Antioxidant Fermenting Microorganism Agent for Polyurethane Foam VOC Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from polyurethane foams used in vehicle interiors are costly and ineffective, contributing to 'sick car syndrome' and other health issues.

Innovation Solution

An antioxidant fermenting microorganism agent comprising a mixture of photosynthetic bacteria, yeast, actinomyces, and lactobacillus, combined with water and natural salts, is added to the polyurethane foam production process to break down VOCs and produce antimicrobial substances, reducing VOC emissions and improving wastewater treatment efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If photocatalysts and chemical substances are used to reduce VOCs from polyurethane foam, then VOC reduction effectiveness is improved, but treatment cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveVOC reduction effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the treatment approach from chemical/physical methods (photocatalysts) to biological methods (fermenting microorganisms). This parameter change enables VOC reduction at lower cost while maintaining effectiveness, as the microorganism agent can be produced and applied more economically than photocatalytic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The fermenting microorganism agent is designed as a cost-effective, disposable treatment solution. Rather than installing expensive permanent photocatalytic systems, the invention uses an affordable microbial agent that can be applied and naturally degrades VOCs, providing economical VOC reduction without long-term infrastructure investment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If conventional methods are used to treat wastewater from polyurethane foam production, then treatment process is simple, but treatment efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewastewater treatment efficiencyVSAvoidtreatment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fermenting microorganism agent serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reduces VOCs in the polyurethane foam and also treats the wastewater generated during production. This multi-functionality increases treatment efficiency without requiring separate treatment systems, as the same microbial agent addresses both environmental issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The microorganism agent performs wastewater treatment autonomously through its natural metabolic activities. The fermenting microorganisms self-degrade organic compounds in the wastewater without requiring complex external treatment infrastructure, enabling the system to treat its own byproducts efficiently.

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

The microorganism agent significantly reduces VOC emissions by up to 74.8% and generates antimicrobial substances like benzoic acid, effectively addressing health concerns and treatment costs associated with VOCs in vehicle interiors.

Implementation Method 1

an antioxidant fermenting microorganism agent that is used to reduce a volatile organic compound generated from a polyurethane foam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

the microorganism mixture contains photosynthetic bacteria, yeast, actinomyces, and lactobacillus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotosynthesis: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 3

the antioxidant fermenting microorganism agent acts on the wastewater generated from a process of producing the polyurethane foam, to biodegrade various types of compounds contained in the wastewater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS20090004718A1Antioxidant Fermenting Microorganism Agent Reducing Volatile Organic Compounds From Polyurethane Foam, and Urethane Foam Comprising the Same

Publication Date: 2009.01.01 DYMOS

AI summary

Disclosed is an antioxidant fermenting microorganism agent and a polyurethane foam including the same. The antioxidant fermenting microorganism agent is used to generate a substance that is capable of reducing an amount of volatile organic compounds generated from the polyurethane foam and has an antimicrobial ability. The polyurethane foam containing the antioxidant fermenting microorganism according to the present invention can be used as the material for the interior of a vehicle to protect humans from noxious substances causing sick car syndrome.