Non-Hevea Rubber Solvent Stripping via Water Vapor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for extracting non-Hevea natural rubber from organic solvents result in contamination from additional solvents, residual volatile matter, and scalability issues, making it challenging to produce high-quality rubber suitable for medical and industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a stripping stage with water vapor and a dispersing system containing polycarboxylate surfactants and metal salts effectively separates non-Hevea natural rubber into uniform solid crumbs, reducing residual solvent content and avoiding additional solvent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If additional extracting agents or solvents are added to separate rubber from solvent, then rubber can be precipitated in solid phase, but the rubber becomes contaminated with additional solvents requiring further purification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the organic solvent from the rubber solution through evaporation and filtration processes, separating the rubber polymer from the solvent without adding additional extracting agents. This direct extraction approach avoids contamination with secondary solvents while maintaining rubber purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water as an intermediary medium to facilitate solvent removal. Water is added to the rubber solution, allowing the organic solvent to be evaporated or filtered out, leaving the rubber polymer in an aqueous environment that can be easily separated and dried without additional solvent contamination.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional extraction and precipitation methods are used, then rubber can be obtained in solid form, but residual volatile matter and solvent contamination remain in the final product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the system by controlling temperature, pressure, and solvent-to-water ratios during the extraction and purification process. These parameter adjustments optimize solvent removal efficiency while maintaining high rubber yield and minimizing residual volatile matter in the final product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the organic solvent (from liquid to vapor) through controlled evaporation and heating processes. This phase change enables complete removal of the solvent from the rubber polymer, eliminating residual volatile matter while preserving the rubber's physical and chemical properties.
3Manufacturing precision
If small-scale laboratory methods are applied, then rubber separation can be achieved, but the process cannot be scaled up for industrial production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional extraction system that can operate effectively across different scales. The same fundamental principles of solvent evaporation, water addition, and filtration apply whether processing small laboratory samples or large industrial batches, enabling seamless scale-up from laboratory to production while maintaining separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary solvent removal and rubber precipitation steps that create a concentrated rubber intermediate suitable for both laboratory analysis and industrial processing. This preliminary action establishes a standardized intermediate product that can be efficiently scaled up through continuous processing methods without compromising separation quality.
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 process achieves high-efficiency solvent removal with minimal degradation of the rubber, producing uniform crumbs suitable for industrial-scale processing and meeting stringent quality requirements for medical and childcare applications.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting said solution to a stripping stage by means of water vapor
Implementation Method 2
in presence of a dispersing system that includes: from 0.5 to 1.0 % by weight with respect to the total weight of said rubber of at least one water-soluble surfactant
Implementation Method 3
subjecting said solution to a stripping stage by means of water vapor
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for separating natural rubber deriving from non-Hevea type plants, in the form of solid crumbs, from solutions in an organic solvent system including it, where said organic solvent system may comprise at least one nonpolar organic solvent, or a mixture of at least one nonpolar organic solvent and at least one polar organic solvent, and the concomitant removal of said organic solvent system from said rubber, where the aforementioned process comprises subjecting said solution to a stripping stage by means of water vapor, in presence of a dispersing system, separating the aforementioned crumbs of natural rubber from the liquid phase, obtained through the stripping stage, and subjecting said crumbs to drying.