Carboxylic Acid Amide Solvent Hard Water Solubility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Carboxylic acid amides exhibit poor solubility in hard water due to the presence of calcium and magnesium ions, limiting their use in applications requiring solubility in tap water with high water hardness.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers with fatty acids or their salts as emulsifiers improves the solubility of carboxylic acid amides in hard water, maintaining their solvent power and biodegradability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If carboxylic acid amides are used as solvents, then solubilization power and eco-toxicological behaviour are improved, but solubility in hard water deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolubilization powerVSAvoidsolubility in hard water
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces emulsifiers and dispersants as intermediary substances that mediate between the carboxylic acid amides and hard water. These additives form complexes with calcium and magnesium ions, preventing them from interfering with the amide solubility, thereby enabling the amides to maintain their solubilization power in hard water conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite solvent system by combining carboxylic acid amides with emulsifiers and dispersants. This composite formulation leverages the complementary properties of each component: the amides provide solubilization power, while the additives improve compatibility with hard water, achieving both high solubility and maintained functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If emulsifiers or dispersants are added to improve hard-water solubility, then solubility in hard water is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolubility in hard waterVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of the emulsifiers and dispersants within specific ranges (0.1-10% and 0.01-5% by weight, respectively). By controlling these parameters, the formulation achieves improved hard-water solubility while minimizing the added complexity and cost associated with multiple additives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The composition achieves stable and clear emulsions in water with up to 500 ppm alkaline earth metal ions, enhancing the environmental friendliness and applicability of carboxylic acid amides in agricultural and industrial uses.

Implementation Method 1

The present invention refers to solvent composition, comprising (a) Carboxylic acid amides (b) Fatty acids or their salts, and (c) Ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for improving the solubility or dispersability of carboxylic acid amides in water comprising up to 500 ppm alkaline earth metal cations by using a blend comprising fatty acids or their salts and ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers as emulsifiers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Data Source

PatentUS9000100B2Solvent compositions
Publication Date: 2015.04.07 COGNIS IP MANAGEMENT GMBH

AI summary

Suggested are solvent compositions, comprising (a) Carboxylic acid dialkyl amides (b) Fatty acids or their salts, and (c) Ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers.