Preserving Aqueous Mineral Preparations With Lithium Ions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aqueous preparations of mineral materials used in industries like paper, paint, and plastics face contamination by microorganisms, leading to quality issues, and the recent classification of orthophenylphenol as a pesticide necessitates the use of alternative preservatives that do not leave toxic residues.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the addition of lithium ions (750-3000 ppm) and sodium/potassium/magnesium ions (3000-7500 ppm) to aqueous mineral preparations, which effectively inhibits bacterial growth without the need for conventional biocides, maintaining the preparation's quality and safety for food and plant protection applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional biocides like orthophenylphenol are used to preserve aqueous mineral preparations, then preservation effectiveness is improved, but toxic residues are generated and the preparation becomes unsuitable for food and plant protection applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation effectivenessVSAvoidtoxic residues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by using alternative preservative systems (isothiazolinones, formaldehyde donors, or organic acids) instead of orthophenylphenol, maintaining preservation effectiveness while eliminating toxic residues that would contaminate food and plant protection applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs preservative compounds that decompose into non-toxic substances over time, effectively replacing persistent toxic biocides with shorter-lived, safer alternatives that break down without leaving harmful residues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If aqueous mineral preparations are stored for extended periods, then production efficiency is improved, but microbial contamination increases leading to quality degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage durationVSAvoidpreparation quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preservative compounds to the aqueous mineral preparation before storage to prevent microbial contamination in advance, enabling extended storage periods while maintaining preparation quality and preventing viscosity and pH changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The preservative system provides self-sustaining protection against microbial growth during storage, allowing the preparation to maintain its quality parameters autonomously without additional interventions during the storage period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 approach provides effective preservation of aqueous mineral preparations, maintaining low bacterial counts and extending their usability for at least 2 days, with no adverse effects on viscosity or pH, thus ensuring the quality and safety of the preparations for various industrial applications.

Implementation Method 1

A process involving the addition of lithium ions (750-3000 ppm) and sodium/potassium/magnesium ions (3000-7500 ppm) to aqueous mineral preparations, which effectively inhibits bacterial growth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon inhibition:

Data Source

PatentUS10221317B2Process to preserve aqueous preparations of mineral materials, preserved aqueous preparations of mineral materials and use of preservative compounds in aqueous preparations of mineral materials

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 OMYA INT AG

AI summary

The present invention refers to a process for preserving an aqueous preparation of mineral material like e.g. calcium carbonate preparations, and to the use of a composition as a preservative in an aqueous preparation of mineral materials.