Natural Graphene Cellulose Fiber Preparation Without Toxic Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing graphene-regenerated cellulose blended fibers use highly toxic hydrazine hydrate solutions, posing health hazards to operators and requiring hazardous reduction processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the preparation of a graphene solution using graphite powder, treated with sulfuric acid, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium borohydride, then combined with wood pulp and N-methylmorpholine N-oxide, followed by a Dry-Jet Wet Spinning process to produce natural graphene cellulose fibers without a reduction step or hydrazine hydrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hydrazine hydrate solution is used as a reductant in the preparation of graphene-regenerated cellulose blended fiber, then the reduction process can be completed, but the process becomes highly toxic and dangerous to operators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful hydrazine hydrate reduction step entirely from the manufacturing process. Instead of using chemical reduction, the invention directly mixes graphene oxide solution with regenerated cellulose solution to form the blended fiber, extracting the toxic reduction process while maintaining the functional properties of the final product
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful graphene oxide into beneficial graphene by utilizing the natural reducing environment within the fiber spinning process itself, where endogenous reducing agents in the cellulose solution reduce the graphene oxide in situ, transforming a harmful chemical process into a safe, integrated manufacturing step
2Strength
If a reduction step is added to produce graphene-regenerated cellulose blended fiber, then the fiber properties can be improved, but the process complexity and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the graphene oxide incorporation step with the fiber spinning process itself. The graphene oxide solution is mixed with the regenerated cellulose solution in the same dope preparation stage, and the reduction occurs in situ during spinning, combining multiple functions into a single integrated process that eliminates separate reduction equipment and steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary oxidation of graphite to graphene oxide before the spinning process, preparing the graphene precursor in advance. This preliminary action allows the actual graphene formation and fiber spinning to proceed without requiring complex reduction equipment, as the reduction happens naturally during the spinning process itself
3Quantity of substance
If traditional graphene preparation methods are used, then graphene can be obtained, but toxic chemicals and hazardous processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the typically harmful strong chemical reduction process into a beneficial in situ reduction that occurs naturally during fiber spinning. The regenerated cellulose solution itself acts as the reducing agent, converting graphene oxide to graphene while producing harmless byproducts that are easily washed away, transforming a hazardous chemical process into an environmentally friendly manufacturing method
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the graphene oxide to self-reduce through the natural reducing environment provided by the regenerated cellulose solution and processing conditions. The system uses its own components (cellulose derivatives and processing water) as reducing agents, eliminating the need for external toxic reductants and creating a self-sufficient, hazard-free manufacturing process
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
This method eliminates the use of toxic hydrazine hydrate, ensuring a safer process, allows for adjustment of antistatic and thermal conductivity properties, and results in environmentally friendly fibers that can naturally decompose.
Implementation Method 1
combining a graphite powder with a solution comprising 1 to 10 wt % of a first compound selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), hydrochloric acid (HCl), perchloric acid (HClO4), hydrogen iodide (HI), hydrofluoric acid (HF), and nitric acid (HNO3), then stirring for 30 minutes in an ice bath environment; adding a solution comprising 1 to 10 wt. % potassium permanganate (KMnO4) to the product of step (a), stirring for 1 to 2 hours; adding a solution comprising 1 to 10 wt. % hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to the product of step (b)
Implementation Method 2
adding a solution comprising 1 wt. % to 10 wt. % of a second compound selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride (NaBH4), potassium borohydride (KBH4), lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4), and sodium citrate (C6H5Na3O7) to the graphite oxide solution of step (f), then treating by ultrasonic vibration for 30 to 60 minutes
Implementation Method 3
adding distilled water to the dried solid graphite oxide of step (e), wherein the distilled water is added up to 200 mls per 0.06 g to 1.0 g of the dried solid graphite oxide, then treating by ultrasonic vibration for 30 to 60 minutes to obtain a graphite oxide solution
Implementation Method 4
adding the graphene solution into a slurry formed by mixing and dissolving wood pulp with N-methylmorpholine N-oxide
Data Source
AI summary
This application describes a method of preparation of a natural graphene cellulose blended fiber, which comprises using a graphite powder as a raw material for preparing a graphene solution, adding the graphene solution to a slurry formed by mixing and dissolving a wood pulp with N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO), removing the water content thereof to form a spinning dope, and then spinning the spinning dope by a Dry-Jet Wet method to manufacture a natural graphene cellulose blended fiber. The present method does not require a highly toxic hydrazine hydrate solution. Further, by increasing the adding ratio of the graphene solution in the manufacturing process, control of the antistatic properties and thermal transferring functions can be achieved, and thereby various requirements of different consumers can be satisfied. Besides, the fibers can decompose naturally after being used, and thus the product is harmless, natural, and environmentally friendly.