Patent ID: 8552399

Claim:
An apparatus for producing photocatalytic reaction water, comprising: a photocatalytic reaction reservoir comprising: a photocatalytic body comprising fibers having free distal end portions that are configured to oscillate when subjected to ultrasonic wave vibrations; a light source configured to radiate light that excites the photocatalytic body; an ultrasonic wave oscillator configured to impart ultrasonic wave oscillations of 100 kHz to 500 kHz to the photocatalytic body; and an oxygen supply pipe configured to increase a concentration of oxygen in water before the water is brought into contact with the photocatalytic body, wherein the photocatalytic body is formed of a wooly aggregate wherein a photocatalyst is applied to a surface of the fibers by coating, a water conduit supply pump configured to supply water into the photocatalytic reaction reservoir; and a water conduit configured to discharge the photocatalytic reaction water from the photocatalytic reaction reservoir, wherein the apparatus is configured to: generate active oxygen species on a surface of the photocatalytic body in contact with water by radiating light from the light source to the photocatalytic body; and allow the free distal end portions of the fibers that are present in the photocatalytic body to act as free ends under the ultrasonic wave vibrations so that water flows on a surface of the fibers at a high flow rate due to the ultrasonic wave vibrations of the fibers, whereby the active oxygen species are efficiently separated from the photocatalytic body, and a large quantity of the active oxygen species floats in water; and produce the photocatalytic reaction water that eliminates at least one of a microorganism, a parasite, and a protozoon by an oxidation reaction, wherein: the photocatalytic reaction reservoir comprises a water reservable sealed container, the photocatalytic body, the light source, and the ultrasonic wave oscillator are located within the sealed container and the photocatalytic is body is arranged around the light source, an inner wall surface of the sealed container is formed of a mirror surface that reflects light, and the fibers are formed of a metal-made fiber body having a surface thereof preliminarily covered with an alumina film, and a surface of the photocatalytic body is covered with a titania thin film.