High-Pressure Arginine Bicarbonate Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing arginine bicarbonate are inefficient, requiring 24 to 48 hours to complete the reaction and resulting in low concentrations, necessitating continuous addition of arginine and constant monitoring, due to limited solubility of carbon dioxide in water and arginine in aqueous solutions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves contacting carbon dioxide at elevated pressures and temperatures with an arginine slurry, increasing the arginine content, and maintaining the slurry under pressure until the pH is below 9 to produce a highly concentrated arginine bicarbonate solution in as little as 10 to 20 minutes, followed by recovery of the arginine bicarbonate salt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carbon dioxide is bubbled through arginine aqueous solution at room temperature and pressure, then arginine bicarbonate is produced, but the production time is long (24-48 hours) and the concentration is low (maximum 1.2×10^-5M)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by increasing the pressure of carbon dioxide from atmospheric pressure (3.5×10^-4 atmosphere) to high pressure (at least 5 psi or 34474 Pa), and increasing the temperature from room temperature to at least 30°C. These parameter changes dramatically increase the solubility of CO2 in the arginine solution, enabling high concentration (exceeding 50% w/w) arginine bicarbonate production in just 10-20 minutes instead of 24-48 hours.
2Quantity of substance
If arginine is continuously added to increase concentration to 40%, then higher concentration is achieved, but production time increases and constant monitoring is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating the arginine aqueous solution to at least 30°C before introducing carbon dioxide, and pre-establishing the high pressure environment. This preliminary preparation creates optimal conditions for rapid CO2 dissolution and reaction, eliminating the need for continuous arginine addition and constant monitoring during the reaction process, while achieving concentrations exceeding 50% w/w in just 10-20 minutes.
3Speed
If carbon dioxide pressure is increased to increase solubility, then reaction speed improves, but equipment complexity and safety requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by operating at moderately high pressures (at least 5 psi or 34474 Pa, with embodiments using 80 psi or 551580 Pa) and temperatures (at least 30°C, with embodiments using 60-80°C). This combination of elevated temperature and pressure significantly increases CO2 solubility and reaction rate, achieving high concentration arginine bicarbonate in 10-20 minutes. The pressure level is optimized to balance reaction speed with equipment complexity and safety requirements.
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 significantly reduces production time, achieving concentrations exceeding 50% and up to 75% arginine bicarbonate, compared to the prior art's 40%, with faster and easier recovery of the arginine bicarbonate salt.
Implementation Method 1
contacting carbon dioxide having a pressure of least 34474 Pa (5 psi) with a starting slurry containing arginine at a temperature of at least 30° C.
Implementation Method 2
heating the arginine water slurry to a temperature within the range of from 60° C. to 80° C.
Implementation Method 3
cooling the slurry to a temperature of 25° C.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of producing arginine bicarbonate solutions in very high concentrations including reacting an arginine slurry containing a first portion of arginine with a source of carbon dioxide gas at elevated pressure and temperature, adding subsequent portions of arginine to the resulting solution and further reacting with compressed carbon dioxide until a final solution containing in excess of 50% by weight are provided which include preparing an arginine solution by subjecting an arginine water slurry to elevated pressure and temperature and reacting the arginine solution with a source of carbon dioxide gas to form a solution comprising arginine and bicarbonate anion and recovering arginine bicarbonate from the solution.