Demonstration of a linear composition gradient during water saturation of CO2 in supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Water was added to CO₂ by saturation to increase the solvation power of the mobile phase in supercritical fluid chromatography. The saturation was performed at a temperature above the boiling point of water (100°C) to increase the amount of water which could be loaded homogeneously into the CO₂ (2.5–3.0 mol% water as compared to about 0.25 mol% water at 25°C). A linear composition of water was produced by altering the density of the CO₂ during saturation. Modifications to the injector and CO₂ transfer lines prevented phase separation as a result of the instrumentation used in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). After fitting vapor-liquid equilibria data to pressure, density, and temperature conditions, approximately 2.5–3.0 mol% of water was introduced in a linear gradient at 110°C. The effect of water on SFC performance was evaluated with standard steroid compounds. This paper provides further evidence for the need to examine vapor-liquid equilibria data prior to SFC.     

Investigation of interactions between some anionic dyes and cationic surfactants by conductometric method

The interactions of cationic surfactants with anionic dyes were studied by conductometric method. Benzyltrimethylammonium chloride (BTMACl), benzyltriethylammonium chloride (BTEACl) and benzyltributylammonium chloride (BTBACl) were used as cationic surfactants and indigo carmine (IC) and amaranth (Amr) were chosen as anionic dyes. The specific conductance of dye–surfactant mixtures was measured at 25, 35 and 45 °C. A decrease in measured specific conductance values of dye–surfactant mixture was caused by the formation of non-conducting or less-conducting dye–surfactant complex. The equilibrium constants, K₁, the standard free energy changes, ΔG₁°$\mathrm{\Delta }{G}_1°$, the standard enthalpy changes, ΔH₁°$\mathrm{\Delta }{H}_1°$ and the standard entropy changes, ΔS₁°$\mathrm{\Delta }{S}_1°$ for the first association step of dye–surfactant complex formation were calculated by a theoretical model. The results showed that the equilibrium constants and the negative standard free energy change values for all systems decreased as temperature increased. Also these values decreased for all systems studied with increasing alkyl chains of surfactants due to the steric effect. When the equilibrium constant values, K₁, for the first association step of IC–surfactant and Amr–surfactant systems with the same surfactant were compared, the values of K₁ for IC–surfactant system were higher than that of Amr–surfactant system.     

End-functionalized polyethylene oxide coated silica particles for packed capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based polymers with hydroxy, methoxy, and aminopropoxy terminal groups were coated on diol functionalized and hexamethyldisilazane end-capped silica particles. Proton-donor and proton-acceptor test solutes, including carboxylic acids, hydroxy-containing compounds, arylamines, and alkylamines were used to evaluate the chromatographic performances of these polymer coated particles under SFC conditions with neat CO₂ as mobile phase. It was found that the particles coated with hydroxy-terminated PEO were suitable for the separation of proton-donor compounds such as hydroxy-containing compounds and carboxylic acids, and the particles coated with aminopropoxy-terminated PEO could be used for the separation of amines. That is, the proton-accepting stationary phase is suitable for the separation of proton accepting solutes, including strong basic alkylamines (pK_b4), using neat CO₂ as mobile phase, while the protondonating stationary phase is suitable for the separation of proton-donating compounds such as carboxylic acids (pK_a4). Hydrogen bond basicity was found to be a critical factor for the chromatography of basic amines. Low volatility acidic and basic drugs were chromatographed using the new stationary phases. The stability of the PEO coated particles was determined by measuring the loss of organic carbon under SFC conditions. It was found that approximately 18 % of the coating (average molecular weight of 15,000) was washed out of the particles by supercritical CO₂ after 7 h at 350 atm and 50°C     

Packed capillary column supercritical fluid chromatography of fat-soluble vitamins using liquid crystal polysiloxane coated particles

Summary Liquid crystal polysiloxane stationary phases were prepared by coating two different polymers on deactivated porous silica particles (10 m diameter, 80 Å pores). Deactivation of the silica particles before coating was necessary to prepare highly efficient and inert stationary phases for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Fat-soluble vitamins E, A, K₁, K₂, D₂, and D₃ were separated on these columns using neat supercritical CO₂ as mobile phase. The analyses were completed within 40 min at 70 °C. The results were compared to those obtained using a capillary column packed with less ordered liquid crystalm,m-cyanobiphenyl-substituted polysiloxane coated particles. Reduced shape selectivity was observed with this cyanobiphenyl phase. The response factors of vitamins A, E, K₁, K₂, D₂, and D₃ when using the flame ionization detector (FID) were determined to be very similar.     

