Organic Zinc Catalyst Suppressing Particle Agglomeration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing manufacturing processes for polyalkylene carbonate resin using zinc dicarboxylate-based catalysts often result in agglomeration of catalyst particles, leading to non-uniform and large particle sizes, which inadequately secure contact areas between reactants and catalysts, thereby limiting polymerization activity.

Innovation Solution

An organic zinc catalyst with a monocarboxylic acid-derived moiety having a C3-C15 aliphatic hydrocarbon group is used, bonded to the zinc dicarboxylate-based catalyst to suppress agglomeration, achieving a more uniform and finer particle size through an end-capping structure, thereby enhancing polymerization activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a zinc dicarboxylate-based catalyst is used for polyalkylene carbonate resin manufacturing, then the catalyst can facilitate the copolymerization reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxide, but agglomeration among catalyst particles occurs during the manufacturing process resulting in large and non-uniform particle size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymerization activityVSAvoidparticle size uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A monocarboxylic acid having a C3-C15 aliphatic hydrocarbon group is introduced as an intermediary substance during catalyst manufacturing. This intermediary prevents direct agglomeration of zinc dicarboxylate particles by acting as a spacing agent, resulting in catalyst particles with uniform and fine size distribution while maintaining the required polymerization activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If catalyst particles are allowed to form naturally during manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the catalyst has large particle size and non-uniform shape reducing contact area with reactants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidcatalyst contact area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process introduces a specific chemical parameter - monocarboxylic acid with C3-C15 aliphatic hydrocarbon group - that fundamentally changes the particle formation behavior. This parameter change prevents particle agglomeration during synthesis, yielding fine and uniform catalyst particles with large surface area without complicating the overall manufacturing approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the catalyst particle size is reduced to increase contact area, then polymerization activity improves, but particle agglomeration becomes more severe during manufacturing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymerization activityVSAvoidparticle size uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The monocarboxylic acid serves as a stabilizing intermediary that enables the production of fine catalyst particles without agglomeration. It maintains particle separation during the manufacturing process, allowing the catalyst to achieve small particle size (0.1-1.0 μm) with narrow size distribution, thereby maximizing contact area and polymerization activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 organic zinc catalyst effectively prevents agglomeration, resulting in increased contact areas and improved polymerization activity during the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxide, producing a polyalkylene carbonate resin with enhanced properties.

Implementation Method 1

suppressing agglomeration among catalyst particles during a manufacturing process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAgglomeration suppression:

Implementation Method 2

a copolymerization reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxide developed by Inoue, et al., is expected as a reaction for solving the problems of global warming

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP3048129B1Organic zinc catalyst, preparation method therefor, and method for preparing polyalkylene carbonate resin by using same
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3048129B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3048129B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to an organic zinc catalyst suppressing agglomeration among catalyst particles during a manufacturing method to have more uniform and finer particle size, thereby showing a more improved activity in a polymerization process for manufacturing a polyalkylene carbonate resin, a manufacturing method thereof, and a manufacturing method of a polyalkylene carbonate resin using the same, wherein the organic zinc catalyst is a zinc dicarboxylate-based organic zinc catalyst used for a reaction in which a polyalkylene carbonate resin is manufactured from carbon dioxide and epoxide and includes a monocarboxylic acid-derived moiety having a C3-C15 aliphatic hydrocarbon group (provided that at least one oxygen or carbonyl group is included or not included in the aliphatic hydrocarbon group) that is bonded to an end of at least one side of the zinc dicarboxylate-based organic zinc catalyst.