New and Improved Project
October 31, 2011
Dear Mike Spahia,
My name is Hannah Quick, and I am a student at Animas High School in Durango, CO. I am writing in regards to a chemistry project in school in which we are supposed to improve a product based on its chemical and physical properties. My project concerns balloons, so I thought you would be one of the best people to talk to.
As you probably know, balloons have been banned from several hospitals, especially children’s hospitals, due to the risk of choking or an allergic reaction. In order to work around hospital regulations, I have come up with a possible solution, which is a non-toxic balloon that is essentially edible.
The basic makeup of the balloon is a layer of cellulose, which is a non-toxic compound when consumed, encompassing a network of metal-organic frameworks. To read more about cellulose, see <Appendix B>. Metal organic-frameworks are crystalline compounds made up of organic molecules. To read more about MOFs, please see <Appendix A>. Basically, this balloon would be a layer of cellulose surrounding several networks of sugar compounds that can hold gas. Northwestern University researchers have discovered a way to make these frameworks using only sugar, potassium salts, and alcohol; all of which are cheap and easy products to obtain. These frameworks, when consumed, are described to taste bitter and starchy, so, although kids may not like the taste of the balloon, it would not be harmful to digest.
The structure is usually formed using metal-ligand bonding, but in this case, the bonding properties would resemble more of a glycosidic bond, when a sugar molecule bonds with another group, such as alcohol, covalently. To read more, please see <Appendix B>. The bonding of these frameworks create micropores, which are very effective for storing gases. In fact, MOFs are quickly becoming highly effective methods of gas storage for engineers and scientists due to their low permeability. These frameworks, like mylar balloons, have a rigid structure and can hold unique shapes with high rigidity.
This balloon would have a slightly less elasticity than a traditional latex balloon, but the elasticity is still enough to keep the air pressure inside the balloon higher than the pressure of the air outside of the balloon. Finally, due to the light-weight properties of the components in the balloons, it could be a very effective, and fun way, to bring balloons to kids who might have latex allergies, or just want to eat a balloon, without the hazard of choking.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my idea. Please contact me at [email protected]
Sincerely,
Hannah Quick
Animas High School Student
Enclosures: Appendix A: MOFs
Appendix B: Technicalities
Appendix A: Metal Organic Frameworks
Metal-organic frameworks are crystalline compounds that are formed from several different organic compounds. Their bonding structure creates pores, which are ideal for absorbing gas. Typically, MOFs are composed of petroleum-based ingredients, because typical MOFs’ major components are metal ion(s) and organic molecules. Pore shape of the MOF is determined by what components are combined in order to make the framework. Although measurements for the edible MOFs have not yet been published, traditional MOFs have a high storage density in the pores, measuring as high as 7 or 10 Å-wide pores, which are optimal pore widths for storing gas.
Appendix B: Technicalities
Dear Mike Spahia,
My name is Hannah Quick, and I am a student at Animas High School in Durango, CO. I am writing in regards to a chemistry project in school in which we are supposed to improve a product based on its chemical and physical properties. My project concerns balloons, so I thought you would be one of the best people to talk to.
As you probably know, balloons have been banned from several hospitals, especially children’s hospitals, due to the risk of choking or an allergic reaction. In order to work around hospital regulations, I have come up with a possible solution, which is a non-toxic balloon that is essentially edible.
The basic makeup of the balloon is a layer of cellulose, which is a non-toxic compound when consumed, encompassing a network of metal-organic frameworks. To read more about cellulose, see <Appendix B>. Metal organic-frameworks are crystalline compounds made up of organic molecules. To read more about MOFs, please see <Appendix A>. Basically, this balloon would be a layer of cellulose surrounding several networks of sugar compounds that can hold gas. Northwestern University researchers have discovered a way to make these frameworks using only sugar, potassium salts, and alcohol; all of which are cheap and easy products to obtain. These frameworks, when consumed, are described to taste bitter and starchy, so, although kids may not like the taste of the balloon, it would not be harmful to digest.
The structure is usually formed using metal-ligand bonding, but in this case, the bonding properties would resemble more of a glycosidic bond, when a sugar molecule bonds with another group, such as alcohol, covalently. To read more, please see <Appendix B>. The bonding of these frameworks create micropores, which are very effective for storing gases. In fact, MOFs are quickly becoming highly effective methods of gas storage for engineers and scientists due to their low permeability. These frameworks, like mylar balloons, have a rigid structure and can hold unique shapes with high rigidity.
This balloon would have a slightly less elasticity than a traditional latex balloon, but the elasticity is still enough to keep the air pressure inside the balloon higher than the pressure of the air outside of the balloon. Finally, due to the light-weight properties of the components in the balloons, it could be a very effective, and fun way, to bring balloons to kids who might have latex allergies, or just want to eat a balloon, without the hazard of choking.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my idea. Please contact me at [email protected]
Sincerely,
Hannah Quick
Animas High School Student
Enclosures: Appendix A: MOFs
Appendix B: Technicalities
Appendix A: Metal Organic Frameworks
Metal-organic frameworks are crystalline compounds that are formed from several different organic compounds. Their bonding structure creates pores, which are ideal for absorbing gas. Typically, MOFs are composed of petroleum-based ingredients, because typical MOFs’ major components are metal ion(s) and organic molecules. Pore shape of the MOF is determined by what components are combined in order to make the framework. Although measurements for the edible MOFs have not yet been published, traditional MOFs have a high storage density in the pores, measuring as high as 7 or 10 Å-wide pores, which are optimal pore widths for storing gas.
Appendix B: Technicalities
- Cellulose has a 20-30 degree contact angle, so although it is not dissolvable in water, it is biodegradable, and breaks down easily when it interacts with acids.
- A glycosidic bond is when two molecules with functional groups of alcohol, bond to form water, which drops out when the molecules bond, and the remaining atoms are bonded via an oxygen atom. Based on the compounds being bonded, the glycosidic bond could have several different properties. But if the bonded result is a disaccharide, the bond generally forms a crystalline shape.
- Metal ligand bonding is when a ligand, or ion bonded to a central metal atom, bonds more than once to another atom, most likely another ligand. Its bonding properties can range from ionic to covalent.
- The balloon in itself would be a heterogenous mixture, made up of two distinguishable compounds: cellulose and MOFs. Once past the cellulose though, the MOFs become a homogenous compound because it is not clear whether the crystalline compound is made up of several or one components. Although we know that the framework is made up of several ligand components, we cannot, based on observation, determine the type of mixture. The cellulose is also a homogenous mixture because it is an organic compound that is made up of several glucose components bonded together hundreds upon hundreds of times.
Project Reflection
I thought that this project was well done, and that given the time constraints, I did very well with it. I think that if I had been given more time to research things more, especially the MOFs, I would have been able to have a better idea for how the balloon would be formed, and the process with which the balloon would have to be constructed. If time would have allowed, and resources, I think it would have been so cool to try and actually construct the balloon, then I could have gotten credit for an invention instead of a suggestion!
This project was interesting to me because i had a completely different process for researching. I didn't really have an idea about what I was looking for, so I had to think about several different chemistry concepts, including bonding structures, elements of the balloon, etc, before I could even start researching. This was probably the first time I used critical thinking skills for researching things, because I generally have a pretty good idea about what I need to find in order to be successful with my research.
I thought that one concept I found especially interesting was how a crystalline bonding structure could hold gas, because even though it was extremely porous, the pores were so small that they held gas effectively. I had never thought about how gas was stored, but I guess I had always thought that whatever was holding it didn't have pores, but there are molecules that are so small that they can keep gas in, which makes you think how big the gas molecules must be in comparison to whatever is holding it in.
This project was interesting to me because i had a completely different process for researching. I didn't really have an idea about what I was looking for, so I had to think about several different chemistry concepts, including bonding structures, elements of the balloon, etc, before I could even start researching. This was probably the first time I used critical thinking skills for researching things, because I generally have a pretty good idea about what I need to find in order to be successful with my research.
I thought that one concept I found especially interesting was how a crystalline bonding structure could hold gas, because even though it was extremely porous, the pores were so small that they held gas effectively. I had never thought about how gas was stored, but I guess I had always thought that whatever was holding it didn't have pores, but there are molecules that are so small that they can keep gas in, which makes you think how big the gas molecules must be in comparison to whatever is holding it in.