Amine Oxide Polymer Composite Absorbent for Organic Solvent Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional absorbents are ineffective in efficiently removing water-soluble organic contaminants and solvents from water sources, requiring costly and time-consuming methods like distillation, and existing technologies struggle to address the widespread contamination of groundwater by organic materials.
Innovation Solution
A composite absorbent compound comprising 30-55% amine oxide and 30-55% polymer, optionally with a preservative, which is applied to a substrate and dried to form a thin film or gel, capable of absorbing water-soluble solvents and contaminants from water or air without the need for distillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional absorbents are used to remove organic contaminants from water, then some absorption occurs, but the absorption efficiency is insufficient and distillation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines amine oxide and polymer in a composite absorbent material. The amine oxide component provides affinity for polar functional groups of organic contaminants, while the polymer matrix provides structural support and swelling capacity. This composite structure achieves both high absorption efficiency and complete removal of water-soluble organics without requiring distillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical and physical parameters of the absorbent by controlling the ratio of amine oxide to polymer (30:70 to 70:30), adjusting cross-linking density, and optimizing particle size. These parameter changes enable the absorbent to effectively capture both polar and non-polar organic contaminants with high efficiency and completeness.
2Reliability
If distillation is used to remove water-soluble solvents from water, then complete removal is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal distillation process with a chemical absorption mechanism. The amine oxide-polymer composite selectively binds water-soluble organic solvents through chemical affinity and physical absorption, achieving complete removal without the time-consuming and energy-intensive heating and phase separation required by distillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite absorbent acts as an intermediary substance that mediates the separation between water and organic solvents. The amine oxide groups form intermediate complexes with polar organic molecules, facilitating their removal from water through absorption rather than requiring direct thermal separation through distillation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional absorbents are used, then application is simple, but the absorption rate and retention quantity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of the polymer matrix to provide high surface area for absorption. The cross-linked polymer network creates interconnected pores that facilitate rapid diffusion of organic contaminants into the absorbent interior, significantly increasing the absorption rate while maintaining simple application procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent is pre-treated during manufacturing to optimize its absorption characteristics. The amine oxide and polymer are pre-combined in specific ratios and pre-cross-linked to create an optimized absorption structure, so that when applied, the absorbent immediately achieves high absorption rate and retention quantity without requiring additional preparation steps.
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 absorbent compound significantly enhances the removal of organic contaminants and solvents from water, including those with hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, in a single-step process, improving existing water treatment systems' efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The adsorption and absorption of organics has been a problem for over a century
Implementation Method 2
Absorbents are used to recover liquids by retaining liquid and/or gases distributed throughout its molecular structure
Implementation Method 3
which may result in the solid absorbent to swell
Implementation Method 4
Alcohol is soluble in water, as the hydroxyl group in the alcohol forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules
Implementation Method 5
Organic compounds dissolve into water because the affinity of their polar functional groups for water is stronger than the repulsion of their non-polar groups from water
Implementation Method 6
the affinity of their polar functional groups for water is stronger than the repulsion of their non-polar groups from water
Data Source
AI summary
An absorbent compound and method of making the same, where the absorbent compound includes an amine oxide that comprises about 30% to about 55% of the absorbent compound and a polymer that comprises about 30% and about 55% of the absorbent compound.