Crumbly MGDA-Na3 Phase for High-Yield Crystallization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for preparing solid crystalline MGDA-Na3 are inefficient, leading to low yield, high energy consumption, equipment space requirements, contamination, and significant waste streams, with challenges in achieving high crystallinity and maintaining free-flowing properties, especially under humid conditions.
Innovation Solution
A crumbly phase composition with 70-87 wt% MGDA-Na3 and 13-30 wt% water is developed, which is dried to produce high-quality, high-crystallinity MGDA-Na3 with predominantly crystal type I, avoiding pasty phases and reducing water circulation, thereby improving handling and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If MGDA-Na3 is prepared as an amorphous solid, then the preparation process is simple, but the material becomes hygroscopic and loses free-flowing properties under humid conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of MGDA-Na3 from amorphous to crystalline form. This parameter change fundamentally alters the material's properties, making it less hygroscopic and maintaining free-flowing characteristics even under humid storage conditions, while still allowing for relatively simple preparation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition from amorphous solid to crystalline solid. By controlling the crystallization process, the patent achieves a stable crystalline phase that resists moisture absorption and maintains flowability, resolving the contradiction between ease of preparation and reliability under humidity.
2Reliability
If conventional processes are used to prepare crystalline MGDA-Na3, then some crystalline form is obtained, but the yield is low and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by adding seed crystals before the crystallization process. This pre-seeding approach guides the crystallization to proceed efficiently toward the desired crystal type, improving both yield and energy efficiency by avoiding the need for extensive process optimization and reducing energy-intensive trial-and-error adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes key process parameters including temperature, concentration, and pH to achieve high-yield crystallization with lower energy consumption. By carefully controlling these parameters, the patent achieves high productivity while maintaining reliable crystalline form quality.
3Reliability
If conventional crystallization processes are used, then crystalline MGDA-Na3 is obtained, but significant waste streams are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by implementing a mother liquor recycling step. The mother liquor containing dissolved MGDA-Na3 and other components is recovered and fed back into the crystallization process, significantly reducing waste stream generation while maintaining consistent crystalline product quality through controlled crystallization conditions.
4Productivity
If equipment for spray granulation is used, then solid MGDA-Na3 can be produced, but the equipment space requirement is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical spray granulation equipment with a simpler crystallization-based process. By using controlled crystallization in a less space-intensive setup, the invention achieves solid MGDA-Na3 production with reduced equipment space requirements while maintaining productivity through efficient crystallization kinetics and seed crystal technology.
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 process achieves high yield and quality of crystalline MGDA-Na3 with improved free-flowing properties and reduced waste, maintaining crystallinity and free-flowing characteristics at high humidity, and produces spheroidal particles suitable for detergent applications.
Implementation Method 1
a process wherein this crumbly phase composition is dried to give crystalline MGDA-Na3 product
Implementation Method 2
Some varieties of crystalline MGDA-Na3 (the trisodium salt of methyl glycine-N,N-diacetic acid) are known in the art, recognizable via XRD-analysis, yielding different characteristic diffraction patterns
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a crumbly phase composition containing on total weight of the composition(i) 70-87 wt % of organic compounds and salts thereof containing 85 to 100 wt % on total organic compounds and salts thereof of MGDA-Na3, wherein at least 60 wt % of the MGDA-Na3 is crystalline, and(ii) 13-30 wt % of waterThe invention furthermore relates to a process to prepare the above composition and a process to prepare crystals of MGDA-Na3 by drying the above composition.