Cellulose-Derived Spherical Capacitive Carbon With Alkali Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of spherical capacitive carbon relies heavily on starch and sucrose, which are valuable food resources, making them unsuitable for widespread use due to national food security concerns, and there is a need for alternative raw materials that can maintain high quality and performance standards.
Innovation Solution
Hydrolyzing cellulose into sugar to produce spherical capacitive carbon, utilizing cellulose as a renewable resource, and recycling alkali used in the process for dual purposes as an activator, thereby reducing costs and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If starch and sucrose are used as raw materials to produce spherical capacitive carbon, then high quality capacitive carbon with high specific surface and high electrical conductivity can be obtained, but food security is compromised and raw material availability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using cellulose, a non-food biomass resource, as a substitute raw material that can serve the same function as starch and sucrose in producing spherical capacitive carbon. Cellulose is hydrolyzed to glucose and then carbonized to form high-quality capacitive carbon, demonstrating that multiple raw material sources can achieve the same product quality while expanding resource availability beyond food crops.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs this principle by utilizing cellulose from non-food biomass sources such as agricultural residues and wood waste, which are abundant, low-cost, and non-renewable food resources. These disposable biomass materials are converted into high-value capacitive carbon, replacing valuable food materials with inexpensive alternative feedstocks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If deep hydrolysis of cellulose is performed to obtain sugar for sintering, then sucrose and starch can be replaced as raw materials, but additional processing steps and cost are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing acid pretreatment on cellulose before hydrolysis to break down the crystalline structure and make cellulose more accessible to enzymes. This preliminary step facilitates subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency, allowing the conversion of cellulose to glucose without requiring excessive additional processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by integrating multiple steps into a continuous process: acid pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to produce glucose, which is then directly carbonized to form spherical capacitive carbon. The process maintains continuous material flow and converts intermediate products into the final product without interruption, minimizing additional processing complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If alkali is used for hydrolysis of cellulose, then high-purity sugar can be obtained, but alkali consumption and waste treatment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by capturing and regenerating alkali from the hydrolysis process. The alkali used for hydrolyzing cellulose is recovered from the spent liquor through chemical treatment and regeneration, then reused in subsequent hydrolysis operations. This reduces alkali consumption and minimizes waste discharge, maintaining high purity sugar production while reducing chemical usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by monitoring the alkali concentration and composition in the hydrolysis liquor and adjusting the regeneration process accordingly. The spent alkali solution is fed into a regeneration system that adjusts operating parameters based on the actual state of the alkali, ensuring optimal recovery efficiency and maintaining the required purity for reuse in hydrolysis.
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 method produces high-purity spherical capacitive carbon with large contact area, high packing density, and high electrical conductivity, while reducing production costs and conserving food resources, with the added benefit of alkali recycling for multiple uses.
Implementation Method 1
adding a crude cellulose raw material to a dilute sulfuric acid solution to soak and stir
Implementation Method 2
adding the cellulose obtained in step 1 into a lye, cooking the cellulose at 120-150°C for 6-10 h, and partly hydrolyzing the cellulose into sugar
Implementation Method 3
drying the alkali-containing hydrolyzed sugar liquor in an oven at 115-125°C
Implementation Method 4
heating a resulting mixture to 700-800°C in an inert atmosphere, and carbonizing-activating for 60-90 min to form a spherical capacitive carbon agglomerate
Data Source
AI summary
A method for hydrolyzing cellulose into sugar to produce spherical capacitive carbon for the deep utilization of biomass and carbon materials. The present disclosure includes the following steps of: (1) crude cellulose pretreatment; (2) alkaline hydrolysis of cellulose; (3) separation of the cellulose from a hydrolyzed sugar liquor; (4) drying of an alkali-containing hydrolyzed sugar; (5) sintering of spherical capacitive carbon; (6) capacitive carbon post-processing; and (7) alkali recycling. In the method, biomass is used as a raw material, high-purity cellulose and hydrolyzed sugar are obtained through deep hydrolysis, the spherical capacitive carbon is sintered with the hydrolyzed sugar instead of sucrose and starch, and alkali is recycled. Pollution and waste are not generated, and more than 80% of the alkali can be recycled.