Technology data

Possible applications

・Alkaline water
Conventional detergents contain persistently degradable COD, such as polymeric agents, and consume a large amount of rinse water to remove detergent, causing environmental pollution. Compared to this, electrolytic concentrated alkaline washing water is free of chemical contamination and saves a significant amount of rinsing water. While washing, the alkline dissolve proteins of the bacteria, such as E. coli, effectively sterilizing the water. It is also possible to remove coronaviruses. It contributes to health and sanitation in developing countries by sterilizing the washing water.

・Hypochlorite water (acidic water)
Chlorine is generally used to sanitize tap water, etc. Its concentrated form is used to clean fishes and vegetables. However, there are concerns that the chemical may cause health problems due to its trihalomethane (carcinogen) content. Hypochlorous acid water (acidic water) produced by electrolysis, an electrochemical reaction, does not produce trihalomethanes. By diluting concentrated acidic water and using it as sterilizing water, it enables the use of acidic hypochlorite water for a wide range of sterilization. This contributes to the improvement of health and hygiene conditions in developing countries.

Competitive advantage

1. Electrical controls enable monitoring and automatic operation.
2. Easy to utilize renewable energy such as solar panels with power-saving design.
3. As long as there is a water generator, the running cost is inexpensive. The price per unit is 0.6 JPY/litter of produced water. It also needs electricity, water, and NaCl to operate.
4. Since alkaline water is chemical-free, it is harmless even if it is in contact with human skin.
5. Because it is chemical-free, it does not require a license for chemical handling or hazardous materials handling.
6. Alkaline water can be shipped overseas by a flight with only submitting a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

Carbon neutrality is achieved through efficient power saving due to the small potential range that causes oxidation effects by the electrodes.

Performance

【Specification of the generator】
Alkaline water: pH=12, 450 litre/batch
Hypochlorite water: pH=2, 50 litre/batch
Generation time: 6 hours
Power consumption: 1 kw/h
Product weight: 300 kg (dry weight), W 1650 x D 1200 x H 1665 mm

【Bactericidal effect】
Alkaline water

Bacterial Type	Feed Water	10 times diluted	100 times diluted
E. coli	○	○	○
Staphylococcus aureus	○	△	×

○: Bacterial counts generally reduced to 1/10 or less compared to the colorless area.
△: In some cases, the number of bacteria was reduced to less than 1/10 of that in the colorless area, and in other cases, it was not.
×: In few cases, the number of bacteria was reduced to 1/10 or less compared to the colorless area.

Technical maturity / Past record of introduction

・Japan domestic
6 units were installed to a ham manufacturing factory.
Applications: mainly for periodic cleaning of the production line equipment and fumigation generators.

・Overseas
No record yet.

Information on patent related to this technology

Patent No. JPB5121013

Company data

Name	IGADEN Co., Ltd.
Address	78-4 Shinoyama, Joso-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
Capital	10 million JPY (as of April 1, 2022)
Contact person	Mr. Satoru IGARASHI E-mail:[email protected] Tel.(Direct): +81-297-42-6372
Number of employees	5 people (as of April 1, 2022)
Date of company foundation	July 1, 1989
Type of business	Manufacture of machinery and equipment Design, manufacture, and sale of water treatment and water quality improvement units.

International operation

Number of employees for international operation		2
Overseas offices	City, Country	Name of Company　(if applicable)
	N//A	N/A

Modality of business transaction

Direct Investment
Withdrew Igaden Singapore Pte Ltd, a designer and manufacturer of electronic measuring instruments, and later changed the business to water treatment equipment sales. All overseas sales activities have been outsourced to trading companies that are specialized in related products. Currently, the company is focusing on technology development in Japan and only travels overseas for the purpose of technical research. 

Partnership
With the cooperation from trading companies with whom we have concluded confidentiality and sales agency agreements in Japan, we have conducted overseas exhibitions in Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and other countries. In addition to PR activities, the company uses its own website, YouTube, CEO Net Conference, etc., to reach out overseas. To respond to inquiries, local agents visit customers in a timely manner, conduct demonstration tests, and carry out on-site meetings. Technical support is provided by using SNS and other ICT applications such as LINE and Zoom. Since maintenance of the product is easy, it is outsourced to a local firm.

Schematic illustration of the technology