Cyclodextrin Pollutant Removal from Building Materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for removing pollutants from building products and technical materials are either ineffective, environmentally questionable, or unsuitable for historically valuable surfaces, particularly in the context of increasing flood damage and renovation needs of buildings from the 70s and 80s containing carcinogenic wood preservatives.

Innovation Solution

The use of cyclodextrins, which are biodegradable and capable of absorbing or masking pollutants by forming inclusion compounds, to effectively bind and remove harmful substances from surfaces without damaging them, allowing for their safe disposal or incineration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical treatment or cleaning processes are used to remove pollutants, then pollutant removal effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm and health risks increase due to harmful chemicals and cross-contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant removal effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental harm and health risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Cyclodextrins serve as intermediary substances that bind to pollutants through inclusion complex formation, transferring pollutants from building materials into the cyclodextrin solution without requiring harsh chemicals. This mediator approach enables effective pollutant removal while avoiding direct contact with harmful substances, thus resolving the contradiction between removal effectiveness and environmental safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical parameter approach from using aggressive cleaning agents to using cyclodextrin-based inclusion complexes. By altering the chemical mechanism from direct chemical treatment to host-guest complexation, the process achieves pollutant removal without the harmful side effects of traditional chemical methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If building components are removed or complete demolition is performed, then pollutant exposure is eliminated, but material loss and waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant exposureVSAvoidmaterial loss and waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts pollutants from building materials in situ using cyclodextrin solutions that penetrate and bind contaminants. This extraction approach removes harmful substances while preserving the underlying building structure, avoiding the need for complete demolition and material disposal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding entire contaminated building components, the invention recovers and removes only the pollutant portion through cyclodextrin binding. The treated building materials can then be retained and reused, significantly reducing waste generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Object-affected harmful factors

If air exchange rates are increased to ventilate pollutants, then pollutant concentration is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant concentrationVSAvoidenergy expenditure for ventilation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical ventilation system with a chemical binding approach using cyclodextrins. Instead of continuously moving air to dilute and remove pollutants, the cyclodextrins chemically bind pollutants in place, eliminating the need for high-energy air exchange while achieving pollutant removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If surfaces are sealed or encapsulated to contain pollutants, then pollutant release is reduced, but surface integrity and historical value are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant releaseVSAvoidsurface integrity and historical value

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than sealing pollutants within the surface structure, the invention extracts pollutants out of the material using cyclodextrin binding. This extraction method preserves the original surface composition and historical integrity while achieving pollutant containment through removal rather than encapsulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Cyclodextrins provide a simple, effective, and reliable method to reduce pollutant exposure by chemically masking and binding pollutants, preserving surfaces and reducing waste, while being environmentally harmless and suitable for use on historically significant materials.

Implementation Method 1

cyclodextrins, which are biodegradable and capable of absorbing or masking pollutants by forming inclusion compounds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInclusion compound formation: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4180138A1Method for removing pollutants

Publication Date: 2023.05.17 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

Figure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for removing pollutants from building products or technical materials, in which the building products or technical materials are brought into contact with a substance that contains or consists of a cyclodextrin as a pollutant-binding agent. The invention further relates to the use of cyclodextrins in such a method.