Bio-Based Solvent Blend for Low-CO2e Industrial Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for fully bio-based cleaning solutions that reduce the CO2e footprint and effectively remove lubricating oils, carbon deposits, paints, sealants, and adhesives from metal, ceramic, and plastic products, while minimizing flammability and toxicity compared to petrochemical-derived solvents.
Innovation Solution
A bio-based cleaning solvent comprising a mixture of ethyl acetate and crude turpentine, with a ratio of 5:95 to 95:5 vol.%, which enhances solvating properties and penetrates complex geometries, reducing the solvent's environmental impact and improving safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If petrochemical-derived solvents are used, then effective removal of organic residues is achieved, but CO2e footprint and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the solvent by using ethyl acetate (from bio-ethanol) and crude turpentine (from softwood processing) instead of petrochemical solvents. This parameter change maintains cleaning effectiveness while reducing CO2e footprint, as both components are derived from renewable biological sources rather than fossil fuels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite solvent system combining ethyl acetate and crude turpentine in specific ratios (5:95 to 95:5 vol%). This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of both bio-based components to achieve effective removal of various organic residues while maintaining fully bio-based status and reduced environmental impact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fully bio-based solvents are used, then CO2e footprint is reduced, but solvating power and penetration ability may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of ethyl acetate and crude turpentine within the range of 5:95 to 95:5 vol% ratios. This parameter optimization ensures that the bio-based solvent maintains sufficient solvating power for complex organic residues while preserving its fully bio-based status and low environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite solvent system combining ethyl acetate (providing good solubility for polar compounds) and crude turpentine (providing deep penetrating ability and solvation for non-polar organics). This composite structure enables the solvent to tackle diverse organic contaminants effectively while remaining fully bio-based with reduced CO2e footprint.
3Reliability
If conventional cleaning solvents are used, then cleaning performance is maintained, but flammability and toxicity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by selecting ethyl acetate and crude turpentine as base components. These bio-based substances inherently possess lower toxicity and reduced flammability compared to conventional petrochemical solvents, while maintaining effective cleaning performance through optimized concentration ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent formulates a composite solvent where ethyl acetate and crude turpentine work synergistically to provide effective cleaning performance. The combination maintains or improves upon the safety profile of individual components, offering reduced flammability and toxicity while preserving the ability to remove lubricating oils, carbon deposits, paints, sealants, and adhesives.
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 solvent efficiently removes organic residues from various substrates with reduced flammability and toxicity, contributing to a lower CO2e footprint and enabling zero greenhouse gas production in aluminum recycling processes.
Implementation Method 1
The solvent can be used to chemically dissolve organic species from a material substrate, for example for removing residues of lubricating mineral oils, carbon deposits, paints, sealants, powder coatings, protective films and adhesives
Data Source
Figure 1a~2d
AI summary
A bio-based cleaning solvent comprising a mixture of ethyl acetate and crude turpentine.