Amino Composition Purification via Steam Stripping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing amino compositions by addition reaction between polyamines and unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds result in residual unreacted polyamines, leading to issues like whitening, tackiness, and poor storage stability of epoxy resin coatings, and require high-temperature distillation which can cause undesirable changes.

Innovation Solution

The process involves conducting an addition reaction between a polyamine and an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound in the presence of a strongly basic alkali metal catalyst, followed by steam stripping to remove unreacted polyamine and reducing the alkali metal content to less than 10 ppm, thereby achieving an amino composition with less than 2% unreacted polyamine and improved storage stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the reaction ratio of unsaturated hydrocarbon compound to polyamine is increased to reduce unreacted polyamine content, then the content of unreacted polyamine decreases, but the amount of amino composition to be blended in epoxy resin increases and the reaction point decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunreacted polyamine contentVSAvoidreaction point
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unreacted polyamine from the amino composition through vacuum distillation. By applying reduced pressure (1-100 mmHg) and heating (50-150°C), the polyamine is selectively evaporated and separated from the reaction mixture, reducing its content to 2% or less while preserving the reactive amino composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pressure parameter during distillation to enable removal of unreacted polyamine at lower temperatures. By operating under vacuum conditions (1-100 mmHg), the boiling point of polyamine is reduced, allowing effective separation without high-temperature damage to the amino composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If vacuum distillation is used to remove unreacted polyamine, then the content of unreacted polyamine decreases, but high temperature or highly reduced pressure is required which causes coloration and requires expensive equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunreacted polyamine contentVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the pressure range (1-100 mmHg) and temperature range (50-150°C) for distillation to achieve effective polyamine removal under milder conditions. This parameter optimization allows use of conventional vacuum distillation equipment rather than expensive thin-film evaporators, and prevents coloration that would occur at higher temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the need for complex expensive equipment (thin-film evaporators requiring high vacuum) with a simpler vacuum distillation system. By achieving effective separation at higher pressure (1-100 mmHg rather than ultra-high vacuum), conventional equipment suffices, reducing capital investment and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If high temperature distillation is used to remove unreacted polyamine, then the removal efficiency increases, but undesirable changes such as coloration occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolyamine removal efficiencyVSAvoidcoloration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter to a lower range (50-150°C) combined with vacuum pressure (1-100 mmHg) to achieve polyamine removal without thermal degradation. This parameter modification prevents coloration while maintaining effective removal efficiency through the vacuum-assisted lowering of boiling point.

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

This process effectively reduces residual unreacted polyamine content, prevents unwanted changes in the amino composition, and enhances the storage stability and appearance of epoxy resin coatings, ensuring better physical properties and commercial value.

Implementation Method 1

a step of removing unreacted polyamine from the reaction liquid containing an amino composition obtained by said addition reaction-step (A) in the form of a mixture of water and unreacted polyamine by steam stripping

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS7364668B2Process for producing an amino composition
Publication Date: 2008.04.29 MITSUBISHI GAS CHEM CO INC

AI summary

The present invention provides a process for producing an amino composition by addition reaction between a polyamine and an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound in the presence of a strongly basic alkali metal catalyst to obtain an amino composition containing not more than 2% by weight of unreacted polyamine and preferably not more than 10 ppm of alkali metal.