Trichome Fiber Separation Using Chelating Composition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for individualizing trichome fibers from trichome sources, such as plants, are inefficient and costly, resulting in contaminated fibers with non-trichome materials, making them unsuitable for large-scale commercial production of sanitary tissue products.
Innovation Solution
A process utilizing a chelating composition comprising a chelating agent and a surfactant, applied at elevated temperatures and optionally under pressure, to effectively separate trichome fibers from their sources, reducing the presence of non-trichome materials and enabling continuous, cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical cutting and air sorting operations are used to individualize trichome fibers, then the fibers can be separated from the plant, but the fibers contain undesirable contaminants such as dirt, fines, and non-trichome materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cutting and air sorting operations with a chemical separation process using chelating agents and surfactants. This substitution allows for effective removal of contaminants while maintaining fiber integrity, achieving both high productivity and high purity that mechanical methods cannot simultaneously deliver.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation mechanism from mechanical force to chemical interaction by adjusting parameters such as chelating agent concentration, surfactant type, temperature, and pH. These parameter changes enable selective binding and removal of contaminants while preserving the trichome fibers, resolving the contradiction between separation efficiency and fiber purity.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanical processes are used to isolate trichome fibers, then the fibers can be obtained, but the process results in contaminated fibers with dirt, fines, and non-trichome materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical processes with a simpler chemical treatment process. The chemical separation method using chelating agents and surfactants achieves superior fiber cleanliness while maintaining ease of manufacture, as the chemical process can be applied in a single treatment step rather than multiple mechanical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chelating agents and surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the trichome fibers and contaminants. These intermediaries selectively bind to contaminants and facilitate their removal, achieving high fiber cleanliness without requiring complex mechanical processing.
3Manufacturing precision
If known chemical separation processes are used, then trichomes can be removed from the source, but the process is not commercially feasible on a large scale and requires lengthy incubation times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters including temperature, pH, chelating agent concentration, and surfactant selection to accelerate the separation process. These parameter changes reduce incubation time from hours to minutes while maintaining effective trichome separation, making the process commercially viable for large-scale production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous processing by eliminating lengthy batch incubation steps. The optimized chemical separation process can be implemented in a continuous flow system where trichomes are separated rapidly as they pass through the treatment zone, dramatically increasing productivity and commercial feasibility.
4Productivity
If mechanical processes are used to individualize trichome fibers, then the fibers can be separated, but the process is costly and requires high amounts of maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical cutting and sorting equipment with a chemical treatment system. This substitution eliminates high maintenance requirements for mechanical components while achieving effective fiber separation, significantly reducing both production costs and maintenance expenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses relatively inexpensive chemical reagents (chelating agents and surfactants) that can be easily replenished compared to expensive mechanical equipment. These chemical substances provide a cost-effective alternative to capital-intensive mechanical systems, reducing both initial investment and ongoing operational costs.
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 process achieves high-purity trichome fibers with minimal non-trichome contaminants, suitable for use in consumer products like sanitary tissue, improving yield and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a chelating composition comprising a chelating agent and a surfactant
Implementation Method 2
a chelating composition comprising a chelating agent and a surfactant
Implementation Method 3
subjecting the soaked trichome source to a temperature of greater than 60° C.
Data Source
AI summary
A process for individualizing (separating) trichome fibers from a trichome source, such as a leaf and/or a stem, and more particularly to a process for individualizing (separating) trichome fibers from a trichome source utilizing a chemical separation process are provided.