Thermodynamic evaluation and optimization of the (NaCl + Na2SO4 + Na2CO3 + KCl + K2SO4 + K2CO3) system

A complete, critical evaluation of all phase diagrams and thermodynamic data was performed for all condensed phases of the (NaCl + Na₂SO₄ + Na₂CO₃ + KCl + K₂SO₄ + K₂CO₃) system, and optimized parameters for the thermodynamic solution models were obtained. The Modified Quasichemical Model in the Quadruplet Approximation was used for modelling the liquid phase. The model evaluates first- and second-nearest-neighbour short-range order, where the cations (Na⁺ and K⁺) were assumed to mix on a cationic sublattice, while anions $({\text{CO}}_3^{2-}\text{,}{\text{SO}}_4^{2-}\text{,}\text{and}{\text{Cl}}^{-})$ were assumed to mix on an anionic sublattice. The thermodynamic properties of the solid solutions of (Na,K)₂(SO₄,CO₃) were modelled using the Compound Energy Formalism, and (Na,K)Cl was modelled using a substitutional model in previous studies. Phase transitions in the common-cation ternary systems (NaCl + Na₂SO₄ + Na₂CO₃) and (KCl + K₂SO₄ + K₂CO₃) were studied experimentally using d.s.c./t.g.a. The experimental results were used as input for evaluating the phase equilibrium in the common-cation ternary systems. The models can be used to predict the thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria in multicomponent heterogeneous systems. The experimental data from the literature are reproduced within experimental error limits.     

Standard values of fugacity for sulfur which are self-consistent with the low-pressure phase diagram

A method for calculating the fugacity of pure sulfur in the α-solid, β-solid and liquid phase regions has been reported for application to industrial equilibrium conditions, e.g., high-pressure solubility of sulfur in sour gas. The fugacity calculations are self-consistent with the low-pressure phase diagram. As recently discussed by Ferreira and Lobo [1], empirical fitting of the experimental data does not yield consistent behaviour for the low-pressure phase diagram of elemental sulfur. In particular, there is a discrepancy between the vapour pressure of β-solid (monoclinic) and liquid sulfur at the fusion temperature. We have provided an alternative semi-empirical approach which allows one to calculate values of the fugacity at conditions removed from the conditions of the pure sulfur phase transitions. For our approach, we have forced the liquid vapour pressure to equal the β-solid vapour pressure at the β-l-g triple point corresponding to the ‘natural’ fusion temperature for β-solid. Many studies show a higher ‘observed’ fusion temperature for elemental sulfur. The non-reversible conditions for ‘observed’ fusion conditions for elemental sulfur result from a kinetically hindered melt which causes some thermodynamic measurements to be related to a metastable S₈ liquid. We have measured the ‘natural’ fusion temperature, $T_{\mathit{fus}}^{\mathrm{\beta }}(\text{exp.})=(388.5\pm 0.2)\text{K}$ at p = 89.9 kPa, which is consistent with literature fusion data at higher-pressures. Using our semi-empirical approach, we have used or found the following conditions for the low-pressure sulfur phase diagram: T^α-β-g = 368.39 K, p^α-β-g = 0.4868 Pa, T^β-l-g = 388.326 K, p^β-l-g = 2.4437 Pa, $T_{\mathit{fus}}^{\mathrm{\beta }\text{-l}}(101.325\text{kPa})=388.348\text{K}$, T^α-β-l = 419.06 K, and p^α-β-l = 124,360 kPa.     

Adsorption of Nitrogen on Silica Gel Over a Large Range of Temperatures

To study the mechanism of physical adsorption of supercritical gases, the adsorption equilibria of N₂ on silica gel for 103–298 K using 20 K increments and pressures up to 10 MPa were measured. A transition of the adsorption mechanism was proven on crossing the critical temperature, but the transition way observed is different from that observed with activated carbon. This causes a difference in the locations of the linear section of the n- _g isotherm at the near-critical temperature. Although the isotherm type is different on silica gel and on activated carbon in the sub-critical region, all isotherms in the supercritical region can be well modeled by a single model. It leads to the argument that the adsorption mechanism of supercritical gases is identical no matter what kind of adsorbent is used.     

