Biomass Polyester Nitrogen Control Hydrolysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biomass-resource-derived polyesters face issues with impurities leading to hydrolysis and deterioration of mechanical properties, and high nitrogen content results in instability and foreign matter generation during molding.

Innovation Solution

The development of a biomass-resource-derived polyester pellet with a dicarboxylic acid unit and diol unit, where the nitrogen and sulfur atom content is controlled to 50 ppm or less, reducing impurities and adjusting the terminal acid group content to 50 equivalents/metric ton or less, thereby enhancing hydrolysis resistance and mechanical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If biomass-resource-derived dicarboxylic acid or diol is used as raw material, then environmental friendliness and renewability are improved, but impurity content increases leading to hydrolysis and mechanical property deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidhydrolysis resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by strictly controlling the nitrogen atom content to 50 ppm or less and sulfur atom content to 50 ppm or less in the biomass-derived raw materials. This quantitative parameter control transforms the raw materials to achieve both environmental friendliness and hydrolysis resistance, resolving the contradiction between using biomass resources and maintaining polymer stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes harmful impurities (nitrogen and sulfur atoms) from the biomass-resource-derived dicarboxylic acid and diol through purification processes. By taking out these specific impurities that cause hydrolysis, the patent maintains the environmental benefits of biomass resources while eliminating the detrimental effects on hydrolysis resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If nitrogen content in biomass-derived polyester is high, then raw material utilization is improved, but stability decreases and foreign matter is generated during molding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveraw material utilizationVSAvoidpolyester stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the nitrogen content parameter from high levels to 50 ppm or less through purification processes. This parameter transformation maintains efficient raw material utilization while achieving the required polyester stability and preventing foreign matter generation during molding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If terminal acid group content is high, then polymerization reaction is accelerated, but hydrolysis resistance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymerization rateVSAvoidhydrolysis resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the terminal acid group content to 50 equivalents/metric ton or less by adjusting purification and polymerization parameters. This parameter control achieves an optimal balance where sufficient polymerization reaction occurs while maintaining hydrolysis resistance, resolving the contradiction between reaction speed and long-term stability.

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

The solution effectively suppresses hydrolysis and mechanical property deterioration, providing a stable and eco-friendly polyester with improved physical properties, suitable for recycling and environmentally friendly disposal.

Implementation Method 1

adjusting the terminal acid group content to 50 equivalents/metric ton or less, thereby enhancing hydrolysis resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis resistance: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP3925997B1Biomass-resource-derived polyester and production process thereof
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 MITSUBISHI CHEM CORP
  • EP3925997B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3925997B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3925997B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a pellet obtained from a biomass-resource-derived polyester comprising as a main repeating unit thereof a dicarboxylic acid unit and a diol unit, wherein at least one of the dicarboxylic acid and diol used as raw materials of the polyester is obtained from biomass resources; and wherein a nitrogen atom content in the polyester except nitrogen atoms contained in the covalently bonded functional group in the molecule of the polyester is, in terms of a mass ratio, 0.01 ppm or greater but not greater than 50 ppm relative to the polyester.