Cleaning Composition for Starch Residue Removal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial processing equipment, particularly ethanol fermentation tanks, face challenges in removing resistant starch residues due to complexation with metal ions, which are not effectively addressed by conventional heated sodium hydroxide solutions.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous cleaning solution composition combining sodium hydroxide and potassium sodium tartrate, maintained at elevated temperatures, effectively removes starch residues and metal ions by chelating action, allowing sodium hydroxide to break down the residues at lower concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heated concentrated sodium hydroxide solution is used to clean starch residues, then cleaning capability is improved, but sodium hydroxide concentration must be high which increases cost and equipment corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidsodium hydroxide concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces potassium sodium tartrate as a chelating agent that acts as an intermediary substance. It binds to metal ions (calcium, magnesium, iron) that catalyze starch degradation and form resistant complexes, thereby enhancing the cleaning effectiveness of sodium hydroxide and allowing lower concentrations to be used effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning composition is formulated as a composite system combining sodium hydroxide (for base cleaning action) with potassium sodium tartrate (for chelating metal ions). This composite approach creates synergistic effects where the combination of substances achieves superior cleaning performance compared to sodium hydroxide alone, enabling reduced sodium hydroxide concentration while maintaining or improving cleaning capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If high concentration sodium hydroxide is used to remove starch residues, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but equipment corrosion and safety hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidequipment corrosion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Potassium sodium tartrate serves as a protective intermediary that chelates metal ions responsible for catalyzing starch degradation and equipment corrosion. By binding these metal ions, it reduces the corrosive action on equipment surfaces while maintaining cleaning effectiveness at lower sodium hydroxide concentrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning system by adding a chelating agent, which modifies the mechanism of action. This allows the system to achieve the same cleaning effectiveness at lower sodium hydroxide concentrations (reducing from typical high concentrations to lower effective concentrations), thereby reducing equipment corrosion and safety hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If conventional cleaning processes are used, then process simplicity is maintained, but cleaning time increases due to resistant starch residues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The addition of potassium sodium tartrate as a chelating intermediary accelerates the cleaning process by preventing metal ion-catalyzed starch degradation. This chemical enhancement allows the cleaning process to proceed faster and more effectively without complicating the overall process flow or equipment requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

By modifying the chemical composition parameters (adding chelating agent), the cleaning process achieves faster residue removal. This parameter change enhances cleaning kinetics and effectiveness, reducing the time required for effective cleaning while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves faster and more efficient removal of starch residues at lower sodium hydroxide concentrations, reducing equipment downtime and costs, and is particularly effective with high metal ion concentrations.

Implementation Method 1

The aqueous cleaning solution composition may include about 8.7 wt. % to about 10.5 wt. % sodium hydroxide and about 0.7 wt. % to about 1.1 wt. % of potassium sodium tartrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChelating action:

Implementation Method 2

maintaining the aqueous cleaning solution composition at a temperature; The temperature may be maintained at about 88° C. (190° F.) to about 97° C. (207° F.)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9963662B2Cleaning composition and method for processing equipment
Publication Date: 2018.05.08 SEACOLE-CRC LLC

AI summary

An aqueous cleaning solution composition includes about 8.7 wt. % to about 10.7 wt. % sodium hydroxide and about 0.7 wt. % to about 1.1 wt. % of potassium sodium tartrate.