Thermodynamic evaluation and optimization of the (Na2CO3 + Na2SO4 + Na2S + K2CO3 + K2SO4 + K2S) system

A critical evaluation of all phase diagram and thermodynamic data were performed for the solid and liquid phases of the (Na₂CO₃ + Na₂SO₄ + Na₂S + K₂CO₃ + K₂SO₄ + K₂S) system and optimized model parameters were obtained. The Modified Quasichemical Model in the Quadruplet Approximation was used for modelling the liquid phase. The model evaluates first- and second-nearest-neighbour short-range ordering, where the cations (Na⁺ and K⁺) are assumed to mix on a cationic sublattice, while anions $({\text{CO}}_3^{2-}\text{,}{\text{SO}}_4^{2-}\text{,}\text{and}{\text{S}}^{2-})$ are assumed to mix on an anionic sublattice. The Compound Energy Formalism was used for modelling the solid solutions of (Na, K)₂(CO₃, SO₄, S). The models can be used to predict the thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria in multicomponent heterogeneous systems. The experimental data from the literature were reproduced within experimental error limits.     

Activity modulation and reusability of β-d-galactosidase confined in sol–gel derived porous silicate glass

In the present work we applied the sol–gel method to obtain glass lentils entrapping β-d-galactosidase (β-Gal) (E_β-Gal) within a silicate matrix. The effect of pH, temperature, polarity and salt concentration on the activity of E_β-Gal was studied. Apparent kinetic parameters for ortho-nitro-phenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside hydrolysis catalyzed by E_β-Gal $({V^{\prime }}_{\text{max}},{K^{\prime }}_{\text{M}})$ were lower compared to the soluble enzyme (S_β-Gal), reflecting the solute diffusion restriction imposed by the matrix observed in the time curves, a partial protein inactivation upon encapsulation, and an improvement in the affinity of E_β-Gal for the substrate as compared with S_β-Gal. At pH < 4, E_β-Gal stability was higher than that of S_β-Gal. E_β-Gal could be reused after storage at 4 °C for up to 90 days, and retained its activity profile within the range of pH = 2–10 and saline concentration 0–400 mM. Pre-incubation at 75 °C for 30 min fully inactivated S_β-Gal while E_β-Gal retained approximately 90% of its activity, even in the reused samples. Encapsulation did not introduce additional impairments to the reaction rate measured in heterogeneous dispersions, beyond those derived from their own particle-crowded environment. This reusable E_β-Gal was resistant to typical technological conditions applied in milk processing that would lead to the unfolding and inactivation of S_β-Gal. The results are discussed from the biophysical viewpoint.     

Partition of supercritical n-pentane into SE-54 and SE-30 stationary phases in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary The mass spectrometric tracer pulse (MSTP) chromatography method was used to measure the amount of supercritical n-pentane dissolved or adsorbed into SE-54 and SE-30 capillary columns. Partition data were measured above the critical point of n-pentane at temperatures from 200 ° to 300 °C and pressures between 35.04 and 54.42 atm. The data obtained provide evidence for mobile fluid solubility or adsorption into the stationary phase under the conditions of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). At 220 °C, solubility and/or adsorption of supercritical n-pentane decreases by increasing the pressure and reaches a minimum at approximately 45.00 atm. The effect of mobile-fluid pressure on its solubility or adsorption becomes limited at temperatures over 260 °C. This study demonstrates the unique experimental capabilities of the MSTPC method for quantitative measurement of the physico-chemical interaction of the complex multicomponent system encountered in SFC which is not possible by any other technique. An innovative instrumental design for modification of GC/MS systems for SFC, GC/MS operation is also described.

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Verteilung von superkritischem n-Pentan in den stationären Phasen SE-54 und SE-30 bei der Capillar-Chromatographie mit superkritischen fluiden Phasen

     

Phase relations in the system (chromium + rhodium + oxygen) and thermodynamic properties of CrRhO3

