On-Site Peracetic Acid Generation Using Triacetin for Rapid Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating non-equilibrium peroxyacetic acid (PAA) solutions on-site face challenges such as high capital costs, safety hazards, inefficiency in using hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid, regulatory restrictions, and difficulties in maintaining steady-state conditions, which limit their practicality and scalability in industries like food processing and laundry bleaching.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a hydrogen peroxide-acetyl precursor solution, specifically using triacetin as the acetyl precursor, which is soluble in hydrogen peroxide, allowing for the rapid generation of PAA on-site without the need for expensive equipment or hazardous materials, and a freely-flowable solid composition for laundry bleaching that efficiently produces PAA in cool water temperatures without undesirable odors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If equilibrium PAA solutions are prepared in advance and stored, then PAA concentration can be maintained, but storage stability requires excessive hydrogen peroxide or acetic acid which increases raw material costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PAA solution into three separate components (hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, and stabilizer) that are stored independently and mixed only when needed. This eliminates the need to maintain excessive levels of any single component for stability, as the components remain stable separately but form a stable PAA equilibrium when mixed in controlled proportions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares the individual components (hydrogen peroxide solution, acetic acid solution, and stabilizer solution) in advance and stores them separately, then combines them at the point of use to generate PAA. This preliminary preparation of stable components avoids the instability issues of pre-mixed PAA solutions while maintaining cost efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If PAA is generated on-site from hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid, then transportation costs are reduced, but the reaction is slow and requires several days to reach maximum concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stabilizer component that modifies the reaction kinetics of PAA generation. The stabilizer maintains the hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid in a stable, non-reacting state during storage and transport, then enables rapid PAA formation when mixed, effectively changing the time parameter from days to minutes for the actual PAA generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer acts as an intermediary substance that controls the interaction between hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. It prevents premature reaction during separate storage while facilitating rapid and controlled PAA formation when the components are combined, thus accelerating the productivity without compromising safety.
3Reliability
If high concentration PAA (greater than 6%) is used, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but regulatory requirements and hazardous material shipping fees increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining low concentrations of individual components (hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, and stabilizer) during storage and transport, which avoids hazardous material regulations. When these components are mixed at the point of use, they locally generate high concentration PAA that provides effective disinfection, thus achieving high reliability without the regulatory burden.
4Loss of time
If PAA product is stored in large inventories before shipment, then quality confirmation time is reduced, but storage area requirements and handling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming PAA generation process from the storage and shipping phase. By storing stable individual components instead of pre-generated PAA, the system eliminates the need for large storage inventories and extensive quality confirmation periods. The PAA is generated on-demand at the point of use, removing the bottleneck of advance quality testing while reducing storage area requirements.
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
This approach enables the efficient, safe, and cost-effective generation of high-concentration PAA solutions for industrial and laundry applications, reducing regulatory burdens and operational complexities while maintaining high conversion rates and stability, and providing effective bleaching and disinfection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
They are prepared in advance of delivery, typically by reacting hydrogen peroxide with acetic acid in the presence of a mineral acid catalyst
Implementation Method 2
A metal chelating agent, such as hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP) or dipicolinic acid, is also introduced to suppress the transition metal cation catalyzed decomposition of peroxygen compounds
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for the generation of non-equilibrium solutions of peroxyacetic acid are disclosed. These methods comprise introducing triacetin and aqueous hydrogen peroxide to water, mixing, and then adding an aqueous source of an alkali metal or earth alkali metal hydroxide. Triacetin is converted rapidly and with a high conversion rate into peracetic acid. These methods produce solutions with a high level of peracetic acid.