Sol-Gel Sorbent Materials with Functionalized Precursors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sol-gel derived materials lack varied swellability, selective reactivity, and enhanced capacity to sorb sorbates such as metal ions and charged organic compounds, especially when exposed to lower concentrations of sorbates.
Innovation Solution
Development of sol-gel derived materials from specific alkoxysilane precursors, such as (RO)x(R2)ySi((R1)Si(R2)y(OR)x) and (RO)3—Si—(CH2)n—Ar—(CH2)m—Si—(OR)3, which are processed under acid or base sol-gel conditions to create materials with enhanced swellability, selective reactivity, and increased capacity for sorption, including the use of bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane and bis(trialkoxysilyl)benzene precursors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sol-gel derived materials are made from conventional precursors, then basic sorption function is achieved, but swellability is limited and cannot respond rapidly to lower concentrations of sorbates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the precursor molecules by introducing specific functional groups (carboxylic acid, phenol, amine, isocyanate, carbamate) that can undergo rapid conformational changes and interactions with sorbates. This enables the sol-gel material to exhibit varied swellability and respond rapidly to different concentrations of sorbates, resolving the contradiction between basic sorption function and enhanced adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite sol-gel materials by combining multiple precursor types with different functional groups in a single network. This composite structure provides both the structural integrity needed for basic sorption and the functional diversity required for varied swellability and rapid response to sorbates, addressing the limitation of conventional single-precursor materials.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sol-gel derived materials are made from conventional precursors, then general sorption capacity is achieved, but selective reactivity toward specific sorbates is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating specific functional groups at specific locations within the sol-gel network that are tailored to interact with particular sorbate types. For example, carboxylic acid groups provide selectivity for metal ions, while amine groups provide selectivity for acidic compounds. This localized functional differentiation enables selective reactivity without sacrificing overall sorption capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the precursor molecules by introducing functional groups with specific pKa values, hydrophobicity, and binding affinities. These parameter changes enable the sol-gel material to exhibit selective reactivity toward specific sorbates while maintaining enhanced overall sorption capacity through the synergistic combination of multiple functional groups.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sol-gel derived materials are made from conventional precursors, then structural stability is achieved, but capacity to extract solutes such as metal ions and charged organic compounds is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing precursor molecules that contain multiple functional groups capable of interacting with different types of solutes through various mechanisms (ion exchange, complexation, hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding). This multi-functional approach enables a single sol-gel material to extract diverse solutes including metal ions, charged organic compounds, and neutral organics while maintaining structural stability through the robust siloxane backbone.
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 resulting materials exhibit increased swellability, selective reactivity, and enhanced sorption capacity for sorbates, including metal ions and charged organic compounds, with improved thermal stability and dispersibility in aqueous media, surpassing the limitations of materials made exclusively from second alkoxysilane precursors.
Implementation Method 1
sol-gel derived materials having sorbent and other useful properties... enhanced capacity to sorb selected sorbates... capacity to extract solutes, such as, metal ions and charged organic compounds
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are sol gel derived materials obtained from at least one first precursor and at least one second precursor, as well as sol gel derived compositions containing a plurality of alkylsiloxy substituents obtained from such sol-gel derived materials.