10th

amorphous, glassy salt layer

11

Salt granules

12th

mesh-like container

Claims (15)

1. A process for deodorising indoor air, in particular for refrigerators, characterized in that one (more) Al ^III salt (s) with low molecular weight (low molecular weight) anion (s) is (are) exposed to the indoor air to be deodorized. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the (the) Al ^III salt (s) exposed to the room air to be deodorized stable (stable) solid (s) in one or more layer (s) of the room air to be deodorized will become). 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the Al ^III salt (s) is (are) present in the salt layer (s) as a macrocrystalline (macrocrystalline) crystal aggregate (s). 4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the (the) Al ^III salt (s) in the form of microcrystalline salt layer (s), the pores or depressions of one (more) surface-rich (surface-rich) adhesive body (adhesive body) in whole or in part lines (line). 5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the Al ^III salt (s) in the form of a (several) glass-like (glass-like) salt layer (s) is (are) exposed to the room air to be deodorized, the salt layer ( en) preferably completely or partially covers one or more adhesive bodies. 6. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the Al ^III salt (s) is (are) brought into contact with the room air to be deodorized as a layer (s) consisting of crystalline or amorphous salt granules. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that potassium alum and / or ammonium alum and / or aluminum sulfate or the mineral alum stone (alunite) are used as Al ^III salt (s). 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the (the) Al ^III salt (s) in relation to the room air to be deodorized is (are) arranged, expediently one per liter of room air to be deodorized Surface of the Al ^III salt (salts) of more than 2.5 cm ² is provided. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the room air to be deodorized by suction or pressure in the manner of known ventilation, suction systems or circulation systems dynamically brought into contact with the Al ^III salt (s) will (be) where the Al ^III salt (s) is (are) conveniently integrated as a solid (s) in a filter system. 10. The device ( 1 ) for deodorization of room air, in particular for refrigerators, characterized in that a (several) layer (s) ( 5 ) is (are) arranged on a support ( 2 ), the whole or for the most part one (more) Al ^III salt (s), one, provided with through openings ( 4 ) for the room air to be deodorized ( 3 ), together with the carrier ( 2 ) the Al ^III salt (s) (e) encloses. 11. The device ( 1 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that
the layer (s) ( 5 ) is (are) formed as a macrocrystalline crystal aggregate ( 8 ),
wherein the macrocrystalline crystal aggregate ( 8 ) preferably consists of potassium alum and / or ammonium alum and / or aluminum sulfate,
and with particular preference the macrocrystalline crystal aggregate ( 8 ) essentially represents a hollow cylinder. 12. The device ( 1 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that
the layer (s) ( 5 ) is (are) present as a microcrystalline salt layer (s) ( 9 ) on a respective, preferably surface-rich, adhesive body ( 6 )
wherein the adhesive body ( 6 ) particularly preferably has outwardly open cavities ( 7 ), which is (are) preferably completely or partially lined by the salt layer (s) ( 9 ) and wherein the cavities ( 7 ) preferably as depressions ( 7 a) or as pores ( 7 b) in one (several) synthetic or natural adhesive body (s) ( 6 ). 13. The device ( 1 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that the layer (s) ( 5 ) of one (more) Al ^III salt (s) is present as a glass-like salt layer (s) with a glass-like appearance. 14. The device ( 1 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that the Al ^III salt (s) is (are) present in the layer (s) ( 5 ) as crystalline or amorphous salt granules ( 11 ). 15. The device according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the carrier ( 2 ) and the sheath ( 3 ) form together with one of through openings ( 4 ) perforated, mesh-like container ( 12 ), the loading container ( 12 ) the (the ) Al ^III salt (s) surrounds.