Cellulose Destructuring via Silicate Intercalation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for destructuring cellulose pulp require organic solvents, high temperatures, and lignin separation, and involve complex purification and water removal steps, limiting their effectiveness and applicability.
Innovation Solution
A process involving an alkaline aqueous solution with SiO2 and Na2O in a specific ratio, mixed at room temperature and ambient pressure for an extended period, which intercalates silicate ions into cellulose fibrils, breaking hydrogen bonds and forming a hybrid polyhydroxy compound that solubilizes cellulose without the need for solvent removal or lignin separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If organic solvents are used to solubilize cellulose, then cellulose can be dissolved and reacted with reagents, but complex purification processes are required to remove solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water as an intermediary solvent instead of organic solvents. Water serves as the medium for silicate ion intercalation and cellulose destructuring, eliminating the need for complex solvent removal and purification processes while achieving the desired solubilization and reactivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from organic to aqueous, and adjusts the pH parameter by using alkaline conditions (silicate ions) to enable cellulose destructuring and solubilization without requiring subsequent purification steps
2Ease of manufacture
If high temperatures are used to process cellulose, then cellulose can be destructured and solubilized, but energy consumption increases and degradation reactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high to ambient/room temperature, and compensates by adjusting the chemical environment (alkaline aqueous solution with silicate ions) to achieve cellulose destructuring and solubilization without high energy input or thermal degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces thermal energy input with chemical action (silicate ion intercalation and hydrogen bond breaking in alkaline conditions) to achieve cellulose destructuring, substituting a thermal process with a chemical process that occurs at lower temperatures
3Ease of manufacture
If lignin is removed from cellulose matrices, then cellulose can be effectively treated, but additional process steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the alkaline aqueous silicate solution universally effective for treating both lignin-containing and lignin-free cellulose materials. The same process conditions (alkaline pH, silicate ions, ambient temperature) work for various lignocellulosic substrates without requiring separate pretreatment steps for lignin removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes the need for separate lignin removal steps by using a process that works directly on the native lignocellulosic structure, achieving destructuring and solubilization in the presence of lignin
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional destructuring processes are used, then cellulose can be solubilized, but water must be removed before use of the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the product form and composition by incorporating silicate ions into the structure during the solubilization process. The resulting hybrid polyhydroxy product has modified properties that allow direct use without water removal, as the silicate framework stabilizes the aqueous structure
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
This process effectively destructures cellulose pulp, enabling its solubilization and reaction with various reagents, such as diisocyanates, without the need for organic solvents or high temperatures, and promotes the formation of a hybrid polyhydroxy product suitable for producing polyurethanes and other reactive systems.
Implementation Method 1
The chains are arranged parallel to one another and are held together by very strong hydrogen bonds, forming fibrils
Implementation Method 2
mixing at room temperature and ambient pressure for a time in the range from 2 to 6 months. This enables optimal interaction between polyhydroxy components and lignins, and SiO2 and Na2O
Implementation Method 3
enabling its solubilization and reaction with various reagents
Implementation Method 4
The result is a hybrid polyhydroxy compound in which the whole of the inorganic component (silica), interacting with the hydroxyl layers of poly d-glucopyranose, cleaves the high quantity of hydrogen bonds
Implementation Method 5
The result is a hybrid polyhydroxy compound in which the whole of the inorganic component (silica), interacting with the hydroxyl layers of poly d-glucopyranose
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for destructuring a cellulose pulp comprising the steps of mixing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising SiO2, Na2O in a ratio in the range from 1:1 to 4:1 and polyhydroxy components having a high molecular weight in the range from 200'000 to 650'000 g/mol in the form of fibres, lignins having a molecular weight in the range from 800 to 80' 000 g/mol; mixing at room temperature and ambient pressure for a time in the range from 1 to 6 months when said polyhydroxy components are fibres by more than 50% having a diameter with a size greater than or equal to 50 μm, or 12 hours to 72 hours when said polyhydroxy components are fibres by more than 50% having a diameter with a size smaller than 50 μm. The invention also relates to a product obtained by this process and to the related uses.