CO2 Conversion to Hydrogel via Oxalic Acid Esterification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for capturing CO2 from industrial sources do not transform it into beneficial products, leading to greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon loss, which hampers both climate mitigation and agricultural productivity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving capturing CO2, converting it into (COOH)2, combining it with a mono-alcohol and an acid catalyst to form an ester, and then reacting with a polyol to produce a hydrogel, which can be used in agriculture to enhance soil carbon storage and microbial balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If CO2 is captured and stored using existing technologies, then CO2 emissions are reduced, but no beneficial products are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts CO2, a harmful greenhouse gas, into oxalic acid and subsequently into valuable products such as polyesters and hydrogels. The process transforms the waste stream into beneficial agricultural products that improve soil health and promote plant growth, thereby converting a harmful substance into a benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by controlling reaction conditions such as temperature (80-100°C), pressure (atmospheric), and catalyst selection to transform CO2 into different chemical forms (oxalic acid, esters, polyesters). These parameter adjustments enable the production of multiple valuable products from the same feedstock.
2Productivity
If CO2 is released into the atmosphere, then industrial processes can proceed, but soil carbon levels decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, the patent captures it and converts it into oxalic acid and subsequent products that can be applied to soil. This not only prevents carbon loss from soil but actually adds carbon in the form of biodegradable polyesters that decompose and enrich soil organic matter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multi-functional products from CO2 that serve both industrial and agricultural purposes. The polyesters produced can be used as soil amendments, fungal growth promoters, and crop yield enhancers, thereby addressing multiple needs simultaneously while maintaining industrial productivity.
3Ease of manufacture
If complex multi-step chemical reactions are used to convert CO2 into products, then valuable products are produced, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the conversion process into distinct sequential steps: CO2 capture and conversion to oxalic acid, esterification with mono-alcohols, and polymerization with polyols. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently and facilitates process control and scaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses oxalic acid as an intermediary substance that bridges CO2 conversion and final polyester production. This intermediary enables the decoupling of CO2 fixation from product synthesis, allowing for flexible process design and intermediate storage or processing options.
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 sequesters CO2 by converting it into a hydrogel that promotes fungal growth, increases crop yields, and stabilizes soil carbon, while being biodegradable and non-toxic, thus addressing both environmental and agricultural challenges.
Implementation Method 1
combining the (COOH)2, a mono-alcohol (X-OH), preferably CH3CH2OH, and a first acid catalyst comprising a H2SO4 at a temperature ranging from about 80° C. to about 100° C. and under atmospheric pressure to produce an ester
Implementation Method 2
the ester obtained in step (c) is reacted with a polyol, preferably glycerine to form a polyester, preferably the polyester is a hydrogel
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method of sequestering carbon dioxide which comprises the steps of capturing carbon dioxide from an industrial gaseous waste stream and/or the atmosphere, converting a CO2 from the CO2 gas stream into a (COOH)2 and combining the (COOH)2, a mono-alcohol (X-OH), preferably CH3CH2OH, and a first acid catalyst comprising a H2SO4 at a temperature ranging from about 80° C. to about 100° C. and under atmospheric pressure to produce an ester comprising a (COOX)2 and preferably (COOEt)2; and the ester obtained is reacted with a polyol, preferably glycerine to form a polyester, preferably the polyester is a hydrogel. The present disclosure further relates to the use of a hydrogel which is obtainable by said method.