Porous Cellulose Particles via Ionic Liquid Solvation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing porous cellulose particles require harmful solvents, making them costly and environmentally unfriendly, and lack the ability to easily control particle and pore sizes for various applications.

Innovation Solution

A method involving dissolving cellulose diacetate in a less harmful solvent, dispersing it in an immiscible medium, cooling, adding a poor solvent to precipitate particles, and saponifying them to produce porous cellulose particles with controlled sizes and porosity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional solvents (calcium thiocyanate aqueous solution, chlorinated hydrocarbon) are used to dissolve cellulose raw materials, then the porous cellulose particles can be produced, but the production process becomes harmful to the environment and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction process simplicityVSAvoidsolvent harmfulness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the solvent system by using ionic liquids instead of conventional harmful solvents. This substitution maintains the ability to dissolve cellulose raw materials while eliminating environmental harmfulness, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs ionic liquids that can be used in relatively small amounts and then replaced or regenerated, reducing the cumulative environmental impact compared to large-volume conventional solvents. This approach makes the production process both simple and environmentally friendly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ionic liquid is used as a solvent for raw material cellulose, then the harmful solvent problem is solved, but the production cost increases and handling difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolvent harmfulnessVSAvoidsolvent handling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the physical parameters of the ionic liquid system by selecting specific ionic liquids with appropriate viscosity, boiling point, and solubility characteristics. This makes the ionic liquid easier to handle while maintaining its environmental benefits, thus resolving the contradiction between harmlessness and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If cellulose triacetate is used as raw material, then the porous cellulose particles can be produced, but highly harmful solvents are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidsolvent harmfulness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses cellulose diacetate as a raw material that can be processed with less harmful solvents. This substitution allows maintaining production efficiency while reducing solvent harmfulness, resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Manufacturing precision

If the production method requires special facilities or special conditions, then the porous cellulose particles can be produced with controlled properties, but the implementation becomes difficult and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle size controlVSAvoidfacility complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention achieves particle size control by optimizing process parameters such as solvent composition, temperature, and precipitation conditions rather than requiring complex special facilities. This resolves the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity.

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

This method allows for the production of porous cellulose particles without using harmful solvents, enabling easy control of particle and pore sizes, thus providing a safer, more environmentally friendly and cost-effective adsorbent for diverse applications.

Implementation Method 1

dissolving cellulose diacetate into a solvent to prepare a cellulose diacetate solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

dispersing the cellulose diacetate solution into a medium immiscible with the cellulose diacetate solution to obtain a dispersed system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 3

cooling the dispersed system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 4

adding a poor solvent to the cooled dispersed system to precipitate cellulose diacetate particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 5

saponifying the cellulose diacetate particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSaponification: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS11685793B2Method for producing porous cellulose particles, and porous cellulose particles

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 JNC CORP

AI summary

One embodiment shows a method for producing porous cellulose particles, including:(a) dissolving cellulose diacetate into a solvent to prepare a cellulose diacetate solution;(b) dispersing the cellulose diacetate solution into a medium immiscible with the cellulose diacetate solution to obtain a dispersed system;(c) cooling the dispersed system;(d) adding a poor solvent to the cooled dispersed system to precipitate cellulose diacetate particles; and(e) saponifying the cellulose diacetate particles.