Deodorized Rosin Ester via Silica Adsorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing rosin esters with low odor levels are inadequate, as they often fail to effectively remove sulfur-containing compounds and improve color stability, which are essential for sustainable adhesive applications.

Innovation Solution

A process involving a silica adsorbent bed with specific pore size, surface area, and silanol levels is used to deodorize rosin ester compositions, reducing odor intensity and sulfur content while enhancing color stability through adsorption and optional heat treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If evaporation is used to remove odor components from rosin ester, then odor level is reduced, but energy consumption increases and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor levelVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts odor-causing components from rosin ester through adsorption onto solid adsorbent materials (activated carbon, silica gel, alumina) rather than through energy-intensive evaporation. The adsorbent selectively binds odor molecules, removing them from the liquid phase without requiring significant thermal energy input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs porous adsorbent materials with high surface area and pore structures that provide numerous binding sites for odor molecules. These materials (activated carbon, silica gel, alumina) offer efficient odor removal through their porous architecture, achieving deodorization without the energy consumption associated with evaporation processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If evaporation is used to remove odor components from rosin ester, then odor level is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor levelVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex evaporation equipment with simple adsorption vessels containing solid adsorbent materials. The extraction of odor components is achieved through contact between the liquid rosin ester and the adsorbent bed, eliminating the need for complex evaporators, condensers, and associated control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal evaporation system with a chemical adsorption system. Instead of using heat and phase change mechanisms, the solution employs chemical adsorption onto solid surfaces, significantly simplifying the equipment required while achieving the same deodorization objective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If activated carbon is used to improve color and reduce sulfur, then rosin ester properties are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor and sulfur controlVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes adsorption parameters including adsorbent particle size (0.4-4.0 mm), bed depth (15-30 cm), flow rate (0.5-2.0 BV/h), and treatment temperature (20-40°C) to achieve consistent color and sulfur removal. These controlled parameters ensure reproducible manufacturing results while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite adsorbent systems combining multiple materials (activated carbon with silica gel or alumina) to simultaneously address color improvement and sulfur removal. This composite approach achieves multiple purification objectives in a single process step, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 process achieves a significant reduction in odor intensity and improves color stability, resulting in a rosin ester with lower sulfur content and improved properties suitable for various applications, including adhesives and packaging materials.

Implementation Method 1

subjecting the rosin ester feedstock to a deodorizing treatment using an adsorbent bed containing an adsorbent material for a deodorized rosin ester composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

The adsorbent material comprises silica adsorbent having an average pore size between 50-200 Å, BET surface area of at least 300 m2/g

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3741821B1Deodorized rosin ester and methods for making
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 KRATON POLYMERS RES BV

AI summary

A process for deodorizing a rosin ester composition is disclosed. The process employs an adsorptive bed containing an adsorbent material. The adsorbent material comprises silica adsorbent having an average pore size between 50-200 Å, BET surface area of at least 300 mm2/g, pore volume of 1.20 to 3.00 cc/g, and a silanol [Si-OH] level of 0.5 to 5 unit/nm2. The deodorized rosin ester composition has an odor intensity reduction of at least 1 unit on odor intensity scale of Offensive Odor Control Act as compared to the rosin ester feedstock. In embodiment, the deodorizing treatment comprises using multi-staged adsorbent system with an adsorbent column having multiple layers of different adsorbent materials.