Copolymer Calcium Ion Trapping Scale Inhibition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment agents lack an excellent calcium ion-trapping ability, which affects their scale-inhibiting performance due to weak affinity for calcium and magnesium ions.
Innovation Solution
A copolymer comprising 0.1 mol% to 99 mol% of a structural unit derived from a monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid (salt) monomer, 0.1 mol% to 99 mol% from a monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid (salt) or anhydride, and 0.1 mol% to 50 mol% from an ether bond-containing hydrophobic monomer, with a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 500,000, enhancing calcium ion-trapping capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a copolymer is used as a water treatment agent, then it can provide scale-inhibiting ability, but the calcium ion-trapping ability is poor resulting in weak affinity for calcium and magnesium ions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the copolymer by incorporating specific structural units with carboxyl groups and hydrophobic groups in controlled ratios. This modifies the polymer's affinity parameters for calcium ions, enhancing the calcium ion-trapping ability from poor to excellent levels while maintaining scale-inhibiting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite copolymer structure combining multiple functional units: carboxyl-containing units for ion binding, hydrophobic units for scale prevention, and specific monomer combinations. This composite approach synergistically improves both calcium ion-trapping ability and scale-inhibiting ability, resolving the contradiction between these two functions.
2Reliability
If the affinity for calcium ions is increased to improve scale-inhibiting ability, then scale inhibition improves, but the complexity of polymer composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific functional regions within the copolymer chain. Certain structural units are localized to provide calcium ion-binding sites with high affinity, while other units are localized to provide hydrophobic interactions for scale prevention. This localized functional distribution achieves high scale-inhibiting ability without requiring uniform complexity throughout the entire polymer structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes compositional parameters within specific ranges (e.g., content of structural units at 5-50 mol%) to achieve the desired affinity threshold. By parameterizing the composition and defining optimal ranges, the patent balances scale-inhibiting ability with manageable polymer composition complexity, avoiding overly complex formulations.
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 copolymer exhibits a superior calcium ion-trapping ability, capturing a significant amount of calcium ions, thereby improving scale inhibition in water treatment applications.
Implementation Method 1
the calcium ion-trapping ability, capturing a significant amount of calcium ions
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a novel copolymer that can express an excellent calcium ion-trapping ability. The copolymer of the present invention includes: 0.1 mol% to 99 mol% of a structural unit (A) derived from a monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid (salt) monomer (a); 0.1 mol% to 99 mol% of a structural unit (B) derived from a monomer (b) serving as a monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid (salt) or an anhydride thereof; and 0.1 mol% to 50 mol% of a structural unit (C) derived from an ether bond-containing hydrophobic monomer (c).