MGDA Aqueous Solution Stability and Base Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chelating agents like methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) face challenges in achieving highly concentrated aqueous solutions that are stable at temperatures from zero to 50°C without surfactants or organic polymers, and they show intolerance to strong bases, limiting their application in industrial cleaners.
Innovation Solution
A mixture comprising 90 to 99.9% L- and D-enantiomers of MGDA or its salts with an enantiomeric excess of 10 to 99% and 0.1 to 10% diacetic acid derivatives of amino acids like valine, leucine, and tyrosine, which enhances solubility and stability, allowing for the creation of highly concentrated aqueous solutions that are stable and tolerant to strong bases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If highly concentrated aqueous solutions of MGDA are prepared without surfactants or organic polymers, then the solution remains free from additives that negatively affect chelating agent properties, but the solubility and stability at temperatures from zero to 50°C are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines MGDA with specific amino acids (valine, leucine, isoleucine, or tyrosine) to create a composite chelating agent system. This composite approach enhances the solubility and stability of highly concentrated aqueous solutions without requiring surfactants or organic polymers, achieving both high concentration (40-70% by weight) and reliability across temperatures from zero to 50°C
2Adaptability or versatility
If MGDA is used in applications requiring strong bases such as industrial cleaners, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but MGDA shows intolerance and precipitation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite system where MGDA is combined with specific amino acids that provide tolerance to strong bases. This composite approach allows the chelating agent to maintain stability and solubility even in the presence of strong bases like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, enabling use in industrial and institutional cleaners while preventing precipitation
3Ease of manufacture
If racemic MGDA is used, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the solubility and tendency to precipitate are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the stereochemical parameter of MGDA from racemic to predominantly L-enantiomer form (with enantiomeric excess of 10-99%). This parameter change significantly improves solubility and reduces precipitation tendency. The patent also optimizes the amino acid composition parameters to further enhance solubility while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional processes
4Quantity of substance
If the concentration of chelating agent in aqueous solution is increased, then transportation costs are reduced, but the solution becomes unstable and precipitation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent formulates a composite system combining MGDA with specific amino acids (valine, leucine, isoleucine, or tyrosine) that synergistically enhance solubility. This composite approach enables the preparation of highly concentrated aqueous solutions (40-70% by weight) that remain stable without requiring surfactants or organic polymers, making transportation more economical while preventing precipitation
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 solution provides highly concentrated, stable aqueous solutions of MGDA that are free from surfactants and organic polymers, exhibit improved solubility, and show enhanced tolerance to strong bases, reducing precipitation and impurities, and are suitable for various detergent applications.
Implementation Method 1
It has been found that mixtures from MGDA and diacetic acid derivatives of amino acids such as valine, leucine, isoleucine, and tyrosine show an enhanced solubility in water
Implementation Method 2
Chelating agents such as methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and their respective alkali metal salts are useful sequestrants for alkaline earth metal ions such as Ca2+
Implementation Method 3
US 7,671,234 discloses an improved saponification of MGDN
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed towards mixtures comprising (A) 90 to 99.9 % by weight of a mixture of L- and D-enantiomers of methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) or its respective mono-, di- or trialkali metal or mono-, di- or triammonium salts, said mixture containing predominantly the respective L-enantiomer with an enantiomeric excess (ee) in the range of from 10 to 99 %, and (B) in total 0.1 to 10 % by weight of the diacetic acid derivative of at least one amino acid selected from valine, leucine, isoleucine, and tyrosine, as free acids or respective mono-, di- or trialkali metal or mono-, di- or triammonium salts, percentages referring to the sum from (A) and (B).