Porous Liquid Interface for Low-Energy Mass Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-based extraction and enzymatic reaction processes face inefficiencies due to low interfacial surface area, high energy consumption, and costly immobilization methods, leading to large volumes of unused materials and high operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A porous liquid and porous liquid enzyme system with a high surface area solid and infused or encapsulating liquid, stabilized by surface energy matching, which forms a stable liquid layer to enhance mass transfer and enzymatic activity without relying on shear stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid-based extraction uses traditional mixing methods to increase interfacial surface area, then mass transfer efficiency improves, but energy consumption and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical mixing systems with a porous liquid system that provides high interfacial surface area through its porous structure. The porous liquid inherently maintains large surface area without requiring mechanical agitation, thereby eliminating the energy consumption and complexity associated with traditional mixing equipment while achieving superior mass transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous liquid as the core extraction medium. The porous structure of the liquid provides extremely high interfacial surface area between the extraction liquid and the working fluid, enabling efficient mass transfer without the need for intensive mixing. This porous architecture allows the liquid to maintain contact with the working fluid over a vastly increased surface area, resolving the contradiction between transfer efficiency and energy input.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional liquid-based extraction uses large volumes of liquid to ensure sufficient contact, then extraction capacity increases, but capital expenditure and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The porous liquid structure provides extremely high surface area per unit volume, allowing sufficient extraction capacity to be achieved with much smaller volumes of liquid compared to traditional methods. The porous architecture enables the liquid to maintain extensive contact with the working fluid without requiring large contactor volumes, thereby reducing both capital expenditure on equipment and operational costs associated with material handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from bulk liquid contact to surface-dominated contact through the porous structure. By utilizing the three-dimensional porous architecture, the system achieves high extraction capacity through surface area rather than volume, effectively moving the extraction mechanism from a volume-based to a surface-based process, which reduces the required liquid volume and contactor size.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If enzymes are immobilized using conventional methods to enable continuous operation, then reusability improves, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The porous liquid provides a natural support matrix for enzyme immobilization. The porous structure allows enzymes to be embedded or adsorbed within the pores, providing stable immobilization without requiring complex cross-linking agents or specialized supports. This simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces costs while maintaining enzyme stability and reusability for continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous liquid acts as an intermediary medium that facilitates enzyme immobilization and maintains enzyme activity. Rather than directly cross-linking enzymes to solid supports (which requires complex chemistry), the porous liquid provides a温和 environment that stabilizes enzymes and enables their reuse, simplifying the overall immobilization process and reducing manufacturing complexity.
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 system significantly increases interfacial surface area, reduces material volume and energy consumption, and provides cost-effective, efficient substance extraction and catalysis, with stable enzyme immobilization for continuous operation.
Implementation Method 1
mass transfer of the contaminant(s) from the working fluid to the liquid
Implementation Method 2
mass transfer across a liquid/fluid interface
Implementation Method 3
The efficiency of liquid-based extraction/absorption processes depends on the mass transfer rate across the liquid/fluid interface, which is strongly affected by the interfacial surface area between the liquid and fluid. Therefore, a high surface area between the liquid and the fluid is favored for profitable/efficient operations.
Implementation Method 4
A porous liquid and porous liquid enzyme system with a high surface area solid and infused or encapsulating liquid, stabilized by surface energy matching
Implementation Method 5
a porous liquid enzyme of the present disclosure may be utilized to catalyze a reaction with a substrate in a working fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a porous liquid or a porous liquid enzyme system that includes a high surface area solid and a liquid film substantially covering the high surface area solid. The porous liquid or porous liquid enzyme may be contacted with a fluid that is immiscible with the liquid film such that a liquid-fluid interface is formed. The liquid film may facilitate mass transfer of a substance or substrate across the liquid-fluid interface. The present disclosure also provides methods of performing liquid-based extractions and enzymatic reactions utilizing the porous liquid or porous liquid enzyme of the present disclosure. The present disclosure also provides methods for selecting the components of the porous liquid or a porous liquid enzyme system and methods of self-replenishing the used liquid coating.