Mg Oxide LDH Activated Carbon Composite for Water Remediation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current materials fail to simultaneously and irreversibly remove a wide range of inorganic and organic contaminants, such as heavy metals and toxic organic compounds, from both water and soil effectively, with existing composites like activated carbon requiring activation that hinders heavy metal removal and biochar/LDH composites being less effective in degrading organic contaminants.

Innovation Solution

A composite comprising Mg oxide, a layered solid hydroxide made of Mg oxide-hydroxide and a trivalent metal, and activated carbon, where the layered hydroxide is located on the surface of the Mg oxide, with the activated carbon activated to act as a strong reducing agent for degrading organic contaminants, achieving simultaneous and irreversible removal of contaminants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If activated carbon is activated by acid components to increase reducing power for degrading organic contaminants, then the degradation of organic contaminants is improved, but the removal of heavy metals is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegradation of organic contaminantsVSAvoidremoval of heavy metals

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material is segmented into distinct functional components: activated carbon for organic contaminant degradation and layered double hydroxide for heavy metal removal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function without interference, resolving the contradiction between organic contaminant degradation and heavy metal removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges activated carbon and layered double hydroxide into a single composite material that combines the reducing power of activated carbon with the heavy metal adsorption capability of LDH. This merging enables simultaneous removal of both organic and inorganic contaminants without the acid activation components interfering with heavy metal removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If biochar/LDH composite materials are used for removal of inorganic and organic contaminants, then the removal of inorganic contaminants is improved, but the degradation of organic contaminants is less effective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval of inorganic contaminantsVSAvoiddegradation of organic contaminants

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The composite merges biochar/LDH for inorganic contaminant removal with activated carbon for enhanced organic contaminant degradation. This combination maintains the heavy metal removal effectiveness of LDH while introducing the superior organic contaminant degradation capability of activated carbon

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a composite removes both inorganic and organic contaminants simultaneously, then the versatility is improved, but the complexity of the composite structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous removal of inorganic and organic contaminantsVSAvoidcomposite structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite materials combining activated carbon and layered double hydroxide to achieve simultaneous removal of inorganic and organic contaminants. The composite structure integrates multiple functionalities in a single material system, providing versatility without requiring complex multi-component systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 composite effectively degrades organic contaminants and fixes inorganic contaminants, providing an economic and environmental advantage with increased decontaminating effectiveness, making it universal for any type of soil or water remediation.

Implementation Method 1

the activated carbon activated to act as a strong reducing agent for degrading organic contaminants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Implementation Method 2

a solid composition comprising an Mg oxide and a layered solid hydroxide made up of an Mg oxide-hydroxide and a trivalent metal, wherein said layered solid hydroxide is located on the surface of the Mg oxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4137230A1Composite for the simultaneous and irreversible removal of inorganic and organic contaminants in water or soil

Publication Date: 2023.02.22 MAGNESITAS NAVARRAS

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AI summary

The invention relates to a composite for the removal of inorganic and organic contaminants in soil or water characterised in that it consists of activated carbon and a solid composition comprising an Mg oxide and a layered solid hydroxide made up of an Mg oxide-hydroxide and a trivalent metal selected from Fe(III), AI(III) and a combination thereof, wherein said solid layered hydroxide is located on the surface of the Mg oxide and/or a precursor of said solid layered hydroxide. The percentage by weight of activated carbon in the composite is between 5% and 20%. Furthermore, the invention relates to the method for producing said composite and to the use thereof as a decontaminating agent for the simultaneous and irreversible removal of inorganic and organic contaminants in water or soil media. Therefore, the present invention can fall within the area of soil and water remediation.