Biocidal Polyamine Coatings on Porous Particles for Water Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water purification technologies are inadequate for effectively removing heavy metals, anions of elementar and elementous acids, bacteria, and micropollutants like perfluorinated surfactants, often requiring complex and costly processes that waste water and energy, and fail to maintain water quality due to microbial contamination and biofilm formation.
Innovation Solution
Development of biocidal, porous particles with a polyamine coating on organic or inorganic carriers, allowing for efficient absorption of heavy metals, anions, and bacteria without desalination, and incorporating a biocidal layer to prevent microbial growth, using processes that simplify and reduce waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reverse osmosis is used for water filtration, then water purification is achieved, but energy consumption increases and water yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical reverse osmosis system with a chemical absorption system using functionalized porous particles. The particles contain functional groups (carboxyl, sulfonic acid, amine) that chemically bind contaminants through ion exchange and adsorption mechanisms, eliminating the need for high-pressure pumping and membrane filtration, thus dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining purification effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes porous polymer particles with controlled pore structures (0.03-100 μm) as the core medium. The porous structure provides high surface area and internal pathways for contaminant access to functional groups, enabling efficient absorption without requiring high operational pressure, thereby solving the energy consumption issue while maintaining high purification performance
2Reliability
If reverse osmosis is used for water filtration, then water purification is achieved, but water yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reverse osmosis with a passive chemical absorption system that does not require pressure-driven membrane separation. The functionalized particles continuously absorb contaminants through chemical interactions, allowing treated water to be discharged directly without the need to discard purified water, thereby achieving 100% water yield while maintaining effective purification
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental mechanism from physical separation (RO) to chemical interaction (absorption). By modifying the particle surface with functional groups that have high affinity for specific contaminants, the system achieves selective removal without water loss, transforming the water treatment process from a separation-based approach to a chemical affinity-based approach
3Reliability
If ion exchangers are used for heavy metal removal, then heavy metals are absorbed, but microbial contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite particle system combining porous polymer matrix with embedded functional groups (carboxyl, sulfonic acid, amine) and biocidal agents. This composite structure provides both heavy metal absorption capability through ion exchange and antimicrobial protection, eliminating the microbial contamination issue while maintaining effective heavy metal removal performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of microbial growth on ion exchangers into a benefit by incorporating biocidal functional groups into the particle structure. The same porous matrix that enables heavy metal absorption now contains antimicrobial agents that prevent biofilm formation, turning a harmful effect into a protective feature that enhances system reliability
4Productivity
If smaller particles are used for short diffusion paths, then productivity increases, but counterpressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous polymer particles with optimized pore size distribution (0.03-100 μm) that provide short diffusion paths for contaminants while maintaining structural integrity. The porous structure creates channels that reduce flow resistance, allowing high productivity without excessive counterpressure buildup, thus resolving the trade-off between particle size and pressure
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 particles achieve high yield and reliability in removing contaminants while reducing energy consumption and waste, maintaining water quality by preventing microbial growth and enhancing the capacity to remove perfluorinated surfactants.
Implementation Method 1
absorber resins for the removal of heavy metals, anions of elementic or elementous acids as well as specific micropollutants and bacteria from aqueous solution
Implementation Method 2
modification of the polymer with functionalizing ligands
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a biocidal layer to prevent microbial growth
Implementation Method 4
small particles are to be preferred here because of the short diffusion paths for the contaminants
Data Source
AI summary
Process for the preparation of particles with antibacterial coating, which includes the following steps: (a) providing an aqueous suspension containing a polyamine, a crosslinker and a porous organic or inorganic carrier material in particle form at a temperature lower than or equal to 10° C. in a mixer for coating the inorganic carrier material with the polyamine; (b) crosslinking the organic polymer in the pores of the inorganic carrier material and simultaneously removing water.