Granular Material Coating with Saturated Esters for Biodegradability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coatings for granular materials, such as fertilizers, suffer from poor biodegradability and oxidative crosslinking, leading to ineffective controlled release and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the reaction of a compound with at least one ester bond, derived from a hydroxyl or epoxy group of a fatty acid or fatty acid ester, with a compound having a carboxyl or anhydride group, to create a biodegradable coating for granular materials, which also acts as a barrier and mechanical stabilizer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If double bonds are present in the coating resin, then the coating can be formed effectively, but oxidative crosslinking occurs leading to poor biodegradability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes double bonds from the coating resin structure by using saturated fatty acid esters instead of unsaturated ones. This extraction of the harmful double bond component eliminates the pathway for oxidative crosslinking while maintaining the coating's fundamental effectiveness through alternative bonding mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of using natural fatty acid esters (which may have double bonds) into a benefit by deliberately selecting saturated variants. This transformation turns a potentially problematic material choice into a solution that provides both effective coating and improved biodegradability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If polyurethane systems are used for coating, then controlled release properties are achieved, but biodegradability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the coating resin by replacing polyurethane systems with fatty acid ester-based resins. This parameter change maintains the controlled release functionality through appropriate molecular weight and crosslinking density while fundamentally improving biodegradability by using naturally degradable chemical structures.
3Reliability
If acid-modified fatty acid components with double bonds are used, then the coating provides barrier properties, but oxidative crosslinking reduces biodegradability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the double bond component from the fatty acid structure by using saturated fatty acid esters. This removal eliminates the susceptibility to oxidative crosslinking while the saturated structure maintains effective barrier properties through its crystalline packing and hydrophobic characteristics.
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 coating provides controlled release and improved biodegradability, preventing oxidative crosslinking while maintaining effectiveness as a dust barrier and stabilizer for granular materials.
Implementation Method 1
it has been shown that the presence of double bonds can lead to subsequent oxidative crosslinking by means of oxygen. The resulting ether bridges are poorly biodegradable or not biodegradable at all.
Implementation Method 2
WO 02/096548 discloses a coated granular material, the coating comprising the reaction product of (A) an acid-modified fatty (acid) component and (B) an epoxy component. The Diels-Alder reaction is given as an example.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of coating a granular material comprising the steps of (a) providing a granular substance; (b) providing a compound (C) which has at least one ester bond and which is obtainable by reacting a hydroxyl group or epoxy group of a compound (A) with a carboxyl group or anhydride group of a compound (B); (c) providing a compound (D) having at least one epoxy group; (d) reacting compound (C) with the epoxy group of compound (D) to produce compound (E) having an ester bond; wherein the reaction of compound (C) with compound (D) takes place in the presence of the granular material and optionally a curing agent to provide a coated granular material; and wherein the compound (A) has at least one hydroxyl group or epoxy group and is selected from fatty acid ester and fatty acid; and the compound (B) is selected from: compound (B-1) having at least two carboxyl groups; and compound (B-2) having at least one cyclic anhydride group. Furthermore, the invention relates to a coated granular material obtainable by the process according to the invention and to a kit comprising compound (C) and compound (D) and optionally a curing agent.