Polyhydric Alcohol Formate for In Situ Peroxyformic Acid Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The instability and explosive nature of peroxyformic acid make it challenging to manufacture, store, and transport, necessitating on-site generation methods that avoid strong alkaline conditions and enzyme use.
Innovation Solution
A peroxyformic acid forming composition comprising an ester of polyhydric alcohol and formic acid, combined with hydrogen peroxide or a hydrogen peroxide-generating substance, allows for rapid generation of peroxyformic acid at mild pH conditions without enzymes, ensuring stability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If peroxyformic acid is manufactured and stored in concentrate form, then it can be transported and used, but its inherent instability and explosive nature make it unsafe and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the peroxyformic acid system into separate stable precursor components (formate esters and hydrogen peroxide) that can be safely manufactured, stored, and transported independently. These segments are combined only at the point of use to generate the active peroxyformic acid, avoiding the safety issues of storing concentrate while maintaining manufacturability of the individual stable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares stable precursor compounds (formate esters of polyhydric alcohols) in advance that can be safely stored and transported. These precursors are designed to generate the active peroxyformic acid only when combined with hydrogen peroxide at the point of use, allowing preliminary preparation without compromising safety.
2Productivity
If peroxycarboxylic acids are generated through perhydrolysis under strong alkaline conditions, then the reaction proceeds efficiently, but the solution must be acidified after the reaction which increases process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter condition from strong alkaline (pH > 12) to near-neutral conditions (pH 6-8) by using formate esters that undergo perhydrolysis at milder conditions. This parameter change eliminates the need for subsequent acidification steps, reducing process complexity while maintaining reaction efficiency through the specific chemical properties of the formate ester substrates.
3Reliability
If peroxycarboxylic acids are generated in situ, then storage and transportation safety is improved, but the reagents must be kept separately and mixed on-site which increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses formate esters of polyhydric alcohols as intermediary compounds that bridge the gap between stable storage forms and active peroxyformic acid. These intermediaries can be safely stored separately from hydrogen peroxide, then combined on-site to generate the active acid, maintaining safety while simplifying operations through the stable and manageable nature of the intermediary esters.
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 method enables efficient and safe on-site production of peroxyformic acid, effective in treating surfaces and biofilms with improved microbial reduction and bleaching efficacy, overcoming storage and transportation challenges.
Implementation Method 1
peroxycarboxylic acids could be alternatively generated in situ through the perhydrolysis of the higher alkyl carboxylic acid esters of polyhydric alcohol
Implementation Method 2
a second reagent that comprises hydrogen peroxide or that comprises a substance that generates hydrogen peroxide when in contact with a liquid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to peroxyformic acid forming compositions, methods for forming peroxyformic acid, preferably in situ, using the peroxyformic acid forming compositions. The present invention also relates to the peroxyformic acid formed by the above compositions and methods. The present invention further relates to the uses of the peroxyformic acid, preferably in situ, for treating a surface or a target. The present invention further relates to methods for treating a biofilm using peroxyformic acid, including peroxyformic acid generated in situ.