Chelating Agent Granules via Spray Drying to Reduce Yellowing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing chelating agent powders and granules suffer from issues such as yellowing in the presence of peroxides and malodour, with a need for improved methods to reduce these defects while maintaining high active ingredient content and low water content.
Innovation Solution
A process involving spray drying or spray granulation at elevated temperatures with specific inlet gas temperatures and formulations of chelating agents like alkali metal salts of methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), combined with (meth)acrylic acid polymers, to produce powders and granules with reduced yellowing tendencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If spray drying or spray granulation is performed at elevated temperatures to remove water and produce powders/granules, then productivity and active ingredient content are improved, but yellowing and malodour occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the inlet gas temperature during spray drying/granulation (maintaining it below 120°C in some embodiments, or using a two-stage temperature profile) and adjusting the pH value of the chelating agent solution (maintaining pH 2-7, preferably pH 3-5). These parameter optimizations allow efficient water removal while preventing the thermal degradation that causes yellowing and malodour, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and product quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs local quality by creating a controlled micro-environment during the spray drying process. By maintaining specific pH conditions (2-7) and temperature gradients (lower inlet temperature of <120°C or two-stage temperature profile), the process creates favorable local conditions that prevent yellowing and malodour formation in the chelating agent, while still achieving efficient water removal and high productivity
2Quantity of substance
If conventional spray drying is used to produce chelating agent powders, then low water content is achieved, but yellowing occurs in the presence of peroxides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the pH value (maintaining pH 2-7, preferably pH 3-5) and controlling the inlet gas temperature (below 120°C in some embodiments, or using a two-stage temperature profile). These parameter optimizations enable efficient water removal to achieve low water content while simultaneously preventing yellowing, even in the presence of peroxides, by avoiding conditions that trigger oxidative degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-adjusting the pH value of the chelating agent solution to the optimal range (pH 2-7, preferably pH 3-5) before spray drying. This preliminary pH adjustment creates a protective condition that prevents yellowing from occurring during subsequent storage in the presence of peroxides, while still allowing efficient water removal to achieve the desired low water content
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 results in powders and granules with enhanced stability against yellowing and malodour, suitable for use in cleaning agents containing bleaching agents, with improved shelf life and hygroscopicity behavior.
Implementation Method 1
removing most of said water by spray drying or spray granulation
Data Source
AI summary
Process for making a powder or granule containing(A) at least one chelating agent selected from alkali metal salts of methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and of iminodisuccinic acid (IDS),(B) at least one compound of general formula (I a) or (I b)wherein A1 is selected from (CH2)a wherein the variable a is in the range of from 4 to 20,e is selected from zero and 1, andR1 being the same or different and selected from O—C1-C10-alkyl and C1-C10-alkyl,and, optionally,(C) at least one homo- or copolymer of (meth)acrylic acid, partially or fully neutralized with alkali,said process comprising the steps of(a) providing an aqueous solution or slurry containing chelating agent (A) and said compound (B) and, if applicable, (co)polymer (C), with a pH value in the range of from 10 to 12,(b) removing most of said water by spray drying or spray granulation.