Functional amino acid ionic liquids as solvent and selector in chiral extraction

Amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) have received great attention due to their potentials in catalysis and separations. In this work, functional AAILs were used as solvent and selector in chiral liquid–liquid extraction for the first time. The AAILs have shown distinct enantioselectivity in amino acid extraction. Using these functional AAILs as acceptor phase and ethylacetate as donor phase, more L-enantiomer of amino acid was extracted into the ionic liquid phase than that of D-enantiomer. The influencing factors, including AAILs structure, copper ion concentration, organic phase and amino acid concentration, were investigated. We found that the enantioselective enrichment of racemic amino acids was achieved through a chiral ligand-exchange mechanism. The enantioselectivity of single-step extraction was up to enantiomeric excess value of 50.6%. Moreover, the functional AAILs were found to be efficient extraction solvents for amino acids. The logarithm of distribution coefficient for L-Phe was in the range of 3.4–3.6 in the ionic liquid–ethylacetate two-phase system. This liquid–liquid extraction approach may extend the application of ionic liquids in chiral separations.     

Determination of equilibrium constants of strong acidic ion exchange resins by potentiometric titrations

A new method for the determination of ion exchange equilibrium constants is developed. A technique based in the application of potentiometric titrations is used in the study of non selective strong acidic resins. Potentiometric titrations are carried out without constant ionic strength, so a mathematical treatment is developed in order to take into account the estimation of the activity coefficients and the liquid junction potentials. The ion exchange thermodynamic equilibrium constants for two resins, Dowex CM-15 and Dowex C650, between the proton form and the alkaline metals at 25 degrees C are given.     

A complete discussion of the rationale supporting the experimental determination of individual ionic activities

This work discusses the reasons why the activities of ions were considered to be impossible to measure using electrochemical cells with liquid junctions. The key steps followed to overcome the experimental and conceptual barriers are outlined and an overview of the successful method for measuring ionic activities is presented. The comparison of two approaches used for reducing the experimental emf data is used to emphasize the negligible effect introduced by errors in the estimate of junction potentials. The possible effects of underlying assumptions of the method on the accuracy of the activity coefficients obtained are discussed and evaluated. Two options of handling the independent equations relating the activity of a single ion to the junction potential are presented and it is demonstrated why Malatesta's procedure cannot provide ionic activities while our method can. Additional examples are presented demonstrating that ionic activities are real quantities. The robustness of the proposed method for their measurement is tested.     

Theory of a reversible redox reaction in an ionic liquid that is coupled to an ion transfer across the aqueous electrolyte/ionic liquid interface

A theory is provided for a reversible electro-oxidation of a neutral redox probe dissolved in room-temperature ionic liquid, which is sandwiched between an electrode surface and an aqueous solution as a thin film. If the peak potentials in cyclic voltammetry depend on the bulk concentration of electrolyte in water, the oxidation is most probably coupled to the transfer of anions from water into ionic liquid; but if the peak potentials are independent of the electrolyte concentration, the transfers of anions from water into ionic liquid and cations from ionic liquid into water are equally probable. Dedicated to Professor Dr. Yakov I. Tur’yan on the occasion of his 85th birthday.     

The thermodynamics of aqueous borate solutions I. Mixtures of boric acid with sodium or potassium borate and chloride

Potentials for the cell without liquid junction where M is sodium or potassium are reported over a range of ionic strength to I=3 mol-kg^–1 at 5 to 55°C. Total boron concentration in the solutions was restricted to low levels to minimize formation of polynuclear boron species. Cell potentials are treated with the Pitzer ion interaction treatment for mixed electrolytes, with linear ionic strength dependence assumed for the activity coefficient of undissociated boric acid. Trace activity coefficients of sodium and potassium borates in chloride media are calculated at various temperatures.     

Does Marcus theory apply to redox processes in ionic liquids? A simulation study

Simulation studies on a model system of a spherical ion with various charges in two imidazolium ionic liquids and in acetonitrile are compared. The average vertical ionisation potentials as a function of the charge on the ion are similar for all three systems. The Landau free energies of each system as a function of the vertical ionisation potential are computed and are close to being parabolic. Results are shown for the solvent reorganisation energies and for the activation free energies. The similarities of all these quantities are interpreted in terms of continuum models. However, the dynamics are likely to be very different in a polar liquid and in an ionic liquid as in the former case screening occurs by reorientation of molecules and in the latter case it occurs by translation of ions.     