Phase relations in the system (chromium + rhodium + oxygen) at T = 1273 K have been determined by examination of equilibrated samples by optical and scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Only one ternary oxide, CrRhO₃ with rhombohedral structure ($R\overline{3}$, a = 0.5031, and c = 1.3767 nm) has been identified. Alloys and the intermetallics along the (chromium + rhodium) binary were in equilibrium with Cr₂O₃. The thermodynamic properties of the CrRhO₃ have been determined in the temperature range (900 to 1300) K by using a solid-state electrochemical cell incorporating calcia-stabilized zirconia as the electrolyte. For the reaction,$\begin{array}{cc}\hfill & 1/2{\text{Cr}}_2{\text{O}}_3(\text{solid})+1/2{\text{Rh}}_2{\text{O}}_3(\text{solid})\to {\text{CrRhO}}_3(\text{solid})\text{,}\hfill \\ \hfill & \mathrm{\Delta }{G}^{°}\pm 140/(\text{J}·{\text{mol}}^{-1})=-31967+5.418(T/\text{K})\text{,}\hfill \end{array}$where Cr₂O₃ has the corundum structure and Rh₂O₃ has the orthorhombic structure. Thermodynamic properties of CrRhO₃ at T = 298.15 K have been evaluated. The compound decomposes on heating to a mixture of Cr₂O₃-rich sesquioxide solid solution, Rh, and O₂. The calculated decomposition temperatures are T = 1567 ± 5 K in pure O₂ and T = 1470 ± 5 K in air at a total pressure p^° = 0.1 MPa. The temperature-composition phase diagrams for the system (chromium + rhodium + oxygen) at different partial pressures of oxygen and an oxygen potential diagram at T = 1273 K are calculated from the thermodynamic information.     

Solubility of carbon dioxide in the solvent system (2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol + sulfolane + water)

New sets of data for the solubility of CO₂ in the amine solvent system of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (1) + sulfolane (2) + water (3) were presented in this work. The measurements were done at temperatures of 313.2, 333.2, 353.2, and 373.2 K and CO₂ partial pressures up to 193 kPa. The investigated compositions were as follows: (i) w₁=16.5%$w_1=16.5\%$, w₂=32.2%$w_2=32.2\%$; (ii) w₁=8.2%$w_1=8.2\%$, w₂=41.2%$w_2=41.2\%$; (iii) w₁=22.3%$w_1=22.3\%$, w₂=27.7%$w_2=27.7\%$; and (iv) w₁=30.6%$w_1=30.6\%$, w₂=19.4%$w_2=19.4\%$, where w$w$ is the mass percent of the component. The present solubility data was correlated by a modified Kent–Eisenberg model. The model reasonably represents the present solubility data, not only over the considered conditions, but also for a wider range of temperatures, partial pressures, and compositions.     

Enantioseparation of 1-phenyl-1-propanol on Chiralcel OD by supercritical fluid chromatography. I. Linear isotherm

The supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) separation of the enantiomers of 1-phenyl-1-propanol on the chiral stationary phase Chiralcel OD under linear conditions is studied. Supercritical CO2 modified with methanol is used as a mobile phase. The effect of modifier concentration, pressure and temperature is studied. An empirical isotherm to account for the effect of density of the mobile phase and modifier concentration has been used to model the experimental results. It was observed that the selectivity and resolution were higher at 30 degrees C as compared to those at 40 degrees C.     

Dehydration performance of a hydrophobic DD3R zeolite membrane

The all silica DDR membrane turns out to be well suited to separate water from organic solvents under pervaporation conditions, despite its hydrophobic character. All-silica zeolites are chemically and hydrothermally more stable than aluminum containing ones and are therefore preferred for membrane applications, including for dehydration, even though these type of membranes are hydrophobic. Permeation of water, ethanol and methanol through an all-silica DDR membrane has been measured at temperatures ranging from 344 to 398 K. The hydrophobic membrane shows high water fluxes (up to 20 kg m⁻² h⁻¹). The pure water permeance is insensitive to temperature and is well described assuming weak adsorption. Excellent performance in dewatering ethanol (N=2$N=2$ kg m⁻² h⁻¹and _αw=1500${\alpha }_{\text{w}}=1500$ at 373 K and _xw=0.18$x_{\text{w}}=0.18$) is observed and the membrane is also able to selectively remove water from methanol (N=5$N=5$ kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and _αw=9${\alpha }_{\text{w}}=9$). Water could also be removed from methanol/ethanol/water (_αwater_/EtOH=1500${\alpha }_{\text{water}/\text{EtOH}}=1500$, _αMeOH_/EtOH=70${\alpha }_{\text{MeOH}/\text{EtOH}}=70$ at 373 K) mixtures, even at water feed concentrations below 1.5 mol%.