Chitosan Composition Rapid Water Dissolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Chitosan-based products have poor solubility in water, leading to slow dissolution and potential degradation in acid solutions, which limits their practical application, especially in agriculture where film-forming properties are essential.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a chitosan-based powder and a water-soluble liquid, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), where the liquid is not absorbed by the powder at room temperature and ambient pressure, allowing for rapid dissolution in water without gel formation, maintaining film-forming capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chitosan is dissolved in acid aqueous solutions to achieve solubility, then the chitosan becomes soluble, but the product degrades over time due to acid hydrolysis and requires impractical handling of large volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter from acidic to neutral/basic by using calcium hydroxide instead of mineral acids for dissolution. This parameter change eliminates acid hydrolysis degradation while maintaining chitosan solubility, and allows concentration without excessive volume requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses calcium hydroxide, a cheap and readily available material, to dissolve chitosan. The resulting calcium chitosan complex can be easily disposed of or degraded in the environment, eliminating the need for expensive stable acid solutions
2Ease of operation
If powdered chitosan is made completely soluble in water by existing methods, then the powder dissolves in water, but the dissolution time is excessively long (up to 48 hours)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-complexing chitosan with calcium hydroxide to form a soluble complex before use. This preliminary complexation eliminates the need for long dissolution times when the product is applied, as the calcium chitosan complex dissolves rapidly in water
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material by forming a complex between chitosan and calcium hydroxide. This composite calcium chitosan complex combines the solubility advantages of chitosan with the rapid dissolution characteristics of calcium-based compounds
3Quantity of substance
If the concentration of chitosan solution is increased above 5%, then the solution becomes very viscous or gels, but this limits the saleable concentration to low levels requiring large transport volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by introducing calcium hydroxide as a dissolving agent instead of mineral acids. This parameter change fundamentally alters the solution properties, allowing high concentrations of chitosan to remain liquid and non-gelling, thus enabling practical transport and application volumes
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 composition enables rapid and stable dissolution of chitosan in water, preventing acid hydrolysis and preserving film-forming properties, facilitating agricultural applications with improved adherence and biostimulating effects.
Implementation Method 1
The composition enables rapid and stable dissolution of chitosan in water
Implementation Method 2
preventing acid hydrolysis and preserving film-forming properties
Data Source
Figure 1a~2e
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A composition comprising at least a powder and a liquid is disclosed. The powder is a chitosan-based product. The liquid is soluble in water and is not absorbed by the powder in the absence of water at room temperature and ambient pressure. A method for preparing an aqueous solution of a chitosan-based product in which the chitosan-based product is a powder added to a liquid which is soluble in water at room temperature and ambient pressure is also disclosed. The mixture so prepared is added to water and the solution is kept stirred.