Invasive Plant Wet-Grinding and Microwave Extraction for Useful Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for systems and methods to extract noxious or toxic chemicals from invasive and native plants and convert them into useful products, as well as to extract petroleum and natural gas from sand-based materials, while addressing the inefficiencies of existing extraction methods.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a wet-grinding apparatus with high torque motors and microwave units to process plant stocks and petroleum-based reservoir materials, converting them into useful products through a combination of grinding and microwave radiation, followed by separation and purification processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional extraction methods are used to remove noxious chemicals from plants, then the extraction process is simple, but the efficiency and completeness of chemical removal is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple extraction technologies (supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and conventional solvent extraction) into a single integrated system. This allows the system to leverage the advantages of each method while maintaining operational simplicity through automated sequencing of different extraction modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts extraction parameters such as temperature, pressure, and solvent flow rate based on the specific plant material and target chemical. This enables optimization of extraction efficiency for different noxious plants while maintaining a standardized platform design.
2Productivity
If advanced processing methods like wet-grinding and microwave radiation are used, then the conversion of plant stocks to useful products is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system is divided into distinct functional modules: wet-grinding apparatus with high torque motors, microwave radiation units, separation systems, and purification equipment. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently optimized or maintained, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high conversion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous processing where plant material flows sequentially through grinding, microwave treatment, separation, and purification stages without interruption. This continuous action maximizes productivity while using standardized equipment designs that simplify operation and maintenance.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple processing steps including grinding and microwave radiation are applied, then the quality and variety of useful products extracted is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wet-grinding step is performed before microwave radiation to pre-process the plant material, breaking down cell walls and increasing surface area. This preliminary action enhances the effectiveness of subsequent microwave extraction, allowing for shorter microwave treatment times while maintaining or improving product quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic microwave radiation cycles with alternating heating and cooling phases, allowing for controlled extraction of different chemical compounds at optimal temperatures. This periodic action enables high-quality product extraction while minimizing total processing time through efficient thermal management.
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 system effectively extracts and converts noxious chemicals from plants into valuable products like pesticides, ethanol, and forage, while also extracting petroleum and natural gas efficiently from sand-based materials.
Implementation Method 1
a microwave unit that includes at least a microwave emitter configured to emit microwave radiation toward the slurry
Implementation Method 2
a set of flat grinding disks that are operably coupled to be driven by the motor drive and that are configured, when receiving power via the motor drive, to accept the slurry flow, to grind the suspended plant stock
Data Source
AI summary
A livestock food product that includes at least one or more plant-based agricultural feeds containing at least one or more plant residues of at least one or more noxious and/or invasive plants. The one or more residues containing no more than 10% of the naturally occurring amount, by weight, of at least one noxious compound that was present in the one or more noxious and/or invasive plants, the naturally occurring amount being the amount of the at least one noxious compound that was present in the noxious and/or original plants while they were alive. The one or more noxious and/or invasive plants including at least one of hemp, tumbleweed, sagebrush, or cheat grass. These plants fibers contain valuable nutrients and flourish under semiarid conditions in abundance. Proper harvesting techniques, bioprocessing can make these plant valuable resources available to mankind environmentally and economically.