Methylsilicic Acid Hydrogel Production Process
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing hydrogel of methylsilicic acid do not achieve a sufficient increase in adsorption activity and inefficiently use ethyl alcohol, limiting their effectiveness in absorption purification and medical applications.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the preparation of a working mixture with a high concentration of methyltriethoxysilane and an aqueous ethanol solution, followed by hydrolysis with a specific ratio of hydrochloric acid and alkaline treatment, resulting in a hydrogel with enhanced adsorption activity and reduced ethyl alcohol consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional processes use pure ethyl alcohol as organic solvent, then adsorption activity is maintained at baseline level, but ethyl alcohol consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of organic solvent composition from pure ethyl alcohol to an aqueous ethanol solution with 60-96.5% ethyl alcohol by volume. This parameter change reduces ethyl alcohol consumption by 30-40% while maintaining optimal adsorption activity through the synergistic effect of ethanol and water in the hydrogel structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite solvent system using ethyl alcohol and water in specific proportions (60-96.5% ethyl alcohol by volume). This composite material approach allows the hydrogel to incorporate both ethanol and water molecules in its structure, reducing overall ethyl alcohol requirements while preserving adsorption functionality
2Productivity
If conventional processes use standard hydrolysis ratios, then production efficiency is maintained, but adsorption activity increase is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the volume ratio of working mixture to hydrolyzing mixture at 3-3.5 : 0.7-1.5, and extends hydrolysis time to 30-40 minutes. These parameter changes enable sufficient hydrolysis of methyltriethoxysilane to achieve 2.0-3.9 fold increase in adsorption activity while maintaining production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary hydrolysis of methyltriethoxysilane for 30-40 minutes before adding the alkaline solution. This preliminary action ensures complete hydrolysis and proper gel structure formation, which is essential for achieving high adsorption activity in the final hydrogel product
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 process achieves a 2.0 - 3.9 fold increase in adsorption activity and reduces ethyl alcohol consumption by 30 - 40%, producing a highly effective hydrogel for absorption purification and medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
hydrolysis of methyltriethoxysilane in the presence of an acidic catalyst
Implementation Method 2
sorption capacity
Implementation Method 3
absorption purification processes
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to production of adsorbents, and, specifically, to a process for producing a hydrogel of methylsilicic acid. A working mixture is prepared from methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) and an aqueous solution of ethanol with ethyl alcohol in a proportion by volume from 60 to 96.5%, a hydrolyzing mixture from hydrochloric acid and purified water, an alkaline solution. The following is carried out hydrolysis of MTES in the presence of an acidic catalyst with a subsequent alkaline treatment, setting of the reaction mass, grinding of the resulting alcogel of methylsilicic acid and its further washing with purified water until a hydrogel is formed. Volumetric ratio of MTES to the aqueous ethanol solution is 1:2.1, 1:2.4, 1:3, 1:3.3. MTES is used in a proportion by mass of the basic substance of not less than 98%. Hydrolysis of MTES is carried out in a volume ratio of the working mixture to the hydrolyzing mixture of 3-3.5:0.7-1.5. Time of the introduction of the hydrolyzing mixture into the reaction mass is 30-40 min. Setting of the resulting reaction mixture is carried out for 3-3.5 hours at a pH not less than 3. An alkaline solution is introduced into the resulting reaction mass at a temperature of 16-30°C after completion of the MTES hydrolysis, after which the resulting alcohydrogel of methylsilicic acid is set for maturation for not less than 7.5 h; maturation process is carried out until a colourless intermediate with a slight opalescence is produced. Grinded alcohydrogel of methylsilicic acid is washed with purified water at a rate of 2-4 litres per hour. The invention allows to increase an adsorption activity of the hydrogel of methylsilicic acid by 2.0-3.9 times and to reduce a consumption of ethyl alcohol by 30-40%.