Method and apparatus for decomposing pollutants

Abstract

The present invention enables efficient decomposition without involving burdensome operations of carrying out decomposition of undecomposed pollutants discharged at the time of starting decomposition processing and undecomposed pollutants remaining at the time of interruption and termination of decomposition processing, separately from primary decomposition. At the time of starting decomposition, the steps of supplying a substance, which functions to decompose the pollutant, to a decomposition area, applying light to the decomposition area and supplying a decomposition target substance to the reaction area are carried out in the recited order, while at the time of ending decomposition, the operations of supplying the decomposition target substance, applying light to the decomposition area and supplying the substance, which functions to decompose the pollutant to the decomposition area are carried out in the recited order.

1 . A method of decomposing substances in which a decomposition target substance and chlorine are introduced into a decomposition area and are contacted with each other under irradiation with light to decompose the decomposition target substance, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) introducing the chlorine into the decomposition area by supplying functional water, which can generate the chlorine in the decomposition area through contact with a gas in the decomposition area;    (b) irradiating the decomposition area with light; and    (c) introducing the decomposition target substance into the decomposition area,    wherein decomposition is commenced by starting, in order, the step (a), then the step (b) and then the step (c), and    wherein the decomposition is ended by stopping, in order, the step (c), then the step (b) and then the step (a).    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for decomposing substances in which a decomposition target substance and a decomposition promoting substance, which functions to decompose the decomposition target substance under irradiation with light, are introduced into a decomposition area for decomposing the decomposition target substance, and those substances are contacted with each other under irradiation with light to decompose the decomposition target substance, the apparatus comprising: 
 a decomposition unit comprising the decomposition area;    a decomposition promoting substance introduction unit (d) for introducing the decomposition promoting substance into the decomposition area;    a light-irradiation unit (e) for irradiating the decomposition area with light;    a decomposition target substance introduction unit (f) for introducing the decomposition target substance into the decomposition area; and    a drive unit, which individually drives the units (d), (e) and (f),    wherein the drive unit starts driving the unit (d), then the unit (e) and then the unit (f), in order, when decomposition of the decomposition target substance is to start, and    wherein the drive unit stops driving the unit (f), then the unit (e) and then the unit (d), in order, when decomposition of the decomposition target substance is to stop.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive unit starts and stops the decomposition in accordance with a program preset in a computer.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for decomposing substances in which a decomposition target substance and a decomposition promoting substance, which functions to decompose the decomposition target substance under irradiation with light, are introduced into a decomposition area for decomposing the decomposition target substance, and those substances are contacted with each other under irradiation with light to decompose the decomposition target substance, the apparatus comprising: 
 a decomposition unit comprising the decomposition area;    a decomposition promoting substance introduction unit (d) for introducing the decomposition promoting substance into the decomposition area;    a light-irradiation unit (e) for irradiating the decomposition area with light;    a decomposition target substance introduction unit (f) for introducing the decomposition target substance into the decomposition area; and    a drive unit, which individually drives the units (d), (e) and (f),    wherein the drive unit starts driving the unit (d), then the unit (e) and then the unit (f), in order, when decomposition of the decomposition target substance is to start.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the drive unit starts the decomposition in accordance with a program preset in a computer.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for decomposing substances in which a decomposition target substance and a decomposition promoting substance, which functions to decompose the decomposition target substance under irradiation with light, are introduced into a decomposition area for decomposing the decomposition target substance, and those substances are contacted with each other under irradiation with light to decompose the decomposition target substance, the apparatus comprising: 
 a decomposition unit comprising the decomposition area;    a decomposition promoting substance introduction unit (d) for introducing the decomposition promoting substance into the decomposition area;    a light-irradiation unit (e) for irradiating the decomposition area with light;    a decomposition target substance introduction unit (f) for introducing the decomposition target substance into the decomposition area; and    a drive unit, which individually drives the units (d), (e) and (f),    wherein the drive unit stops driving the unit (f), then the unit (e) and then the unit (d), in order, when decomposition of the decomposition target substance is to stop.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the drive unit stops the decomposition in accordance with a program preset in a computer.