Determination of the performance of glass electrodes in aqueous solutions in the physiological ph range and at the physiological sodium ion concentration

A method for testing glass electrodes in the physiological pH range (6.4–7.6) and at the physiological sodium ion concentration (0.15 mol l^-1), based on indirect comparison of potentials with the hydrogen gas electrode, is developed according to a scheme described earlier. The hydrogen ion sensitivity and the sodium ion error of a glass electrode can be determined with three different aqueous solutions of amine buffers and their hydrochlorides; two of these have different pH values and one also contains a sodium salt (at the higher pH value). A cell without a liquid/liquid junction, containing silver/silver chloride reference electrodes, is used at 37° C. The accuracy of both determinations is ±0.2 mV (±0.003 pH). The results for some commercial glass electrodes tested with this method are presented.     

The Ideal Ionic Liquid Salt Bridge for Direct Determination of Gibbs Energies of Transfer of Single Ions,Part II: Evaluation of the Role of Ion Solvation and Ion Mobilities

An important intermediate goal to evaluate our concept for the assumption‐free determination of single‐ion Gibbs transfer energies Δ_trG°(i, S₁→S₂) is presented. We executed the crucial steps a) and b) of the methodology, described in Part I of this treatise, exemplarily for Ag⁺ and Cl^‐ with S₁ being water and S₂ being acetonitrile. The experiments showed that virtually all parts of the liquid junction potentials (LJPs) at both ends of a salt bridge cancel, if the bridge electrolyte is an “ideal” ionic liquid, that is, one with nearly identical diffusion of anion and cation. This ideality holds for [N₂₂₂₅]⁺[NTf₂]^‐ in the pure IL, but also in water and acetonitrile solution. Electromotive force measurements of solvation cells between S₁ and S₂ demonstrated Nernstian behavior for Ag⁺ concentration cells and constant like cell potentials for solutions with five tested Ag⁺ counterions.     

The Ideal Ionic Liquid Salt Bridge for Direct Determination of Gibbs Energies of Transfer of Single Ions,Part II: Evaluation of the Role of Ion Solvation and Ion Mobilities

An important intermediate goal to evaluate our concept for the assumption‐free determination of single‐ion Gibbs transfer energies Δ_trG°(i, S₁→S₂) is presented. We executed the crucial steps a) and b) of the methodology, described in Part I of this treatise, exemplarily for Ag⁺ and Cl^‐ with S₁ being water and S₂ being acetonitrile. The experiments showed that virtually all parts of the liquid junction potentials (LJPs) at both ends of a salt bridge cancel, if the bridge electrolyte is an “ideal” ionic liquid, that is, one with nearly identical diffusion of anion and cation. This ideality holds for [N₂₂₂₅]⁺[NTf₂]^‐ in the pure IL, but also in water and acetonitrile solution. Electromotive force measurements of solvation cells between S₁ and S₂ demonstrated Nernstian behavior for Ag⁺ concentration cells and constant like cell potentials for solutions with five tested Ag⁺ counterions.     

Buffers for the Physiological pH Range: Studies of 4-(N-Morpholino)butanesulfonic Acid (MOBS) from 5 to 55 °C

In this study, we report the pH values of two buffer solutions without chloride ion and eight buffer solutions with NaCl with an ionic strength I=0.16 mol?kg^?1. Electromotive force (emf) techniques have been used to get the cell potentials at 12 temperatures from 5 to 55?°C, including 37?°C. An extended form of the Bates-Guggenheim convention is used in the entire ionic strength range, 0.04 to 0.16?mol?kg^?1. The residual liquid junction potentials (??E _j ) of the buffer solutions of MOBS have been estimated from previous measurements with a flowing junction cell. These values of ??E _j have been used for correction in order to ascertain the operational pH values of four buffer solutions of MOBS at 25 and 37?°C. These solutions are recommended as pH standards for physiological application in the pH range 7.4 to 7.7.     

The Ideal Ionic Liquid Salt Bridge for the Direct Determination of Gibbs Energies of Transfer of Single Ions,Part I: The Concept

Described is a procedure for the thermodynamically rigorous, experimental determination of the Gibbs energy of transfer of single ions between solvents. The method is based on potential difference measurements between two electrochemical half cells with different solvents connected by an ideal ionic liquid salt bridge (ILSB). Discussed are the specific requirements for the IL with regard to the procedure, thus ensuring that the liquid junction potentials (LJP) at both ends of the ILSB are mostly canceled. The remaining parts of the LJPs can be determined by separate electromotive force measurements. No extra‐thermodynamic assumptions are necessary for this procedure. The accuracy of the measurements depends, amongst others, on the ideality of the IL used, as shown in our companion paper Part II.     

