Hybrid membrane comprising crosslinked cellulose
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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 affect their performance in filtration and chromatography applications.
Innovation Solution
Crosslinking cellulose-containing membrane materials to reduce swelling, increase stiffness, and enhance durability, allowing for higher binding capacity and flow rates while maintaining permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellulose is used as a filtration media, 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-chemical parameters of cellulose, transforming it from a swelling-prone material to a dimensionally stable membrane. The crosslinking degree and network density are controlled to optimize the balance between maintaining permeability and preventing swelling, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure by combining cellulose with crosslinking agents to form a hybrid material system. This composite approach allows the membrane to retain the beneficial properties of cellulose (renewability, non-toxicity) while incorporating the dimensional stability of the crosslinked network, thus resolving the permeability-swelling contradiction.
2Quantity of substance
If functional groups are added to cellulose for chromatography, 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 to the cellulose. This pre-established crosslinked network prevents subsequent swelling that would occur when hydrophilic functional groups are introduced, thereby maintaining high volumetric binding capacity while achieving the desired binding capacity through functionalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of cellulose from a flexible, swelling-prone material to a rigid, dimensionally stable structure through crosslinking. This parameter change allows functional groups to be added without the associated swelling penalty, thus improving volumetric binding capacity while maintaining high binding capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If cellulose is functionalized, then binding capacity increases, but material becomes less structured and loses shape retention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies crosslinking as a preliminary structural reinforcement before functionalization. This preliminary action creates a rigid scaffold that maintains shape retention even after functional groups are added, resolving the contradiction between increasing binding capacity and maintaining structural integrity.
4Productivity
If pressure is applied to cellulose membrane for flow through filtration, then flowrate increases, but material compression occurs reducing pore spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the mechanical properties of cellulose through crosslinking, transforming it from a compressible material to a dimensionally stable structure. The crosslinked network resists compression under flow pressure, maintaining pore spaces and allowing sustained high flowrates without the degradation that occurs in non-crosslinked cellulose membranes.
5Quantity of substance
If cellulose is used for filtration, then it provides good adsorption properties, but handling difficulty increases due to flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of cellulose through crosslinking, increasing stiffness and dimensional stability while preserving adsorption properties. The crosslinked structure allows the membrane to be handled, packed, and operated like conventional rigid filtration media, resolving the handling difficulty while maintaining good adsorption performance.
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 improved stiffness, reduced swelling, and increased binding capacity, enabling higher flow rates and durability, making them suitable for advanced filtration and chromatography applications.
Implementation Method 1
treating the cellulosic composition with a crosslinking agent under conditions sufficient to crosslink a portion of the cellulosic composition
Implementation Method 2
treating the cellulosic composition with a crosslinking agent and a catalyst under conditions sufficient to crosslink a portion of the cellulosic composition
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.