CE-7 Peracid Formulation for Stable Storage and Low-Viscosity Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-component enzymatic peroxycarboxylic acid generation systems face issues with the limited solubility of carboxylic acid ester substrates, leading to high viscosity and poor mixing efficiency, as well as instability of CE-7 enzymes when stored with cosolvents having low log P values, which affects the production and delivery of peroxycarboxylic acid.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component formulation comprising a CE-7 enzyme catalyst with specific motifs and a carboxylic acid ester substrate, along with a cosolvent and buffer, is designed to enhance storage stability and mixing characteristics, using a combination of oligosaccharides and surfactants to stabilize the enzyme and improve solubility, and a hydrogen peroxide stabilizer to maintain efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carboxylic acid ester substrates are used in enzymatic peroxycarboxylic acid generation systems, then peroxycarboxylic acid production is enabled, but limited solubility leads to high viscosity and poor mixing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cosolvents as intermediary substances to mediate between the carboxylic acid ester substrate and the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. These cosolvents have affinity for both organic esters and water, forming a bridging phase that improves miscibility and reduces viscosity without interfering with the enzymatic perhydrolysis reaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the reaction system by adjusting cosolvent composition, temperature, and pH to optimize both solubility and enzyme activity. By changing these parameters, the system achieves a balance between maintaining ester solubility and ensuring adequate mixing characteristics for efficient peroxycarboxylic acid generation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If CE-7 enzymes are stored with cosolvents having low log P values, then solubility is improved, but enzyme stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different cosolvent characteristics to different functional requirements: using cosolvents with specific log P ranges that provide adequate solubility enhancement while maintaining enzyme stability in the storage formulation, versus using different cosolvent compositions optimized for mixing performance in the reaction formulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary optimization of the enzyme-cosolvent system by selecting cosolvents and concentrations that pre-establish stable enzyme-cosolvent complexes before the reaction begins. This preliminary formulation work ensures that when hydrogen peroxide is added, the enzyme remains stable and active while the reaction proceeds efficiently.
3Productivity
If chemical catalysts are used for peroxycarboxylic acid production, then reaction efficiency is high, but stability and safety of the system deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical catalysts (mechanical/chemical system) with biological catalysts (enzymatic system). The CE-7 enzyme catalyst provides comparable or superior reaction efficiency for perhydrolysis while offering inherent stability advantages, as enzymes are biodegradable, non-corrosive, and can be stored stable under appropriate conditions unlike strong chemical acids or bases.
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 formulation achieves enhanced storage stability and improved mixing efficiency, allowing for rapid production of peroxycarboxylic acid at effective concentrations suitable for disinfection and bleaching applications, while maintaining enzyme activity and stability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one enzyme catalyst having perhydrolysis activity, wherein said enzyme catalyst comprises an enzyme having a carbohydrate esterase family 7 (CE-7) signature motif
Implementation Method 2
converting carboxylic acid esters (in the presence of a suitable source of peroxygen, such as hydrogen peroxide) into peroxycarboxylic acids
Implementation Method 3
a cosolvent selected from the group consisting of tripropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, N-ethyl-2-pyrroldinone, isopropanol, ethanol, ethyl lactate, 1,3-propanediol, and any combination thereof
Implementation Method 4
using a combination of oligosaccharides and surfactants to stabilize the enzyme and improve solubility
Implementation Method 5
a buffer selected from the group consisting of bicarbonate, citrate, acetate, phosphate, pyrophosphate, methylphosphonate, succinate, malate, fumarate, tartrate, and maleate
Implementation Method 6
a hydrogen peroxide stabilizer to maintain efficacy
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are multi-component formulations for enzymatically producing aqueous solutions of peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in, e.g., disinfectant and/or bleaching applications. The multi-component peroxycarboxylic acid formulations comprise at least one carbohydrate esterase family 7 enzyme having perhydrolytic activity.