Influence of Potassium-Based Alkaline Electrolyzed Water on Hydration Process and the Properties of Cement-Based Materials with Fly Ash

Alkaline electrolyzed water, a kind of clean green water with excellent characteristics such as high activity, strong alkalinity, high ion penetrating ability, electrical charge, and good molecule adsorption, was significant to the resource utilization of industrial fly ash waste. This paper studies highly active potassium-based alkaline electrolyzed water′s impact, compared with ordinary water, on the cement hydration process using microstructural methods such as a hydration heat test, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image analysis. Fly ash cement-based materials were first prepared with alkaline electrolyzed water as the mixing water. The alkaline electrolyzed water’s influence on fly ash paste workability and the mechanical properties of fly ash mortar for varying fly ash proportions were ratified. Then alkaline electrolyzed water with the best pH value was selected to prepare fly ash concrete, and its durability was studied. The test results showed that it is feasible to increase the utilization rate of fly ash by using alkaline electrolyzed water. Furthermore, it promoted the process of cement hydration, increased the rate of the hydration reaction, and the promotion effect increased with the increase in pH value of the alkaline electrolyzed water, and also promoted the effective decomposition of the vitreous shell of fly ash to stimulate its early activity. Concurrent tests with ordinary water paste showed that the water requirement for normal consistency and setting time with alkaline electrolyzed water paste were significantly less. Alkaline electrolyzed water also solved the problem related to the low early strength of fly ash mortar. Furthermore, using alkaline electrolyzed water with an optimum pH value of 11.5 to prepare fly ash concrete effectively reduced concrete′s carbonation depth and carbonation rate and lessened the chloride ion migration coefficient.

Effectiveness of alkaline electrolyzed water in reducing bacterial load on surfaces intended to come into contact with food

Alkaline electrolyzed water (REW) is known for its cleaning action. The aim of this work was to assess REW effectiveness in reducing microbial load on surfaces intended for contact with food. Stainlesssteel surfaces were experimentally contaminated, bacterial inactivation was tested before and after treatment with REW. Treatment with REW was operated spraying it on the contaminated plates until drying. Tests were conducted for Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The treatment revealed different degrees of sanitizing activity of REW on different bacterial species, with higher efficacy on E. coli and Salmonella spp. than S. aureus, Listeria spp.. Statistical analysis revealed a significant microbial load reduction (p<0.01) after treatment with REW, suggesting that it has a good disinfectant activity which, along with its easy and safe use, makes it a good alternative to many other more widely used disinfectants.

Conceptual design of portable electrolyzed water cleaning rig using TRIZ method

The limited budget allocation and storage chemicals space are the main reasons food SMEs manufacturers took cleaning and sanitation for granted. A portable Electrolyzed Water Cleaning Rig which can generate sanitation solution and at the same time generated high-speed water will ease the cleaning and sanitation process for SMEs. In this study, the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ method) is applied in the development of portable electrolyzed water cleaning rig. A new conceptual design for the rig, which is robust and affordable is proposed. The rig could improve cleaning efficiency significantly in SME food industry in Malaysia, which is a major cause of a low number of SME with GMP certification. However, the final conceptual design has to undergo several modifications for assembly and manufacturing purposes, which will be performed in further study. The idea of generation for the portable electrolyzed water cleaning rig design was illustrated based on the TRIZ contradiction matrix. This portable unit will be able to generate both strongly acidic electrolyzed water (AcEW) and strongly alkaline electrolyzed water (AlEW) solution continuously. Both cleaning solutions are green cleaning solutions which can replace the commercial cleaning sanitation solutions. The development of the conceptual design of the portable Electrolyzed Water Cleaning Rig will help food SMEs tremendously.