Poly alpha-1,3-glucan Absorption Without Chemical Cross-linking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current polysaccharides lack effective aqueous liquid absorption capabilities, particularly in saline solutions, and often require chemical processing like cross-linking to enhance absorption, which can introduce impurities and limitations in application.
Innovation Solution
Development of poly alpha-1,3-glucan and poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan polymers with an open-cell pore structure and specific glycosidic linkages, produced through enzymatic reactions using glucosyltransferase enzymes, that can absorb aqueous liquids without the need for chemical processing, maintaining high absorption capacity in both water and saline solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical processing like cross-linking is used to enhance absorption, then absorption capability is improved, but chemical impurities are introduced and application limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful chemical processing step (cross-linking) from the polysaccharide treatment process. By using physical methods (freeze-drying, supercritical fluid extraction) instead of chemical cross-linking, the invention removes the source of chemical impurities while maintaining absorption capability through the preserved native pore structure of the polysaccharide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the processing parameters from chemical treatment to physical treatment conditions. Specifically, it uses freeze-drying (temperature parameter control) and supercritical fluid extraction (pressure and temperature parameter control) to achieve absorption enhancement without chemical impurities, thereby resolving the contradiction between improving absorption and avoiding chemical contamination.
2Stability of the object's composition
If polysaccharides are completely dried to remove residual water, then storage stability is improved, but absorption capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition (freeze-drying) to remove water in a controlled manner. By freezing the polysaccharide and then sublimating the ice under vacuum, the method preserves the pore structure and absorption capability while achieving sufficient dryness for storage stability, avoiding the complete dehydration that would collapse the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary freeze-drying to establish a stable porous structure before final storage. This preliminary action creates the absorption-ready state without requiring complete drying, thus maintaining both storage stability and absorption capability simultaneously.
3Loss of time
If heat drying is used to remove residual water quickly, then processing time is reduced, but structural integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heat drying with freeze-drying, utilizing the phase transition from solid ice to vapor under vacuum. This method removes water quickly enough for practical processing while maintaining structural integrity, as the low temperature prevents thermal degradation and the gradual sublimation preserves the pore structure.
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 polymers exhibit enhanced aqueous liquid absorption, including saline solutions, with a water retention value of at least 150, and maintain structural integrity through freeze-drying or non-heat drying methods, making them suitable for various applications without introducing chemical impurities.
Implementation Method 1
contacting at least water, sucrose, and a glucosyltransferase enzyme, whereby poly alpha-1,3-glucan or poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan polymer is produced
Implementation Method 2
the polymer comprises an open-cell pore structure with an average pore size of about 100 nm to about 3000 nm in diameter, and wherein the polymer can absorb aqueous liquid
Implementation Method 3
the polymer is freeze-dried after its production in the reaction, and the freeze-drying is the first time the polymer is dried
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions are disclosed herein comprising poly alpha-1,3-glucan or poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan polymer having an open-cell pore structure with an average pore size of about 100 nm to about 3000 nm in diameter. Such polymers have enhanced aqueous liquid absorption capacity, and can be comprised in various products having aqueous liquid absorption function. Methods of preparing glucan polymers of the compositions provided herein are also disclosed.