Electrochemically activated anolyte and catholyte liquid

Abstract

An electrochemically activated fluid is provided, which has an anolyte and a catholyte. For example, a sparged anolyte and a sparged catholyte are provided. In another example, a combined anolyte and catholyte is provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a functional generator, which can be used to electrochemically activate a liquid to be treated for use in cleaning, such as water, onboard or off-board a hard and/or soft floor cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a functional generator according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus having a sparging device located downstream of a functional generator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an apparatus having a sparging device located upstream of a functional generator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an apparatus having an electrolysis cell type sparging device located upstream of a functional generator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an apparatus having sparging devices located upstream and downstream of a functional generator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an electrolysis cell type sparging device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B together illustrate a housing containing a sparging device and a functional generator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sparging device shown in FIG. 8B.

FIG. 10A is a side elevation view of a mobile hard floor surface cleaner in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the mobile hard floor surface cleaner shown in FIG. 10A with its lid in a closed state.

FIG. 10C is a perspective view of the mobile hard floor surface cleaner shown in FIG. 10A with its lid in an open state.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a liquid distribution flow path of the cleaner shown in FIGS. 10A-10C in greater detail according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a floor cleaner that is configurable with multiple types of cleaning tools and extractors to accommodate different cleaning operations while using the same overall cleaner.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram, which illustrates the cleaner shown in FIG. 12 in a mode adapted to clean soft floors, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram, which illustrates the cleaner shown in FIG. 12 in a mode adapted to deeply clean soft floors, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram, which illustrates the cleaner shown in FIG. 5 in a mode adapted to clean hard floors, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a soft floor cleaner (e.g. carpet extractor), according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an all-surface cleaner, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a truck-mounted system according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a simplified block diagram, which illustrates a cleaner having an EA water distribution system with an odorous compound source according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a simplified block diagram of a cleaning liquid generator that mounted to a platform according to another embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a system, which includes an indicator representing an operating state of a functional generator.

Claims

1. A sparged reaction product produced at least in part from water being in contact with an anode and a cathode, the anode and cathode being separated by a membrane that permits one-way transport across the membrane of selected ions generated by the cathode or anode.

2. The reaction product of claim 1 consisting essentially of water.

3. The reaction product of claim 1 comprising tap water.

4. The reaction product of claim 1 comprising a combination of an anolyte and a catholyte.

5. The reaction product of claim 1 comprising a catholyte.

6. The reaction product of claim 5 wherein the catholyte is characterized by a stoichiometric excess of hydroxide ions.

7. The reaction product of claim 5 wherein the pH of the catholyte is about greater than 7.

8. The reaction product of claim 5 wherein the pH of the catholyte is about 9 to 12.

9. The reaction product of claim 5 wherein the catholyte has an oxidation-reduction potential of about −150 mV to about −1000 mV.

10. The reaction product of claim 1 comprising an anolyte.

11. The reaction product of claim 10 wherein the anolyte is characterized by a stoichiometric excess of hydrogen ions and has a pH of about less than 7.

12. The reaction product of claim 10 wherein the anolyte has a pH of about 2.5 to about 6.

13. The reaction product of claim 10 wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the anolyte is about +100 mV to about +1200 mV.

14. The reaction product of claim 10 wherein the anolyte comprises chlorine.

15. The reaction product of claim 10 wherein the anolyte comprises oxygen in solution.

16. A reaction product produced from a combination of water being in contact with an anode and water being in contact with a cathode, the anode and cathode being separated by a membrane that permits one-way transport across the membrane of selected ions generated by the cathode or anode.

17. The reaction product of claim 16 wherein the membrane permits one-way transport of hydroxide ions towards the cathode, the hydrogen ions having been generated by the anode.

18. The reaction product of claim 16 wherein the membrane permits transport across the membrane of ions generated by the cathode towards the anode.

19. The reaction product of claim 16 comprising an anolyte produced by the anode and a catholyte produced by the cathode.

20. The reaction product of claim 19 wherein the catholyte is characterized by a stoichiometric excess of hydroxide ions.

21. The reaction product of claim 19 wherein the pH of the catholyte is about greater than 7.

22. The reaction product of claim 19 wherein the pH of the catholyte is about 9 to 12.

23. The reaction product of claim 19 wherein the catholyte has an oxidation-reduction potential of about −150 mV to about −1000 mV.

24. The reaction product of claim 19 wherein the anolyte has a pH of about less than 7.

25. The reaction product of claim 19 wherein the anolyte has a pH of about 2.5 to about 6.

26. The reaction product of claim 19 wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the anolyte is about +100 mV to about +1200 mV.

27. A combined anolyte and catholyte electrochemically activated fluid.

28. The fluid of claim 27 consisting essentially of water.

29. The fluid of claim 27 comprising tap water.

30. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the catholyte is characterized by a stochiometric excess of hydroxide ions.

31. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the pH of the catholyte is about greater than 7.

32. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the pH of the catholyte is about 9 to 12.

33. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the catholyte has an oxidation-reduction potential of about −150 mV to about −1000 mV.

34. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the anolyte has a pH of about 7.

35. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the anolyte has a pH of about 2.5 to about 6.

36. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the oxidation-reduction potential of the anolyte is about +100 mV to about +1200 mV.

37. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the anolyte comprises chlorine.

38. The fluid of claim 27 wherein the anolyte comprises oxygen in solution.