Epoxide-Functionalized Polyaromatic Feedstock for Polymer Upgrading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complex and heterogeneous nature of petroleum streams makes it challenging to characterize and upgrade polyaromatic hydrocarbon and polyheterocyclic molecules, limiting their use in high-value materials such as infrastructure applications, composites, fillers, and 3-D printing materials, while conventional processes like hydroconversion and thermal coking are inefficient and environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
Functionalizing polyaromatic hydrocarbon and polyheterocyclic molecules with epoxide groups to facilitate oligomerization and/or polymerization, forming thermoplastic or thermoset materials through thermal or reagent-assisted reactions, which introduce a common reactive group to 'homogenize' the feedstock and enable higher molecular weight products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional hydroconversion or thermal coking processes are used to upgrade polyaromatic feedstock, then the processing can be performed with existing technology, but the environmental harm increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the feedstock by introducing epoxide functional groups through controlled epoxidation reactions. This transforms the reactive sites on polyaromatic molecules, enabling selective oligomerization and polymerization under milder conditions that reduce environmental harm while maintaining process feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses epoxide groups as intermediary functional groups that mediate between the polyaromatic feedstock and the desired polymer products. These epoxide groups serve as reactive intermediaries that enable controlled coupling reactions, replacing the need for harsh thermal coking or hydroconversion processes
2Use of energy by moving object
If polyaromatic feedstock is processed into fuel, then energy production is achieved, but CO2 emissions increase and material value is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight and structural parameters of the polyaromatic feedstock through epoxide-mediated oligomerization and polymerization, transforming low-value feedstock into high-value thermoplastic and thermoset materials, thereby avoiding combustion and associated CO2 emissions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary epoxidation and oligomerization/polymerization actions on the polyaromatic feedstock before any potential combustion, converting it into solid material products that can be used directly, thus preventing CO2 emissions from fuel combustion
3Stability of the object's composition
If the heterogeneous nature of petroleum streams is maintained, then the feedstock composition remains natural, but characterization and upgrading become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces homogeneity by adding epoxide functional groups to diverse polyaromatic molecules, creating a common reactive site that unifies the behavior of heterogeneous feedstock components. This allows consistent processing and characterization despite the natural diversity of the petroleum stream
Solution Approach 2:
The epoxide groups serve as intermediary functional groups that provide a common chemical interface across the heterogeneous polyaromatic feedstock. This intermediary functionality enables uniform reactivity and simplifies characterization by providing consistent chemical behavior across diverse molecular structures
4Adaptability or versatility
If epoxide functionalization and oligomerization/polymerization are performed, then high-value materials are produced, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the epoxidation step with the oligomerization/polymerization step into a sequential integrated process. The epoxide groups formed in the first step directly enable the second step, combining multiple transformations into a unified synthetic route that produces diverse high-value materials without requiring separate complex processing lines
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 effectively transforms diverse polyaromatic feedstocks into high-value oligomers and polymers suitable for various applications, reducing CO2 emissions and meeting future material demands with improved efficiency and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of epoxide functionalized molecules may be treated so as effect oligomerization and/or polymerization
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of epoxide functionalized molecules may be treated so as effect oligomerization and/or polymerization
Implementation Method 3
Such treatment may be selected from thermal, one or more reagents and combinations thereof
Data Source
AI summary
Epoxide functionalized polyaromatic feedstocks and processes for their preparation are described. The processes involve functionalizing polyaromatic hydrocarbon molecules and/or polyheterocyclic molecules present in petroleum or petrochemical streams with epoxide. The epoxide functionalized poly aromatic feedstock can be further treated so as to effect oligomerization or polymerization. The oligomers or polymers may be thermoplastic or thermoset materials and may find use in, for example, infrastructure applications, composites, fillers, fire retardants and 3-D printing materials.