Modular Absorbent Construction for Organic Chemical Spill Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing products for absorbing organic chemicals, such as those from Imbibitive Technologies Corporation, are not efficiently applicable in situations where the amount of organic chemicals spilled is less than their capacity, leading to 'overkill' phenomena, waste, and unnecessary absorbent disposal.
Innovation Solution
A construction comprising an extended web, fabric, yarn, or foam member with water-insoluble polymer particles that can absorb liquid or gaseous organic chemicals, allowing for direct and efficient absorption in various environments, including aquatic and dry settings, by entrapping or adhering the polymer particles between web members or within the material structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If existing absorbent products with large capacity are used, then they can absorb significant amounts of organic chemicals, but they cause waste and unnecessary disposal when the spill quantity is small
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent product is divided into multiple discrete packets or modules, each containing a specific amount of absorbent material. This segmentation allows users to deploy only the number of packets necessary to match the spill size, preventing waste of excess absorbent while maintaining high capacity availability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The product design enables partial deployment of absorbent capacity by providing modular units. Users can apply exactly the amount needed (partial action) rather than deploying the entire large-capacity product, thus avoiding the waste associated with excessive action while still having access to full capacity when required.
2Reliability
If large-capacity absorbent products are deployed, then they can handle major spills, but they are inefficient and costly for minor spills
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the absorbent product into smaller modular packets, the system provides reliable spill containment for various spill sizes without requiring deployment of large-capacity products for minor incidents. This segmentation makes the product more cost-effective for minor spills while maintaining reliability through the availability of larger numbers of packets for major spills.
Solution Approach 2:
The product line incorporates multiple packet sizes with different absorbent capacities, allowing parameter optimization based on spill size. Small packets provide cost-effective solutions for minor spills, while large packets or combinations thereof ensure reliable containment for major spills, thus optimizing both reliability and cost-effectiveness across different scenarios.
3Loss of substance
If modular packet design is implemented, then waste is reduced by matching absorbent quantity to spill size, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation into modular packets simplifies the user decision-making process by providing discrete, pre-measured units. While the product structure becomes more complex with multiple packet sizes, the actual usage becomes simpler and more waste-reducing, as users can directly match packet quantity to spill size without complex calculations or measurements.
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
This solution provides a versatile and efficient spill-control product that avoids the 'overkill' phenomenon, is easy to manufacture and use, and adds versatility to existing product lines, effectively absorbing organic chemicals in smaller quantities while minimizing waste.
Implementation Method 1
water-insoluble, particulate polymer particles that imbibe liquid or gaseous organic chemicals
Data Source
AI summary
Construction for absorbing a fluid, for example, a liquid or gaseous, organic chemical, has an extended web, fabric, yarn or foam member and associated with the extended web, fabric, yarn or foam member is a water-insoluble polymer. The water-insoluble polymer can absorb the fluid organic chemical, and the construction provides for contact of the water-insoluble polymer with the fluid organic chemical when deployed in an environment where the fluid organic chemical may be present for absorption. The construction may be employed in aquatic, aqueous, or dry environments, as a blotter, a wipe or sponge, a filter, in a cartridge, and so forth.