Stable High-Concentration Aqueous Complexing Agent Solutions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aqueous solutions of complexing agents like methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) are not stable at temperatures between zero to 50°C, leading to precipitation and incrustations in pipes and containers, which increases transportation costs and requires additional dissolution steps for granules and powders.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous solutions containing 30-60% by weight of alkali metal salts of MGDA or GLDA, combined with 700 ppm to 7% by weight of polyamines partially or fully substituted with CH2COOH groups, neutralized with alkali metal cations, which maintain stability at temperatures from zero to 50°C without requiring additives that negatively affect the complexing agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the concentration of complexing agent in aqueous solution is increased to reduce water shipment costs, then transportation efficiency improves, but the solution becomes unstable at temperatures between zero to 50°C leading to precipitation and incrustations
Solution Approach 1:
A solubility-enhancing additive is introduced as an intermediary substance that mediates between the complexing agent and water, allowing high concentrations of complexing agent to remain stable in aqueous solution at temperatures between zero to 50°C without precipitation or incrustations
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical composition parameters of the solution are modified by adding specific additives that change the solubility characteristics, enabling the solution to maintain stability at high complexing agent concentrations across the temperature range of zero to 50°C
2Quantity of substance
If granules and powders are used to eliminate water shipment costs, then transportation efficiency improves, but an extra dissolution step is required for mixing and formulation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The solution achieves optimal concentration parameters (high complexing agent content with controlled water and additive ratios) that simultaneously eliminate the need for additional dissolution steps while maintaining stability, transforming the product into a ready-to-use liquid form
3Reliability
If additives are used to enhance solubility of complexing agents, then solution stability improves, but the additives may negatively affect the properties of the complexing agent
Solution Approach 1:
The additive acts as a solubility-enhancing intermediary that specifically promotes complexing agent dissolution without interfering with or degrading the functional properties of the complexing agent, maintaining its effectiveness while enabling high concentration stability
Solution Approach 2:
A small amount of additive is used as a sacrificial component that enables the main complexing agent to perform its function at high concentrations without the additive affecting the complexing agent's properties, allowing the additive to be present in minimal quantities
Data Source
AI summary
Aqueous solution comprising (A) in the range of from 30 to 60% by weight of a complexing agent, selected from the alkali metal salts of methylglycine diacetic acid and the alkali metal salts of glutamic acid diacetic acid, (B) in the range of from 700 ppm to 7% by weight of a polymer being selected from polyamines, the N atoms being partially or fully substituted with CH2COOH groups, partially or fully neutralized with alkali metal cations, ppm and percentages referring to the total respective aqueous solution