Gallium Trichloride Liquid Formulation via Aluminium Compound
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Solution Overview
Problem
The storage and transportation of gallium trichloride are cumbersome and expensive due to its hygroscopic and corrosive nature, requiring special handling and equipment, and conventional methods involve heating and cooling processes for liquid form, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
Adding an aluminium compound, such as triethylaluminium, to gallium trichloride to create a liquid formulation at room temperature, which is non-corrosive and can be stored and transported in less expensive containers, and used to produce trialkyl gallium compounds without the need for heating and cooling steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gallium trichloride is stored in liquid form by heating above melting point, then it can be introduced into containers, but heating and cooling steps are required which is cumbersome and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of gallium trichloride from solid to liquid by reacting it with aluminium compound to form a eutectic mixture with lower melting point, eliminating the need for heating and cooling steps while maintaining ease of storage and transportation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining gallium trichloride with aluminium compound (such as triethyl aluminium) to form a new eutectic mixture that has different physical properties, specifically a lower melting point that allows liquid form at room temperature
2Ease of operation
If gallium trichloride is stored in liquid form, then it can be dosed to reactor, but special material containers are required due to corrosiveness which makes transport and storage expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful corrosive property of gallium trichloride into a beneficial reaction process by allowing it to react with aluminium compound during storage, transforming the corrosive solid into a non-corrosive liquid eutectic mixture that can be handled safely
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical reactivity parameter of gallium trichloride by reacting it with aluminium compound to form a eutectic mixture that has reduced corrosiveness while maintaining liquid form at room temperature
3Temperature
If gallium trichloride is reacted with aluminium compound, then it forms liquid formulation at room temperature, but the reaction is exothermal requiring cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the reaction between gallium trichloride and aluminium compound before storage and transportation, allowing the exothermal reaction to occur in advance and forming the liquid eutectic mixture that can be stored at room temperature without requiring cooling during transport
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 method allows for easy handling and reduced costs in storing and transporting gallium trichloride, as it forms a non-corrosive liquid at room temperature, facilitating the production of trialkyl gallium compounds with improved efficiency and reduced material requirements.
Implementation Method 1
adding an aluminium compound, for instance triethylaluminium (TEAL), to GaCl3 results in a reaction causing GaCl3 to dissolve and be liquid at room temperature: 2 GaCl3 + Al(CH2CH3)3 → 2 Ga(CH2CH3)Cl2 + Al(CH2CH3)Cl2
Implementation Method 2
The reaction between GaCl3 and the aluminium compound is exothermal, meaning that cooling may be required during the formation of the liquid formulation
Data Source
AI summary
Method for storing and/or transporting GaCl3 involving the step of adding an aluminium compounds of the formula R3 -xAlClx, wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl group with 1-8 carbon atoms and x is 0 or 1, to said GaCl3 in an Al/Ga molar ratio of at least 0.2, thereby forming a liquid formulation, followed by introducing said liquid formulation in a container.