Citric Acid Soil Extraction for Mineral Composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current extraction techniques fail to capture a wide spectrum of inherent minerals from soil, leading to soil depletion and inadequate mineral supplementation in nutritional, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical compositions, which can result in mineral deficiencies and health issues.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of aqueous extraction processes with citric acid and reverse osmosis to produce liquid and dry mineral element compositions from specific soil types, including clay soils, that contain a broad range of macro and micro minerals, ensuring minimal toxicity and optimal pH for dermal application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If current extraction techniques are used to obtain minerals from soil, then the extraction process is simple, but the spectrum of minerals captured is limited and soil depletion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum of minerals capturedVSAvoidsoil depletion

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the extraction process by using citric acid solution with specific pH levels and concentrations to extract a broader spectrum of minerals from soil while maintaining soil health. This chemical parameter modification enables comprehensive mineral recovery without depleting the soil source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces citric acid as an intermediary substance that facilitates mineral extraction from soil. The citric acid acts as a chelating agent that binds to mineral elements, enabling their removal from the soil matrix while preserving the soil structure and preventing depletion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If aqueous extraction with citric acid is used to recover comprehensive mineral spectrum, then mineral recovery is effective, but the process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive mineral spectrumVSAvoidextraction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the extraction process into distinct stages: preparation of citric acid solution, extraction phase, filtration, and concentration. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall complex process by breaking it into manageable operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous extraction and filtration processes where the citric acid solution continuously contacts the soil material, and the extracted minerals are continuously filtered and concentrated. This continuous operation maintains efficiency while managing process complexity through standardized continuous flow systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Quantity of substance

If reverse osmosis is used to concentrate mineral composition, then mineral concentration is enhanced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemineral concentrationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces high-energy mechanical concentration methods with reverse osmosis, which uses semi-permeable membranes to separate and concentrate minerals based on molecular size. This substitution reduces energy consumption compared to traditional evaporation or high-pressure mechanical systems while achieving superior concentration levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical parameters of the mineral solution by controlling pressure, temperature, and membrane selection in the reverse osmosis process. These parameter optimizations minimize energy input requirements while maximizing mineral concentration efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively recovers a comprehensive spectrum of minerals, providing a natural balance for nutritional and cosmetic applications, enhancing mineral delivery and preventing deficiencies while maintaining non-irritating properties for dermal use.

Implementation Method 1

aqueous extraction processes with citric acid to produce liquid and dry mineral element compositions from specific soil types

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChelation:

Implementation Method 2

aqueous extraction processes with citric acid and reverse osmosis to produce liquid and dry mineral element compositions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReverse osmosis: Reverse Osmosis

Implementation Method 3

aqueous extraction processes with citric acid to produce liquid and dry mineral element compositions from specific soil types

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS8709497B2Mineral, nutritional, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and agricultural compositions and methods for producing the same

Publication Date: 2014.04.29 CORE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Mineral, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, agricultural, nutraceutical, and other compositions are produced using a mineral composition containing minimal concentrations of cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury and containing relatively high concentrations of micro and macro mineral elements, of rare earth elements, of calcium, and of silica. The mineral concentrations are produced by processing naturally occurring clay soil to concentrate mineral elements naturally occurring in the soil.