Fatty Alcohol Emulsion Stability via Ionic Repulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fatty alcohol emulsion antifoaming agents used in paper making face issues with storage stability, as viscosity increases over time, potentially leading to solidification at low temperatures, which affects their liquidity and application effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Introducing fatty acid esters and adding an anionic surfactant in the late stage of the emulsification process to enhance the stability of the fatty alcohol emulsion through ionic mutual repulsion, with a formulation comprising fatty alcohols, organic hydrocarbons, fatty acid esters, emulsifying agents, thickening agents, and deionized water, and a specific process involving heating, agitation, and high-shear emulsification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional emulsification process is used to prepare fatty alcohol emulsion, then the emulsion can be formed, but the viscosity increases over time and the emulsion may solidify at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fatty acid esters and anionic surfactants to change the chemical composition parameters of the emulsion system. This modification alters the interfacial properties and molecular interactions, preventing excessive viscosity increase and solidification while maintaining emulsion stability during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite emulsion system by combining fatty alcohols, fatty acid esters, and anionic surfactants. This multi-component formulation leverages the synergistic effects of different materials to achieve both stability and appropriate viscosity characteristics that single-component systems cannot provide.
2Manufacturing precision
If macromolecule additives are added to improve paper quality, then product quality improves, but foam stability increases making foam removal more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fatty alcohol emulsion acts as an intermediary antifoaming agent that specifically targets and destabilizes foam structures. The emulsion's unique composition allows it to interfere with foam film stability without affecting the macromolecule additives used for paper quality enhancement, thus resolving the contradiction between quality improvement and foam control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If antifoaming agents are used to eliminate foam, then foam removal improves, but fiber loss and water waste increase without proper formulation
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the chemical composition parameters of the antifoaming agent (fatty alcohol emulsion with specific fatty acid esters and anionic surfactants), the patent achieves effective foam elimination while minimizing adverse effects on fiber retention and water usage. The modified emulsion formulation provides selective action against foam without compromising other process parameters.
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 solution achieves superior storage stability and maintains effective foam elimination and suppression performance over six months across various temperatures, with minimal viscosity changes and improved operational benefits in paper making processes.
Implementation Method 1
adds an anionic surfactant in the late stage of emulsification process, so that the anionic surfactant is absorbed on the surface of fatty alcohol and to make the fatty alcohol emulsion more stable under the action of ionic mutual repulsion
Implementation Method 2
further emulsifying the mixture in a high-shear emulsifying device
Implementation Method 3
heating up to 70-95° C. and keeping at the temperature for 1 h while agitating to facilitate homogeneous mixing
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a method for preparation of stable fatty alcohol emulsion, wherein, fatty acid esters are introduced into an antifoaming agent emulsion system, and an anionic surfactant is added in the late stage of emulsification process in order to further improve the stability of the emulsion. The anionic surfactant is absorbed to the surface of fatty alcohol particles to make the fatty alcohol emulsion more stable under the action of ionic mutual repulsion. The prepared fatty alcohol emulsion has favorable foam elimination and suppression performance in the paper making procedure, and is stable during storage.