Polysaccharide Composition Viscosity Control via pH Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
High molecular weight polysaccharides form highly viscous solutions when added to water, making it difficult to handle, mix, and pump, limiting concentration to around 2% by weight due to unmanageable viscosities, which restricts their industrial applications and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous composition with a pH of 3 or less, comprising high molecular weight anionic polysaccharides and hydrocolloids, such as xanthan gum, which maintains low viscosity under acidic conditions and significantly increases viscosity under neutral or alkaline conditions, allowing for higher concentration solutions without the usual viscosity issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high molecular weight polysaccharides are added to water to form solutions, then the viscosity increases significantly, but the solutions become difficult to handle, mix, and pump
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pH parameter of the aqueous solution to acidic conditions (pH 3 or less), which fundamentally alters the interaction between polysaccharide chains. This parameter change prevents excessive viscosity formation while maintaining high polysaccharide concentrations, resolving the contradiction between concentration and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material systems combining multiple polysaccharides (anionic polysaccharides with cationic polysaccharides) that interact synergistically at acidic pH. This composite approach allows high concentrations of polysaccharides to coexist without forming gels, maintaining pumpability and mixability
2Productivity
If polysaccharide concentration is increased above 2% by weight, then more polysaccharide can be supplied per volume, but the viscosity becomes unmanageable and forms gels that cannot be pumped
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the pH parameter to acidic conditions (pH 3 or less), the invention enables polysaccharide concentrations above 2% (even up to 10% or higher) without the viscosity becoming unmanageable. The acidic environment prevents gel formation while maintaining stable, pumpable compositions
Solution Approach 2:
The acidic polysaccharide composition system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides high polysaccharide concentration for productivity, maintains low viscosity for pumpability, ensures stability during storage, and can be adjusted to neutral pH for final application. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between productivity and stability
3Ease of operation
If polysaccharides are supplied at very low concentrations to maintain manageable viscosity, then handling is easier, but more water must be added and drying costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pH parameter to acidic conditions, which allows polysaccharide solutions to be supplied at high concentrations (above 2%, even 5-10% or higher) while maintaining manageable viscosity. This eliminates the need to supply large volumes of dilute solutions, reducing water content and associated drying costs
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
Enables stable, high concentration polysaccharide solutions with manageable viscosity under acidic conditions and high viscosity under neutral or alkaline conditions, facilitating easier handling and storage, and allowing for higher concentration use in various industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
anionic polysaccharides suspended in an aqueous dispersion of one or more hydrocolloids
Implementation Method 2
the composition has a Brookfield viscosity (A) of less than 5000 mPas at a pH of 3 or less; and at a pH of 6 or more, the composition has a Brookfield viscosity (B) which is at least five times greater than (A)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An aqueous composition characterised in that it comprises one or more anionic polysaccharides suspended in an aqueous dispersion of one or more hydrocolloids.