Alkaline Earth Metal Salt Catalyzed Wax Oxidation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transition metals like manganese and cobalt can cause excessive degradation or crosslinking of waxes during oxidation, leading to undesirable changes in viscosity, and existing methods often require removal of residual catalysts from oxidized waxes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the oxidation of olefin waxes in the presence of a catalytic amount of an alkaline earth metal salt, such as calcium, without manganese or cobalt compounds, using molecular oxygen at elevated temperatures to achieve oxidation while minimizing catalyst residues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transition metal catalysts (manganese or cobalt) are used for oxidation of waxes, then oxidation efficiency is improved, but excessive degradation or crosslinking occurs leading to undesirable viscosity changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the catalyst type from transition metals (manganese, cobalt) to alkaline earth metals (calcium, strontium, barium), altering the chemical parameters of the catalytic system to achieve milder oxidation that prevents excessive degradation while maintaining oxidation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs readily available alkaline earth metal salts as catalysts that can be easily removed or left in the final product without requiring complex purification steps, simplifying the manufacturing process
2Productivity
If transition metal catalysts are used for oxidation, then oxidation reaction proceeds effectively, but residual catalyst must be removed from oxidized waxes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes the problematic transition metal catalysts from the system by replacing them with alkaline earth metal catalysts that do not require removal, or allows easy separation of the alkaline earth metal residues from the oxidized wax product
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses alkaline earth metals as alternative catalysts that replicate the catalytic function of transition metals but with the advantage of easier handling and removal, or negligible residual effects in the final product
3Strength
If oxidation is performed to improve wax hardness and viscosity, then performance in coating applications is enhanced, but excessive degradation occurs causing undesirable property changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the oxidation parameters by using alkaline earth metal catalysts instead of transition metals, controlling the oxidation extent to achieve desired hardness improvements while preventing excessive degradation that would compromise molecular structure integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial oxidation to achieve the necessary hardness improvement without over-oxidizing the wax, thereby maintaining molecular structure integrity while still enhancing coating performance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach prevents excessive degradation, maintains desirable viscosity, and allows for the retention or removal of the alkaline earth metal catalyst, providing oxidized waxes suitable for coatings and other applications without the need for catalyst removal.
Implementation Method 1
oxidizing an olefin wax in the presence of a catalytic amount of a salt of an alkaline earth metal
Implementation Method 2
oxidation of olefin waxes in the presence of molecular oxygen at elevated temperatures
Implementation Method 3
heating said mixture to 100 to 180 °C, or 140-160 °C
Data Source
AI summary
An olefin or a slack wax of 10 to 100 carbon atoms is oxidized by mixing said wax with a salt of an alkaline earth metal in an amount to provide 0.001 to 0.03 weight percent of the alkaline earth metal, the anion of the salt comprising 4 to 36 carbon atoms; heating the mixture to100 to 180°C; and supplying to the heated mixture a molecular oxygen-containing gas. The oxidation is conducted in the substantial absence of manganese or cobalt compounds. The oxidized wax may be esterified by reaction with an alcohol. The oxidized wax may be used in a coating composition.