Cellulosic Material Preservation via Copper Amine Complexes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for preserving cellulosic materials are energy-intensive, time-consuming, and inefficient, and often require the use of undesirable chemicals, especially when treating refractory hardwood and softwood species.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the introduction of a liquid treating composition containing a copper amine or copper ammine complex, ammonia, and water into cellulosic materials, followed by exposure to carbon dioxide or carbonic acid, which penetrates and fixes copper within the material, enhancing preservation and reducing leaching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional preservation methods are used, then preservation effectiveness is achieved, but energy consumption increases and treatment time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the treating composition by using copper amine complexes with specific ligands (monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine) instead of conventional preservatives. This chemical parameter change enables effective preservation while reducing energy requirements and treatment time compared to traditional methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite preserving system by combining copper with specific amine ligands to form copper amine complexes. This composite approach provides enhanced preservation effectiveness while improving energy efficiency and reducing treatment duration compared to conventional single-substance preservatives
2Reliability
If conventional preservation methods are used, then preservation is achieved, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by employing copper amine complexes with polyhydroxy amine ligands, which accelerate the preservation process. This parameter change reduces treatment time while maintaining or enhancing preservation effectiveness compared to conventional methods
3Reliability
If conventional preservation methods are used, then preservation is achieved, but undesirable chemicals are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical nature of the preservative system by using copper amine complexes formed with biodegradable amine ligands (monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine). This chemical substitution eliminates the need for undesirable chemicals while maintaining preservation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biodegradable amine ligands that break down into harmless substances, replacing persistent and harmful conventional preservatives. These short-living chemical components provide effective preservation without leaving harmful residues in the treated cellulosic material
4Reliability
If conventional preservation methods are used, then preservation is achieved, but leaching of preservatives increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates stable copper amine complex compounds that resist leaching. The composite structure of copper coordinated with polyhydroxy amine ligands forms a stable complex that remains bound to the cellulosic material, preventing preservative leaching while maintaining preservation effectiveness
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 provides excellent preservation of cellulosic materials by ensuring copper retention and penetration throughout the material, reducing leaching, and offering improved resistance to insects and fungi, while being more energy-efficient and using fewer chemicals compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
introducing a liquid treating composition into the cellulosic material... ensuring copper retention and penetration throughout the material, reducing leaching
Implementation Method 2
exposing the cellulosic material provided by step (a) to one or more of carbon dioxide or carbonic acid... exposure to carbon dioxide or carbonic acid, which penetrates and fixes copper within the material
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for treating cellulosic materials comprising introducing a liquid treating composition into the cellulosic material, the treating composition comprising a solution prepared from at least: (i) one or more of a copper amine complex or copper ammine complex, such as copper tetraamine carbonate, (ii) one or more of ammonia or a water-soluble amine and (iii) water; and exposing the cellulosic material provided thereby to carbon dioxide and/or carbonic acid to provide treated cellulosic material, and treated cellulosic materials prepared thereby.