Stabilized Hypobromous Acid Production for Membrane Slime Inhibition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling biofouling in aqueous systems using sodium hypobromite are unstable and corrosive, and known slime inhibitors for separation membranes, such as hypobromous acid, degrade the membranes and have unsatisfactory slime inhibitory effects.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a stabilized hypobromous acid composition by reacting bromine with a mixed solution of water, alkali hydroxide, and sulfamic acid under an inert gas atmosphere, with controlled oxygen concentration and temperature, to create a composition with minimal bromate ions and reduced corrosiveness, which is then used for slime inhibition in separation membranes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sodium hypobromite is used for sterilization, then sterilization performance is improved, but storage stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing sulfamic acid and alkali metal hydroxide to create a stable precursor solution that generates hypobromous acid only when bromine is added during use. This prevents premature decomposition of hypobromous acid while maintaining high sterilization performance, as the active ingredient is formed at the moment of application rather than being stored in unstable form.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sulfamic acid as an intermediary substance that reacts with bromine to form a stable hypobromite intermediate, which then equilibrates to hypobromous acid. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to maintain stability during storage while achieving high sterilization efficacy when activated, resolving the contradiction between storage stability and sterilization performance.
2Reliability
If sodium hypochlorite and bromine compound are mixed to generate sodium hypobromite, then sterilization performance is improved, but mixing uniformity and corrosion problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges sulfamic acid and alkali metal hydroxide into a single pre-mixed solution before use. This combination ensures that both components are uniformly distributed throughout the solution, eliminating mixing uniformity problems that occur when separately adding hypochlorite and bromine compounds. The merged solution provides consistent sterilization performance throughout the entire volume.
3Reliability
If hypobromous acid is used for slime inhibition, then slime inhibitory effect is improved, but membrane degradation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the pH parameter within a specific range (5-9) to optimize the balance between slime inhibition and membrane protection. At this pH range, hypobromous acid maintains effective antimicrobial activity while its oxidizing damage to membrane materials is significantly reduced. The system also controls temperature (10-40°C) and concentration parameters to further minimize membrane degradation while preserving slime inhibitory effects.
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 stabilized hypobromous acid composition exhibits excellent sterilization performance, minimal corrosiveness, and improved storage stability, effectively inhibiting biofouling and membrane degradation while maintaining water quality and slime inhibitory effects.
Implementation Method 1
inducing a reaction by adding bromine, under an inert gas atmosphere, to a mixed solution comprising water, an alkali hydroxide and sulfamic acid
Implementation Method 2
adding bromine, under an inert gas atmosphere, to a mixed solution
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for producing a one-liquid stabilized hypobromous acid composition which contains substantially no bromate ions, has excellent sterilization performance, exhibits almost no corrosiveness relative to metals, and displays excellent storage stability. This method for producing the stabilized hypobromous acid composition includes a step in which a reaction is induced by adding, under an inert gas atmosphere, bromine to a mixed solution including water, an alkali hydroxide, and sulfamic acid, wherein the proportion of bromine added is not more than 25 wt % relative to the total weight of the composition.