Dianhydrohexitol Pellets Preventing Caking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dianhydrohexitol compositions, particularly isosorbide, are highly hygroscopic and chemically unstable, leading to caking during storage, which causes handling difficulties and impacts operational efficiency, and existing solutions like anticaking agents introduce impurities or are not fully effective.
Innovation Solution
Dianhydrohexitol pellets with a high dianhydrohexitol content (90-100% by weight) and minimal or no anticaking agents, produced through a pelleting process that maintains the molten state and cools the dianhydrohexitol drops to stabilize their shape, reducing caking propensity and maintaining fluidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dianhydrohexitol compositions are stored under humidity and temperature conditions, then chemical decomposition occurs, but caking also occurs which causes handling difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical form parameter from powder to pellets, and controls moisture content parameter within 0.1-5% range, which prevents caking while maintaining chemical stability during storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of water (from liquid to bound state in pellets) to control moisture availability, preventing both caking and chemical decomposition by limiting free water that would facilitate these adverse reactions
2Ease of operation
If anticaking agents are added to prevent caking, then handling improves, but impurities are introduced that harm composition properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts/removes the need for anticaking agents by reformulating the product into pellets with controlled moisture content, achieving caking prevention through physical form change rather than chemical additives
Solution Approach 2:
The pelletized form with controlled moisture content serves its own anticaking function inherently, eliminating the need for external anticaking agents and maintaining high composition purity
3Ease of operation
If packaging materials are used to prevent water uptake, then caking is reduced, but chemical decomposition still occurs during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling moisture content during the pelletization process itself, preventing both caking and chemical decomposition before storage occurs, rather than relying solely on packaging barriers
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 pellets exhibit low caking propensity, high bulk and tapped densities, and rapid dissolution and melting, with minimal anticaking agent usage, ensuring stable storage and efficient handling while maintaining high dianhydrohexitol purity.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling stage which cools said drops
Data Source
AI summary
Dianhydrohexitol pellets, whose fluidity is preserved even after lengthy storage, include between 90% and 100%, preferably between 95% and 100%, and more preferentially between 97% and 100% of dianhydrohexitols by weight, on a dry weight basis, and have the particularity of not being subject to caking. A process for preparing the dianhydrohexitol pellets is also described.