Aqueous Direct Dye Formulation Stability via Membrane Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aqueous direct dye formulations for paper dyeing face storage stability issues due to limited dye solubility and the presence of water-soluble amines and urea, leading to precipitates and nonuniform colorations, especially in blended dye mixtures.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous direct dye formulation with reduced amounts of water-soluble amines and urea, where dyes are purified using nanofiltration or ultrafiltration, and the formulation includes 50-99% of dyes obtainable by reduction or thermal treatment of Direct Yellow 11, 1-50% of blue, black, or red direct dyes, up to 0.9% of water-soluble amines, and up to 0.9% of urea, with specific membrane cutoffs and preservatives to enhance stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water-soluble amines and urea are added to improve dye solubility, then storage stability is improved, but environmental pollution and waste treatment complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes harmful substances (water-soluble amines and urea) from the dye formulation while maintaining storage stability through alternative means such as optimized dye composition and pH control, thereby eliminating environmental pollution without sacrificing reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by reducing or eliminating water-soluble amines and urea, and instead uses alternative stabilizers and pH adjusters to maintain storage stability, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental harm

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high concentrations of water-soluble amines and urea are used to maintain dye solubility, then storage stability is improved, but the amount of harmful substances in waste water increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidamount of harmful substances
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes water-soluble amines and urea from the formulation, replacing them with environmentally friendly alternatives that provide the same storage stability function without contributing to harmful substance accumulation in waste water

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses biodegradable and environmentally friendly substances that break down quickly in the environment, replacing persistent harmful substances, thus reducing the quantity of harmful substances in waste water while maintaining storage stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 formulation achieves stable direct dye solutions with reduced sulfate content and minimal organic waste, providing consistent coloration and improved storage stability, reducing the need for additional solubility improvers and minimizing waste treatment complexities.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of dyes (a1) and (a2) has been purified by nanofiltration or ultrafiltration, whereby nanofiltration has been carried out with a polymer nanofiltration membrane or ultrafiltration has been carried out with a polymer or ceramic membrane with a cutoff at 1000 to 5000 Dalton

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNanofiltration: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

at least one of dyes (a1) and (a2) has been purified by nanofiltration or ultrafiltration, whereby nanofiltration has been carried out with a polymer nanofiltration membrane or ultrafiltration has been carried out with a polymer or ceramic membrane with a cutoff at 1000 to 5000 Dalton

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrafiltration: Semipermeable Membrane

Data Source

PatentEP2406326B1Aqueous direct dye formulations
Publication Date: 2013.11.06 BASF SE

AI summary

The present invention relates to an aqueous direct dye formulation, comprising (a) 5 to 25 % by weight of a dye composition comprising (a1) 50-99 % by weight of one or more dyes obtainable by reduction or thermal treatment of Direct Yellow 11, and (a2) 1 -50 % by weight of a blue, black and/or red direct dye, (all based on the dye composition); (b) up to 0.9 % by weight of a saturated, cyclic or acyclic water-soluble amine comprising a primary, secondary or tertiary amino group and at least one further functional group selected from primary, secondary and tertiary amino groups, OH groups and ether groups; and (c) up to 0.9 % by weight of urea; and (d) water, wherein the percentages for (a), (b), and (c) relate to the total weight of the aqueous direct dye formulation. The invention moreover relates to a process for their preparation and the use thereof for the dyeing, in particular of paper, as well as paper which has been dyed with this aqueous direct dye formulation.