Phosphine Reducing Agent for Chlorine Dioxide Generation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for chlorine dioxide generation, such as those using hydrogen peroxide or methanol, face challenges like oxygen gas by-product generation, equipment safety issues, and inefficiency, as well as the handling of flammable components.
Innovation Solution
The use of phosphines, specifically tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine derived from additives like tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride or sulfate, as a reducing agent with sodium chlorate in an acidic solution to produce chlorine dioxide without oxygen by-products and flammable components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydrogen peroxide is used as a reducing agent in chlorine dioxide generation, then chlorine dioxide is produced, but oxygen gas is released as a by-product causing safety issues and equipment complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter by substituting hydrogen peroxide with phosphorous acid (H3PO3) as the reducing agent. This parameter change eliminates the harmful oxygen gas by-product while maintaining chlorine dioxide production efficiency, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful by-products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses phosphorous acid which decomposes to form phosphine and water, avoiding the need for complex oxygen management systems. The reducing agent is consumed in the reaction and doesn't require subsequent handling or disposal of gaseous by-products, simplifying the overall system
2Productivity
If methanol is used as a reducing agent in chlorine dioxide generation, then chlorine dioxide is produced, but the process becomes costly and involves handling flammable components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reducing agent from methanol to phosphorous acid, fundamentally altering the chemical parameters. This substitution eliminates flammability concerns and reduces operational costs while maintaining efficient chlorine dioxide production, resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety/cost
3Productivity
If hydrogen peroxide is used in chlorine dioxide generation, then chlorine dioxide is produced, but the generator must be configured for safely accommodating oxygen gas release increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful oxygen gas by-product from the system by replacing hydrogen peroxide with phosphorous acid. This eliminates the need for complex oxygen accommodation features in the generator, simplifying the device while maintaining chlorine dioxide production capability
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 method efficiently generates chlorine dioxide, avoiding oxygen production and flammable substances, ensuring safer and more efficient production processes.
Implementation Method 1
phosphine (the reducing agent) and sodium chlorate (the oxidizing agent) to produce chlorine dioxide
Implementation Method 2
sodium chlorate (the oxidizing agent) to produce chlorine dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of producing chlorine dioxide including providing an acid, a chlorate salt and an organic water treatment additive that can form a reducing agent in situ, mixing the acid, the chlorate salt and the organic water treatment additive, and reacting the mixture.