Crosslinked Cellulose Membranes for High-Flow Binding Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellulose-based membranes face challenges such as swelling when wet, leading to reduced permeability and volumetric binding capacity, mechanical flexibility issues, and difficulty in handling, which hinder their effectiveness in filtration applications.
Innovation Solution
Crosslinking cellulose using multi-functional carboxylic acids to reduce swelling, increase stiffness, and enhance durability, resulting in porous cellulose compositions with improved physical and kinetic properties, suitable for high binding capacity and high flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellulose is used as a filtration membrane material, then it provides renewable and non-toxic properties, but it swells when wet leading to reduced permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies crosslinking chemistry to change the physical and chemical parameters of cellulose, transforming it from a swelling-prone material to a dimensionally stable membrane that maintains permeability while retaining its renewable and non-toxic properties
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure by crosslinking cellulose with multi-functional carboxylic acids, forming a hybrid material that combines the biocompatibility of cellulose with the dimensional stability of crosslinked networks, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity
2Quantity of substance
If functional groups are added to cellulose for chromatography applications, then binding capacity increases, but swelling increases and volumetric binding capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs crosslinking as a preliminary action before adding functional groups for chromatography. This pre-crosslinking stabilizes the cellulose structure, preventing subsequent swelling when functional groups are introduced, thereby maintaining high volumetric binding capacity while achieving the desired binding capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The crosslinking process fundamentally changes the physical parameters of cellulose, reducing its tendency to swell and altering its volumetric properties. This parameter change enables the material to accommodate functional groups without the volume expansion that would otherwise reduce volumetric binding capacity
3Quantity of substance
If cellulose is functionalized with functional tendrils via ATRP, then mass-based binding capacity increases, but permeability and volumetric binding capacity decrease due to swelling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs crosslinking as a preliminary action before ATRP functionalization. This pre-crosslinking creates a rigidified network that resists swelling during and after the ATRP process, thereby maintaining permeability while still achieving high mass-based binding capacity through the attached functional tendrils
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a multi-component composite structure where crosslinked cellulose serves as the stable matrix, and ATRP-derived functional tendrils provide binding capacity. This composite architecture resolves the contradiction by separating the structural support function (maintaining permeability) from the binding function (providing mass-based capacity)
4Reliability
If cellulose membrane is used for flow through filtration, then filtration function is provided, but material compression occurs over time increasing pressure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The crosslinking process fundamentally changes the mechanical parameters of cellulose, transforming it from a compressible, flexible material to a rigidified, dimensionally stable structure. This parameter change eliminates time-dependent compression during flow-through filtration, maintaining constant pressure requirements and preserving pore structure for sustained filtration performance
5Quantity of substance
If cellulose is used as filtration media, then it provides adsorption capability, but pore spaces are constricted by swelling reducing adsorption kinetics
Solution Approach 1:
The crosslinking process changes the dimensional stability parameters of cellulose, preventing pore constriction that would otherwise occur upon wetting. This maintains open pore spaces and efficient transport pathways, thereby preserving fast adsorption kinetics while retaining the material's inherent adsorption capability
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 crosslinked cellulose compositions exhibit increased binding capacity, improved permeability, and durability, allowing for high flow rates with minimal pressure drop and reduced swelling, making them suitable for filtration and chromatography applications.
Implementation Method 1
The invention described herein uses crosslinking using multi-functional carboxylic acids to modify cellulose containing membrane materials
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to porous polymeric cellulose prepared via cellulose crosslinking. The porous polymeric cellulose can be incorporated into membranes and/or hydrogels. In preferred embodiments, the membranes and/or hydrogels can provide high dynamic binding capacity at high flow rates. Membranes and/or hydrogels comprising the porous polymeric cellulose are particularly suitable for filtration, separation, and/or functionalization media.