Polyol Fatty Acid Esters for Sustainable Foam Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surfactants used in various applications cause significant foaming and exhibit poor sustainability, bio-accumulation, and eco-toxicity, necessitating the development of renewable, low-toxicity, and biodegradable foam control agents.

Innovation Solution

The use of polyol esters of fatty acids (PEFAs) as foam control agents, which are derived from yeast cultures and are amphiphilic molecules with varying chain lengths and degrees of unsaturation, effectively reduce or eliminate foam formation and suppression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional surfactants are used to control foam, then foam reduction is achieved, but sustainability and biodegradability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoam generationVSAvoidsustainability and biodegradability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of foam control agents by using polyol esters of fatty acids with specific molecular structures (containing polyol backbone and fatty acid chains) instead of conventional surfactants. This parameter change achieves both foam reduction and improved biodegradability, as the PEFAs are designed to be environmentally friendly while maintaining effective foam control properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite molecular structures by combining polyol backbones with fatty acid chains to create polyol ester of fatty acids (PEFAs). These composite molecules integrate the foam-controlling properties of surfactants with the biodegradability and sustainability advantages of natural ester compounds, resolving the contradiction between foam reduction and environmental reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If petroleum-based surfactants are used, then foam control is effective, but eco-toxicity and bio-accumulation worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoam control effectivenessVSAvoideco-toxicity and bio-accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adopts biodegradable polyol esters of fatty acids that can be naturally decomposed by microorganisms, replacing persistent petroleum-based surfactants. The PEFAs are designed to break down into harmless substances after use, eliminating long-term environmental pollution and bio-accumulation risks while maintaining effective foam control during their operational lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of surfactant persistence in the environment into a benefit by using biodegradable PEFAs. These compounds are designed to be effectively decomposed by natural microbial processes, transforming what would be a pollution problem into an environmentally friendly solution that maintains foam control effectiveness without long-term ecological damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If renewable foam control agents are developed, then sustainability improves, but foam control performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesustainabilityVSAvoidfoam control performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular parameters of PEFAs by adjusting the polyol backbone structure, fatty acid chain length, and degree of unsaturation to achieve the desired foam control performance. These parameter adjustments ensure that the renewable agents maintain effective foam reduction capabilities while preserving sustainability and biodegradability properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

PEFAs provide efficient foam control with improved sustainability and biodegradability, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing processes by minimizing foam disruption.

Implementation Method 1

The foam control agents are amphiphilic molecules comprising a sugar alcohol, e.g., a D-mannitol and/or a D-arabitol, esterified to the carboxyl end of a 3-hydroxy fatty acyl moiety

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant