AQUEOUS EMULSION OF BIOLOGICAL ANTIFREEZE PROTEIN FOR ROAD ANTI-ICING AND DEICING AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

Abstract

This invention relates to road deicing, and particularly discloses an aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing and a method of preparing the same. The emulsion is prepared from 3.2-12.8% by weight of a biological antifreeze protein; 45-75% by weight of water; 0.2-0.8% by weight of a cationic emulsifier; 1-4% by weight of nitrile latex; and 8-22% by weight of phosphate-buffered saline. The aqueous emulsion prepared herein involves cheap raw materials, simple production processes, good deicing performance, displaying a complete freezing inhibition at 2 C. to 0 C. and a freezing probability of 15% or less at 4 C. to 2 C. The aqueous emulsion can also effectively reduce ice crystal size, having a brilliant application prospect in road anti-icing and deicing in winter.

Claims

1. An aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing, comprising: 3.2-12.8% by weight of a biological antifreeze protein; 45-75% by weight of water; 0.2-0.8% by weight of a cationic emulsifier; 1-4% by weight of nitrile latex; and 8-22% by weight of phosphate-buffered saline.

2. The aqueous emulsion of claim 1, wherein it has a pH of 4-8.

3. The aqueous emulsion of claim 1, wherein the biological antifreeze protein is selected from the group consisting of a yellow mealworm antifreeze protein, a beetle antifreeze protein, an ammopiptanthus mongolicus antifreeze protein, an ophiopogogon japonicus antifreeze protein, a yellow grouper antifreeze protein and a combination thereof.

4. The aqueous emulsion of claim 1, wherein the nitrile latex has a uniform molecular weight distribution and a uniform particle size distribution, and has resistance to oil, acid and alkali; and the phosphate-buffered saline maintains the activity of antifreeze protein, salt-balance and a suitable pH.

5. A method for preparing the aqueous emulsion of claim 1, comprising: (1) preparing 3.2-12.8% by weight of the biological antifreeze protein, 45-75% by weight of water, 0.2-0.8% by weight of the cationic emulsifier, 1-4% by weight of nitrile latex and 8-22% by weight of the phosphate-buffered saline; (2) heating the water to 60-80 C.; (3) adding the cationic emulsifier to the heated water and uniformly dispersing the cationic emulsifier in the water; and adding the phosphate-buffered saline to adjust the mixed solution to pH 4-8; (4) transferring the mixed solution obtained in step (3) to a high shear emulsifier and adding the nitrile latex to the high shear emulsifier followed by rotating and stirring at 800-1000 rpm for 3-5 min to obtain an aqueous emulsion; and transferring the aqueous emulsion to a container; and (5) cooling the aqueous emulsion obtained in step (4) to room temperature followed by adding the biological antifreeze protein; and stirring the resulting mixture uniformly, thereby obtaining a final product.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0038] This invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications and changes made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical solutions of the invention shall fall within the scope of the claims of the invention. The amount of materials are represented by parts by weight, and in the following description of embodiments, one part by weight corresponds to one kilogram, for the purposes of illustration.

EXAMPLE 1

[0039] An aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing was prepared from 3.2 kg of a yellow mealworm antifreeze protein, 45 kg of water, 0.2 kg of a cationic emulsifier, 1 kg of nitrile latex and 22 kg of phosphate-buffered saline.

[0040] In this embodiment, a potassium phosphate-buffered solution (pH=1) was employed as the phosphate-buffered saline, and the final product antifreeze protein emulsion prepared herein had a pH of 4.

[0041] The aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing was prepared as follows.

[0042] (1) 3.2 kg of the yellow mealworm antifreeze protein, 45 kg of water, 0.2 kg of the cationic emulsifier, 1 kg of nitrile latex and 22 kg of the phosphate-buffered saline were prepared for use.

[0043] (2) The water was heated to 60-80 C.

[0044] (3) The cationic emulsifier was added to the heated water and uniformly dispersed in the water. The phosphate-buffered saline was added to adjust a pH of the mixed solution.

[0045] (4) The mixed solution obtained in step (3) was transferred to a high shear emulsifier, and the nitrile latex was added to high shear emulsifier followed by rotating and stirring at 800-1000 rpm for 3-5 min to obtain an aqueous emulsion. The aqueous emulsion was then transferred to a container.

[0046] (5) The aqueous emulsion obtained in step (4) was cooled to room temperature followed by adding the biological antifreeze protein. The resulting mixture was uniformly stirred, thereby obtaining a final product.

EXAMPLE 2

[0047] An aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing was prepared from 12.8 kg of an ammopiptanthus mongolicus antifreeze protein, 75 kg of water, 0.8 kg of a cationic emulsifier, 4 kg of nitrile latex and 22 kg of phosphate-buffered saline.

[0048] In this embodiment, a potassium phosphate-buffered solution (pH=12) was employed as the phosphate-buffered saline, and the final product antifreeze protein emulsion prepared herein had a pH of 8.

[0049] The preparation method was the same as that in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3

[0050] An aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing was prepared from 8 kg of a yellow grouper antifreeze protein, 55 kg of water, 0.6 kg of a cationic emulsifier, 2 kg of nitrile latex and 8 kg of phosphate-buffered saline.

[0051] In this embodiment, a potassium phosphate-buffered solution (pH=4.5) was employed as the phosphate-buffered saline, and the final product antifreeze protein emulsion prepared herein had a pH of 6.

[0052] The preparation method was the same as that in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 4

[0053] An aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing was prepared from 4 kg of a yellow grouper antifreeze protein, 4 kg of an ophiopogogon japonicus antifreeze protein, 45 kg of water, 0.2 kg of a cationic emulsifier, 1 kg of nitrile latex and 15 kg of phosphate-buffered saline.

[0054] In this embodiment, a potassium phosphate-buffered solution (pH=3) was employed as the phosphate-buffered saline, and the final product antifreeze protein emulsion prepared herein had a pH of 5.

[0055] The preparation method was the same as that in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 5

[0056] An aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing was prepared from 1.6 kg of a yellow grouper antifreeze protein, 1.6 kg of an ophiopogogon japonicus antifreeze protein, 55 kg of water, 0.6 kg of a cationic emulsifier, 2 kg of nitrile latex and 22 kg of phosphate-buffered saline.

[0057] In this embodiment, a potassium phosphate-buffered solution (pH=1) was employed as the phosphate-buffered saline, and the final product antifreeze protein emulsion prepared herein had a pH of 4.

[0058] The preparation method was the same as that in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 6

[0059] An aqueous emulsion of biological antifreeze protein for road anti-icing and deicing was prepared from 6.4 kg of a yellow grouper antifreeze protein, 6.4 kg of an ophiopogogon japonicus antifreeze protein, 55 kg of water, 0.6 kg of a cationic emulsifier, 2 kg of nitrile latex and 10 kg of phosphate-buffered saline.

[0060] In this embodiment, a potassium phosphate-buffered solution (pH=6.7) was employed as the phosphate-buffered saline, and the final product antifreeze protein emulsion prepared herein had a pH of 7.

[0061] The preparation method was the same as that in Example 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

[0062] An emulsion was prepared from 8 kg of a yellow grouper antifreeze protein, 8 kg of an ophiopogogon japonicus antifreeze protein, 35 kg of water, 1 kg of a cationic emulsifier, 0.5 kg of nitrile latex and 26 kg of phosphate-buffered saline.

[0063] In this embodiment, a potassium phosphate-buffered solution (pH=1) was employed as the phosphate-buffered saline, and the final product antifreeze protein emulsion prepared herein had a pH of 3.

[0064] The preparation method was the same as that in Example 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

[0065] A comparative product was prepared from 8 kg of a yellow grouper antifreeze protein and 55 kg of water.

[0066] The preparation method included the steps as follows.

[0067] The yellow grouper antifreeze protein was added to the water at room temperature followed by uniformly stirring. The final product was prepared for immediate use.

[0068] In Examples 1-6 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the yellow mealworm antifreeze protein, the beetle antifreeze protein, the ammopiptanthus mongolicus antifreeze protein, the ophiopogogon japonicus antifreeze protein, and the yellow grouper antifreeze protein could be obtained from the corresponding living body through sampling, grinding, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, extraction and purification.

Deicing Effect Evaluation

[0069] Sodium chloride, the aqueous emulsions prepared in Examples 1-6 and the emulsions prepared in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 had undergone freezing experiments at 0 C. to 2 C. and 2 C. to 4 C., respectively for 2 h. The results were shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Freezing probability results Freezing probability(%) Freezing probability(%) at 0 C. to 2 C. at 2 C. to 4 C. Sodium 4.7 18.8 Chloride Example 1 0 10.4 Example 2 0 9.1 Example 3 0 13.7 Example 4 0 12.5 Example 5 0 14.6 Example 6 0 11.3 Comparative 4.3 16.5 Example 1 Comparative 5.6 20.6 Example 2

[0070] It can be seen from Table 1 that the aqueous emulsions of Examples 1-6 had the same freezing probability of 0 at 0 C. to 2 C., and sodium chloride had a freezing probability of 4.7% at 0 C. to 2 C. The aqueous emulsions of Examples 1-6 at 2 C. to 4 C. have a 4.2-9.7% lower freezing probability than sodium chloride, while the emulsions of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 at 2 C. to 4 C. have a 1.9-11.5% greater freezing probability. From which, it could be concluded that the aqueous emulsions of Examples 1-6 had better deicing performance than sodium chloride and the emulsions of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, being able to effectively improve the friction coefficient of icy roads and avoid the traffic accidents caused by road icing.

Stability Evaluation:

[0071] The aqueous emulsions prepared in Examples 1-6 and the emulsion prepared in Comparative Example 1 were left standing at room temperature for stability tests. The emulsion state results as observed were shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Emulsion state results Day 7 Day 15 Day 30 Example 1 Stable, without Stable, without Stable, without layering layering layering Example 2 Stable, without Stable, without Stable, without layering layering layering Example 3 Stable, without Stable, without Stable, without layering layering layering Example 4 Stable, without Stable, without Stable, without layering layering layering Example 5 Stable, without Stable, without Stable, without layering layering layering Example 6 Stable, without Stable, without Stable, without layering layering layering Comparative Stable, without Layered Layered Example 1 layering

[0072] It can be seen from Table 2 that the emulsions of Examples 1-6 were relatively stable at room temperature, whereas the emulsion of Comparative Example 1 was layered after standing for a long time, indicating that the aqueous emulsions prepared in Examples 1-6 had good stability.