Sequestering Agent Nanonet for Aqueous Contaminant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for decontaminating and disposing of organic waste materials from aqueous environments are inefficient and pose environmental and health risks, as they often involve digestion, incineration, or landfills, which do not effectively remove non-water moieties like organic contaminants and heavy metals.
Innovation Solution
A sequestering agent comprising a detergent and a polymer that self-assembles into a nanonet upon exposure to an aqueous solution, capturing non-water moieties through aggregation and filtration or electromagnetic processes, allowing for targeted removal of contaminants like hydrocarbons and heavy metals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional methods (digestion, incineration, landfill) are used to dispose of organic waste materials, then waste volume is reduced, but environmental and public health risks increase and contaminants are not effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes specific contaminants (non-water moieties including organic contaminants, heavy metals, and emulsified non-aqueous contaminants) from aqueous environments using a sequestering agent, rather than simply reducing waste volume through incineration or landfill. This selective extraction eliminates harmful contaminants while preserving the aqueous phase for potential reuse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables recovery and recycling of the polymer component of the sequestering agent after contaminant removal. The polymer can be regenerated and reused, transforming a disposable approach into a sustainable cyclic process that reduces both waste volume and environmental impact.
2Ease of manufacture
If digestion, incineration, or landfill methods are used, then waste disposal is achieved, but contaminants remain in the environment and cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sequestering agent comprising detergent and polymer as an intermediary substance that mediates between the contaminated aqueous environment and the removal process. This intermediary selectively binds to and captures contaminants, enabling effective removal while maintaining process simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If conventional waste treatment methods are applied, then processing is straightforward, but the ability to target and remove specific non-water moieties is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal sequestering agent system that can target and remove multiple types of contaminants including organic contaminants, heavy metals, and emulsified non-aqueous contaminants through a single integrated approach, enhancing adaptability while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite sequestering agent made of detergent and polymer components that work synergistically. The detergent provides solubilization capabilities while the polymer provides binding and aggregation functions, creating a multi-functional material that can target diverse contaminants.
4Productivity
If current disposal methods are used, then waste handling is performed, but social, environmental, and economic implications are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful contaminants into removable aggregates that can be easily separated from the aqueous phase. By transforming dissolved or emulsified contaminants into particulate form through sequestration and aggregation, the process turns a harmful waste stream into a manageable solid-liquid separation problem with beneficial environmental and economic outcomes.
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 solution effectively captures and removes a wide range of contaminants from aqueous solutions, achieving up to 99% aggregation of contaminants, and allows for the regeneration and recycling of the polymer, making the process environmentally responsible.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer operable to stabilize formation of a detergent micelle thereby causing the detergent and polymer to self-assemble into a nanonet upon exposure to the aqueous solution
Implementation Method 2
The organic contaminants are sequestered and wrapped into detergent-oil-polymer particles which facilitate their subsequent removal. Oil and detergent particles are removed through aggregation of the polymer by protonation or cationic chelation of maleic acid groups
Implementation Method 3
aggregation of the polymer by protonation or cationic chelation of maleic acid groups or other functional groups on the polymer
Implementation Method 4
capturing non-water moieties through aggregation and filtration or electromagnetic processes
Implementation Method 5
capturing non-water moieties through aggregation and filtration or electromagnetic processes
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are sequestering agents for sequestering non-water moieties from an aqueous solution. The sequestering agents may comprise a detergent; and a polymer operable to stabilize formation of a detergent micelle thereby causing the detergent and polymer to self-assemble into a nanonet upon exposure to the aqueous solution. Also provided are kits therefore and methods for use of the sequestering agents and kits.