Supercritical CO2 Filter Material for Residue-Free Biomolecule Removal

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter materials used for purification often suffer from poor filtration efficiency and safety concerns due to chemical surface modification, which can damage the material structure and leave chemical solvent residues. Additionally, surface plasma modification leads to unstable surface properties over time.

Innovation Solution

A filter material comprising a polymer nonwoven fabric with a modifier fixed on it, utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent to dissolve and attach the modifier, ensuring no chemical solvent residue and stable surface properties. The filter material has a critical wetting surface tension between 45 dynes/cm and 115 dynes/cm and a zeta potential between -50 mV and +50 mV.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If chemical surface modification is used to improve filtration efficiency, then filtration performance is improved, but structural damage and chemical solvent residues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidchemical solvent residues

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the modifying agent from liquid chemical solvent to supercritical fluid state. By adjusting temperature and pressure parameters, the modifying agent achieves supercritical state for effective surface modification, then returns to gas state for easy separation, eliminating chemical solvent residues while maintaining filtration efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition of the modifying agent between supercritical fluid state and gas state. In supercritical state, the agent can effectively modify the filter material surface; after use, by reducing pressure and/or temperature, it transitions to gas state and is easily removed, avoiding residue problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Manufacturing precision

If chemical surface modification is used to improve filtration efficiency, then filtration performance is improved, but material structure is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidmaterial structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the modifying agent from liquid chemical solvent to supercritical fluid state. By adjusting temperature and pressure parameters, the modifying agent achieves supercritical state for effective surface modification, then returns to gas state for easy separation, eliminating chemical solvent residues while maintaining filtration efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces chemical modification methods with physical modification using supercritical fluid. The supercritical fluid acts as a physical modifying agent that can change surface properties without causing chemical damage, substituting chemical reactions with physical processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If surface plasma modification is used to improve surface properties, then surface modification is achieved, but stability deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface property modificationVSAvoidsurface property stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the modifying agent from liquid chemical solvent to supercritical fluid state. By adjusting temperature and pressure parameters, the modifying agent achieves supercritical state for effective surface modification, then returns to gas state for easy separation, eliminating chemical solvent residues while maintaining filtration efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The supercritical fluid acts as an intermediary medium that transfers modification capability to the filter material surface. It provides controlled surface modification through physical interaction rather than permanent chemical bonding, achieving stable surface properties that maintain consistency over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 filter material achieves good filtration efficiency, ensuring safe removal of cells and biomolecules without chemical solvent residues, thereby enhancing human health safety and maintaining high stability over time.

Implementation Method 1

performing a heating reaction on the container and increasing pressure of the container to obtain a supercritical carbon dioxide fluid; next, dissolving the modifier in the supercritical carbon dioxide fluid to fix a dissolved modifier on the polymer nonwoven fabric

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSupercritical fluid: Supercritical Fluid

Data Source

PatentUS20250186973A1Filter material and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 SHENGTE TECH

AI summary

Disclosed is a filter material used to remove cells and biomolecules. The filter material includes a polymer nonwoven fabric and a modifier. The modifier is fixed on the polymer nonwoven fabric. The critical wetting surface tension of the filter material is between 45 dynes/cm and 115 dynes/cm. The surface electrical property (Zeta potential) of the filter material is between −50 and +50 mV. There is no chemical solvent residue on the filter material. In addition, a manufacturing method of the above filter material is provided.