Thiol Ester Fertilizer Coatings via Molar Ratio Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The chemical industry faces challenges in producing environmentally friendly and cost-effective products using abundant, alternative feedstocks as fossil fuels deplete, and there is a need for innovative methods to create thiol-containing compositions with specific molecular ratios and properties for applications such as polymers and fertilizers.
Innovation Solution
The development of thiol ester compositions with controlled molar ratios of cyclic sulfides to thiol groups, carbon-carbon double bonds, and sulfur content, produced through reactions involving hydrogen sulfide and unsaturated esters, along with processes that include the use of solvents, catalysts, and UV radiation, to create thiol ester molecules with enhanced properties for various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If thiol ester compositions are produced with high sulfur content and controlled molecular structures, then the quality and performance of the product is improved, but the production cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the molar ratios of reactants (hydrogen sulfide to unsaturated ester) and reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, catalyst concentration) to achieve the desired molecular structure with controlled cyclic sulfide to thiol group ratios. This allows optimization of product quality without proportionally increasing process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through analytical methods (NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS) to monitor the reaction progress and product composition in real-time. This enables adjustment of reaction parameters to maintain target molar ratios, improving manufacturing precision while keeping the process manageable through automated control.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If alternative feedstocks are used to replace fossil fuels, then environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness are improved, but the availability and consistency of feedstock quality may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses feedstock variability by adjusting reaction parameters dynamically. The molar ratio of hydrogen sulfide to unsaturated ester is optimized based on feedstock composition, allowing the process to accommodate variations in alternative feedstock quality while maintaining consistent product output and minimizing environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses carefully selected catalysts and reaction conditions as intermediaries that facilitate the transformation of alternative feedstocks into desired thiol ester products. These intermediaries help bridge the gap between variable feedstock quality and consistent product requirements, enabling reliable production from alternative sources.
3Productivity
If the reaction is performed without solvent to reduce cost and simplify the process, then productivity and ease of manufacture are improved, but the reaction control and heat management become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent manages reaction control in solvent-free systems by optimizing temperature, pressure, and catalyst concentration parameters. These parameter adjustments enable precise control of the thiol ester formation reaction without requiring solvents, thereby maintaining productivity while achieving the desired manufacturing precision through careful parameter management.
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 resulting thiol ester compositions exhibit improved characteristics such as increased sulfur content, reduced cyclic sulfide presence, and controlled molecular structures, enabling their use in abrasion-resistant polymers and controlled release fertilizers with enhanced durability and reduced production costs.
Implementation Method 1
hydrogen sulfide is contacted with an unsaturated ester composition... The hydrogen sulfide and the unsaturated esters are reacted to produce or form the thiol ester composition
Implementation Method 2
The step of reacting the hydrogen sulfide and the unsaturated esters is catalyzed by a heterogeneous catalyst. Alternatively, the reaction of the hydrogen sulfide and the unsaturated esters is initiated by a free-radical initiator or UV radiation
Data Source
AI summary
Thiol ester compositions, methods of making the thiol ester compositions, and methods of using the thiol ester compositions are provided. In some embodiments, the thiol ester compositions include thiol esters, hydroxy thiol esters and cross-linked thiol esters. The thiol ester composition can be used to produce cross-linked thiol esters, sulfonic acid-containing esters, sulfonate containing esters and thioacrylate containing esters. The thiol ester compositions can be used to produce polythiourethanes. The polythiourethanes can be used in fertilizers and fertilizer coatings.