Particulate Carbon Materials With Controlled-Atmosphere Odor Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing particulate carbon materials, particularly those derived from renewable raw materials like lignin, emit unpleasant odors during processing, limiting their applications and requiring chemical treatments that are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a second process step under a controlled gas atmosphere with reduced oxygen content and controlled heating/cooling rates to reduce odor without altering the material's properties, using inert gases and controlled temperatures to minimize mass loss and maintain BET surface area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If chemical treatments are used to reduce odor, then odor reduction is achieved, but process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of oxygen (which causes odor through oxidation) into a beneficial control parameter by deliberately creating oxygen-deficient zones during the drying process. The controlled oxidation that would normally cause odor is instead used selectively to remove volatiles without generating unpleasant odors, transforming a harmful chemical effect into a controlled processing tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the oxygen concentration parameter during the drying process, creating alternating oxygen-deficient and oxygen-rich zones by controlling air circulation patterns. This dynamic parameter change allows selective oxidation of odor-causing compounds while preventing the formation of unpleasant odors, achieving odor reduction without chemical treatments.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If high temperature treatment is applied to reduce odor, then odor reduction is achieved, but material loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by alternating between oxygen-deficient and oxygen-rich conditions during the drying process. This periodic variation in oxygen availability allows controlled removal of volatiles at lower temperatures, reducing odor without the need for continuous high-temperature treatment that would cause excessive material loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses controlled air circulation as an intermediary to manage the oxidation process. By carefully controlling the introduction and distribution of oxygen during drying, the process mediates between the need to remove odor-causing volatiles and the need to preserve carbonaceous material, achieving odor reduction with minimal material loss.
3Quantity of substance
If oxygen-rich environment is used during drying, then volatile removal is improved, but odor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drying process into distinct phases with different oxygen concentrations. By dividing the drying cycle into oxygen-deficient zones (for volatile removal without odor formation) and oxygen-rich zones (for controlled oxidation), the process achieves effective volatile removal while preventing unpleasant odor emissions through spatial and temporal separation of oxidation conditions.
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
Effectively reduces odor emissions while preserving the material's properties and reducing material loss, making it suitable for use in elastomers without the need for additional chemicals or complex processes.
Implementation Method 1
A method involving a second process step under a controlled gas atmosphere with reduced oxygen content and controlled heating/cooling rates to reduce odor without altering the material's properties
Implementation Method 2
A method involving a second process step under a controlled gas atmosphere with reduced oxygen content and controlled heating/cooling rates to reduce odor without altering the material's properties
Implementation Method 3
using inert gases and controlled temperatures to minimize mass loss and maintain BET surface area
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for reducing the odor of particulate carbon materials and to an odor-reduced particulate carbon material produced from starting materials based on renewable raw materials.