Solid Chitosan Blend for Cost-Effective Water Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chitosan, used for flocculation and coagulation in aqueous mediums, is insoluble in water and most organic solvents, limiting its commercial applications due to high viscosity in acidic solutions and costly shipping of liquid formulations, and the production cost of water-soluble chitosonium salts.
Innovation Solution
A blend of solid chitosan and a solid acid or agent that generates protons in situ when mixed with water, allowing for controlled solubilization of chitosan to achieve desired concentrations, reducing shipping costs and production expenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chitosan is dissolved in dilute acetic or lactic acid to achieve solubility, then chitosan becomes soluble and effective as a flocculant, but the viscosity becomes excessively high making delivery difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of chitosan in solution. Instead of using conventional 1-3% dilute solutions that are easy to deliver but require large volumes for shipping, the invention uses concentrated 20-40% chitosan solutions. This parameter change allows the solution to remain deliverable through peristaltic pumps while significantly reducing shipping costs by eliminating excess water.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic delivery system using peristaltic pumps that can handle highly viscous solutions. The system dynamically adjusts to the high viscosity of concentrated chitosan solutions (20-40%) through controlled pumping mechanisms, enabling delivery of concentrations that would be impractical with conventional metering pumps.
2Loss of energy
If concentrated chitosan solutions (>3%) are used to reduce shipping costs, then shipping efficiency improves, but delivery using conventional metering pumps becomes difficult and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional metering pumps with peristaltic pumps for delivery. Peristaltic pumps are better suited for handling highly viscous concentrated chitosan solutions (20-40%) because they use a rotating roller mechanism to compress and advance the solution through tubing, rather than relying on mechanical gears or pistons that struggle with high viscosity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the delivery system by using peristaltic pumps with adjustable flow rates that can accommodate the high viscosity of concentrated chitosan solutions. This allows efficient delivery of 20-40% chitosan solutions without the mechanical limitations of conventional pump systems.
3Loss of energy
If dry solid chitosan salts (chitosonium salts) are prepared to achieve water solubility, then shipping costs are reduced, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of chitosan from dry solid salts to concentrated liquid solutions (20-40%). By maintaining chitosan in liquid form at high concentrations rather than converting it to dry solid chitosonium salts, the invention eliminates the need for additional chemical reactions and drying processes, thereby reducing production costs while still achieving shipping efficiency.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective solubilization of chitosan, facilitating its use in flocculation and coagulation processes by minimizing the need for high concentrations of chitosan solutions and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a solid acid or a solid agent that generates a proton in situ in the presence of water
Implementation Method 2
Soluble chitosan is useful as a coagulant and flocculant in removing impurities such as suspended sediment, proteins, fats, tannins, and metals from aqueous mediums
Data Source
AI summary
Chitosan-containing blends and methods of dissolving and using chitosan are disclosed. A blend includes a solid acid or a solid agent that generates a proton in situ in the presence of water mixed together with a dry solid chitosan, and may optionally contain other components. The blends are in a dry, free-flowing, particulate form. Methods of dissolving a blend typically comprise adding a quantity of the blend to a low volume of water and mixing until the chitosan and solid acid or solid agent are dissolved and then further diluting this mixture by the addition of water, or used as-is. Devices containing the blends are also described along with methods of using the devices, such as for controlled release of solubilized chitosan in a body of water, such as a stream, containing impurities (e.g., particles, sediment, or suspended matter or dissolved substances) to cause flocculation or precipitation of such impurities.