Surface-Reacted Calcium Carbonate Antimicrobial Filler
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for methods to produce surface-reacted calcium carbonate that provides additional functionalities, such as antimicrobial activity, is biodegradable, water-resistant, and safe for various applications, while avoiding the health and environmental hazards associated with conventional preservatives.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the treatment of a calcium carbonate material with a H3O+ ion donor and carbon dioxide in an aqueous medium, along with a water-soluble metal cation source, to form a surface-reacted calcium carbonate that can be used as a filler, preservative, or micronutrient delivery agent, tailored for specific applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional preservatives are used to prevent microbial contamination, then microbial quality is improved, but health and environmental hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes harmful preservative substances from the system and replaces them with a physically-based antimicrobial mechanism using surface-reacted calcium carbonate with specific surface properties that inhibit microbial growth without introducing toxic chemicals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameters of calcium carbonate through chemical reaction with CO2 and H3O+ ion providers, creating a surface with specific area and reactivity that provides antimicrobial activity without requiring harmful preservative additives
2Adaptability or versatility
If surface-reacted calcium carbonate is produced with additional functionalities, then application versatility is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (filler, preservative, micronutrient delivery) into a single modified calcium carbonate product by incorporating metal cations during the surface reaction process, eliminating the need for separate treatment steps
Solution Approach 2:
The surface-reacted calcium carbonate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a filler, provides antimicrobial protection through surface properties, and can deliver micronutrients through incorporated metal cations, making it universally applicable across different industries
3Reliability
If metal cations are incorporated into surface-reacted calcium carbonate, then antimicrobial activity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary surface modification of calcium carbonate with CO2 and H3O+ ions before incorporating metal cations, creating a reactive surface that facilitates subsequent metal cation incorporation in a single integrated process step
Solution Approach 2:
The surface-reacted calcium carbonate structure itself provides the mechanism for antimicrobial activity through its surface properties and incorporated metal cations, eliminating the need for additional preservative additives or complex multi-step manufacturing processes
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 resulting surface-reacted calcium carbonate exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity, is biodegradable, and water-resistant, offering long-lasting protection without affecting the properties of the substrate, and can be used in diverse applications including paper, paints, and agricultural products.
Implementation Method 1
treating the calcium carbonate-comprising material with the at least one H3O+ ion donor and carbon dioxide in an aqueous medium to form an aqueous suspension of surface-reacted calcium carbonate
Implementation Method 2
at least one water-soluble metal cation source is added during said treating step
Data Source
AI summary
A surface-reacted calcium carbonate is described. In embodiments, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is obtained by a process comprising treating a calcium carbonate-comprising material with at least one H3O+ ion donor, carbon dioxide, and at least one water-soluble metal cation source in an aqueous medium to form an aqueous suspension of surface-reacted calcium carbonate.