Alkane Sulfonic Acid Cleaning Aconitic Deposits
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Solution Overview
Problem
The sugar industry faces challenges in efficiently cleaning deposits containing aconitic acid salts, particularly calcium and magnesium salts, due to the difficulty in solubilizing aconitates, and existing cleaning methods like EDTA and acidic solutions pose environmental risks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The use of alkane-sulfonic acids, such as methane-sulfonic acid, for cleaning solid deposits containing aconitic acid salts, offering improved solubility and environmental safety compared to traditional methods, with the ability to be used in more concentrated forms without generating toxic or corrosive byproducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydrochloric acid is used to clean aconitic acid salts, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but toxic gas release and environmental harm worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the cleaning agent from hydrochloric acid to sulfuric acid, maintaining the acidic cleaning mechanism while eliminating toxic chlorine gas release. This parameter substitution resolves the contradiction by preserving cleaning effectiveness through acid reactivity while removing the harmful chlorine byproduct.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful sulfuric acid into a beneficial cleaning agent by controlling its concentration and application conditions. Through proper formulation and process control, the harmful corrosive nature of sulfuric acid is managed while its cleaning effectiveness against aconitic acid salts is maximized, transforming a potential hazard into a useful cleaning solution.
2Productivity
If hydrochloric acid is used to clean aconitic acid salts, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm from chloride release worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the anion parameter from chloride to sulfate by using sulfuric acid instead of hydrochloric acid. This substitution maintains the hydrogen ion concentration necessary for effective cleaning while replacing harmful chloride ions with less environmentally damaging sulfate ions, thereby resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and environmental harm.
3Productivity
If higher acid concentration is used to improve cleaning effectiveness, then deposit removal capability is improved, but corrosiveness worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of sulfuric acid to achieve the optimal balance between cleaning effectiveness and corrosiveness. By carefully controlling the acid concentration within specific ranges and adjusting related parameters such as temperature and contact time, the patent maximizes deposit removal capability while minimizing corrosive damage to equipment surfaces.
4Productivity
If EDTA salts are used to eliminate aconitates, then solubilization effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical class parameter from chelating agents (EDTA) to inorganic acids (sulfuric acid). This fundamental parameter change eliminates the environmental persistence and bioaccumulation problems associated with EDTA while maintaining effective solubilization of aconitic acid salts through acid-base reactions, thereby resolving the contradiction between solubilization effectiveness and environmental harm.
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
Alkane-sulfonic acids effectively dissolve aconitic acid salts, matching or exceeding the effectiveness of hydrochloric acid while being less corrosive, non-toxic, and biodegradable, reducing environmental impact and allowing for higher concentration usage, thus providing a safer and more efficient cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
The use of alkane-sulfonic acids, such as methane-sulfonic acid, for cleaning solid deposits containing aconitic acid salts, offering improved solubility
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns the use of at least one alkane sulfonic acid of formula R-SO3H, in which R represents a linear or branched saturated hydrocarbon chain comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, for cleaning solid deposits comprising at least one aconitic acid salt. The invention also concerns a method for cleaning solid deposits comprising at least one aconitic acid salt, using at least one alkane sulfonic acid.