Verification of the effects of sterilization and deodorization by functional water diffused in the air with a corona discharge diffuser

Abstract

We investigated the gas components produced from functional water diffused in the air by a corona discharge diffuser, the sterilization of airborne bacteria and fungi, and the deodorization of odorous substances. As gas components emitted from the corona discharge diffuser, H₂, H₂O₂, CO, NO, and NO₂ were below the detection limit, but O3, Cl2, and ClO2 were detectable. This indicates that H₂O, CO2, and N2 are not easily decomposed by corona discharge, while O₂ and chlorides are easily decomposed. ClO₂(0.2-0.3 ppm), Cl₂(0.1-0.2 ppm), and O₃(0.04-0.05 ppm) were detected by diffusion in 100 ppm NaCl, NaClO, NaClO2, or NaClO3 water, and in 100 ppm NaHCO3 or K2CO3 water, O₃(0.04-0.05 ppm) was detected. And O₃(0.014-0.024 ppm) was also detected in Ag+ based antimicrobial agent water, tap water, or distilled water. The sterilization efficacy of airborne bacteria and fungi was higher when chlorine compound (NaCl, NaClO, NaClO2, or NaClO3) water was used, and lower when non-chlorine compound (NaHCO3 or K2CO3) water was used. This suggests that most sterilization effects were dependent on ClO₂ and Cl₂. There was no significant difference in the deodorizing effect of ammonia when chlorine compound water was used and when non-chlorine compound water was used. This suggests that most of the deodorant effect was considered to be dependent on O3.