Microorganism Concentrate for Paint Overspray Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current paint overspray removal systems in paint spray booths face challenges in effectively handling both waterborne and solvent-based paints, particularly in managing organic resins, pigments, and organic solvents, with limited capacity for detackification and coagulation, leading to clogging and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and composition involving a wash water system with a microorganism concentrate that agitates and separates paint overspray into organic and aqueous phases, using coagulants to precipitate paint solids and solvents, enhancing detackification and coagulation capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If detackifying agents are used in water wash systems to remove paint overspray, then paint removal effectiveness is improved, but the load capacity of the water system is limited and the agents become exhausted quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the paint solids from the water system by introducing a coagulant that causes paint particles to clump together and separate from the water phase. This allows the water to be reused while the paint is removed in concentrated form, effectively addressing the limited load capacity issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the water system by adding coagulants and adjusting pH levels to optimize paint removal. This transforms the water from a simple wash medium to a chemically-active system with enhanced capacity for handling paint overspray.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If water-based paints are used to reduce solvent emissions, then environmental compliance is improved, but removal of paint solids becomes more difficult due to hydrophilic properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces coagulants as intermediary substances that mediate between the hydrophilic paint solids and the water system. These coagulants create bridges between paint particles, enabling their aggregation and separation despite the hydrophilic nature of waterborne paints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies chemical parameters including pH adjustment and coagulant dosage to overcome the challenges posed by hydrophilic paint solids, making removal feasible while maintaining water-based paint benefits.
3Reliability
If paint overspray accumulates in sump and drain areas, then detackification is improved, but clogging of drains and recirculating system occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous circulation and treatment of the wash water system, where coagulant is continuously added and paint solids are continuously removed. This prevents accumulation that would lead to clogging while maintaining continuous detackification action.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards paint solids from the water system through separation processes while recovering and reusing the treated water. This prevents paint buildup in problematic areas while maintaining system effectiveness.
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 method effectively collects and separates paint overspray, reducing the tackiness and adhesion of paint solids, allowing for efficient recycling and disposal, and improving the operational efficiency of paint spray booths by increasing the load capacity of detackifying agents.
Implementation Method 1
detackifying agents should have a high load capacity, such that the water wash recirculated through the spray booth can detackify, coagulate and flocculate a high volume of oversprayed paint before exhaustion
Implementation Method 2
passing the solution containing the paint overspray to a holding area for phase separation into an organic phase containing paint overspray and an aqueous phase
Implementation Method 3
detackifying agents are commonly employed in the water used in such systems... Detackifying the paint eliminates or minimizes the adhesive properties, or tackiness, of the paint, thereby preventing the oversprayed paint from adhering to surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A composition and method for treating oversprayed paints in paint spray booths is provided. The method includes contacting the paint overspray with a wash water system comprising an agitated solution containing a microorganism concentrate so as to collect the paint overspray in the agitated solution. The solution containing the paint overspray is passed to a holding area for phase separation into an organic phase containing paint overspray and an aqueous phase. The organic phase containing the paint overspray, which contains the paint solids portion, and, optionally, an organic solvents portion, is separated from the aqueous phase. The wash water system for treating paint overspray in paint spray booths contains a microorganism concentrate in an amount effective in precipitating the paint solids and, optionally, organic solvents, from the system.