Cationic Polymer Salts for Industrial Water Fouling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial water systems, particularly evaporative cooling systems, face issues with fouling due to microbial contamination and corrosion, leading to decreased efficiency and health risks, with existing quaternary ammonium compounds being hazardous.
Innovation Solution
Development of cationic polymer salts derived from reactions between polyamines or polyalkyleneimines and substituted alkyl trialkyl quaternary ammonium salts, providing multiple quaternary ammonium groups for antimicrobial and anticorrosion properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional quaternary ammonium compounds are used for antimicrobial and corrosion inhibition, then effective microbial control and corrosion protection are achieved, but hazardous properties and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite material principles by combining polyamine or polyalkyleneimine backbones with multiple quaternary ammonium groups to create cationic polymer salts. This composite structure integrates the biocidal activity of quaternary ammonium compounds with the polymer matrix, achieving effective microbial control and corrosion inhibition while reducing the hazardous properties associated with traditional monomeric quaternary ammonium compounds.
2Reliability
If quaternary ammonium compounds are used as corrosion inhibitors, then corrosion protection is provided, but safety hazards and health risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the molecular structure from simple quaternary ammonium compounds to cationic polymer salts with multiple quaternary groups per molecule. This structural parameter change maintains or enhances corrosion inhibition effectiveness while improving safety profiles by reducing the need for high concentrations of hazardous monomeric compounds.
3Productivity
If industrial water systems are not cleaned periodically, then operational continuity is maintained, but fouling and microbial contamination increase leading to decreased efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using cationic polymer salts to prevent fouling and microbial contamination before they can significantly impact system efficiency. The polymer salts continuously inhibit microbial growth and prevent biofilm formation, eliminating the need for periodic system shutdowns for cleaning while maintaining operational continuity and preventing fouling accumulation.
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 cationic polymer salts effectively control microbial populations and inhibit corrosion in industrial water systems, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing health risks while being safer than traditional compounds.
Implementation Method 1
The unique positive charge of the ammonium plays a key role, i.e., electrostatic interactions, between the surfactant and surface
Data Source
AI summary
A cationic polymer salt composition is provided that includes a reaction product derived from reaction of a polyamine or a polyalkyleneimine and a substituted alkyl trialkyl quaternary ammonium salt. Also provided are surfactant compositions. The compositions may also include carriers, such as water, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, monoethyleneglycol, an ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, and hexylene glycol.