硼酸盐水溶液热力学研究: 4.离子对[CaB(OH)~4]^+标准缔合 常数的确定

在温度为278.15-318.15K范围内测定了含有不同Li~2B~4O~7和CaCl~2浓度测试液的无液接电池:Pt,H~2(101.325kPa)|Li~2B~4O~7(m~1),CaCl~2(m~2)|AgCl-Ag的电动势E(V)。在Pitzer电解质溶液理论基础上,用线性外推法确定离子对[CaB(OH)~4]^+的标准缔合常数K~d,并得到K~d随温度T变化的经验公式:pK~d=0.6857-359.72/T-4.632×10^-^3T。同时计算得到了离子对缔合过程的热力学函数,指出形成该离子对的推动力是缔合熵。     

The Ideal Ionic Liquid Salt Bridge for the Direct Determination of Gibbs Energies of Transfer of Single Ions,Part I: The Concept

Described is a procedure for the thermodynamically rigorous, experimental determination of the Gibbs energy of transfer of single ions between solvents. The method is based on potential difference measurements between two electrochemical half cells with different solvents connected by an ideal ionic liquid salt bridge (ILSB). Discussed are the specific requirements for the IL with regard to the procedure, thus ensuring that the liquid junction potentials (LJP) at both ends of the ILSB are mostly canceled. The remaining parts of the LJPs can be determined by separate electromotive force measurements. No extra‐thermodynamic assumptions are necessary for this procedure. The accuracy of the measurements depends, amongst others, on the ideality of the IL used, as shown in our companion paper Part II.     

Electrochemical diffusion potential in the gas phase

Potentiometric based electrochemical measurement of diffusion potential at a junction between two flowing flame plasma gases is described. A flame electrochemical cell was constructed using a specially designed burner, which supports two individual flames, each fed by separate premixed methane/oxygen/nitrogen streams. The two flames were in intimate contact, creating a flowing fluid gaseous junction. By aspirating metal salt solutions into these premixed feed gases, the concentration gradient at the interface between the two flames may be controlled. A measurable electrochemical diffusion potential was formed at this junction, the magnitude of which was dependent on the concentration ratio of charged species with different mobilities. In our flame electrolyte, the dominant charged species were atomic or molecular cations and electrons, which have a difference in mobilities of approximately three orders of magnitude. A two-electrode system, in conjunction with a high impedance electrometer was used to measure the potential difference across the flame electrochemical cell. The measured potential difference was analysed using theory developed for the liquid junction potentials by the Henderson equation.     

Numerical Simulation of pH Measurement in Dilute Solutions of the System H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–KCl–HCl

Potentiometric pH measurements on cells with liquid junctions are known to be biased with respect to the notional pH in dilute acid solutions, but detailed evaluation of the problem is obstructed by experimental difficulties. In this work, pH measurements are simulated numerically on a kind of the Harned cell with a free-diffusion junction between the saturated solution of KCl and dilute solutions of HCl + KCl with ionic strength and acid concentration varying from 0.0001 to 0.1 in terms of molarity. The pH is standardized against the solution 0.0001 M HCl + 0.05 M KCl, and the simulations are based on known solution properties (transport numbers, activity coefficients and diffusion coefficients). The bias is found to range from ?0.012 to 0.056 in the composition range studied. The cell response is nearly linear in the notional pH in solutions with varying acid concentration, but no such relation is found in solutions with varying ionic strength at fixed acid concentration. It is shown that the Henderson equation underestimates the residual liquid-junction effect in very dilute solutions, largely due to failure to account for activity coefficients varying along the junction.     

The electroneutrality approximation in electrochemistry

The electroneutrality approximation assumes that charge separation is impossible in electrolytic solutions. It has a long and successful history dating back to 1889 and may be justified because of the small absolute values for the permittivities of typical solvents. Dimensional analysis shows that the approximation becomes invalid only at nanosecond and nanometre scales. Recent work, however, has taken advantage of the capabilities of modern numerical simulation in order to relax this approximation, with concomitant advantages such as avoiding paradoxes and permitting a clear and consistent ??physical picture?? to describe charge dynamics in solution. These new theoretical techniques have been applied to liquid junction potentials and weakly supported voltammetry, with strong experimental corroboration for the latter. So long as dynamic processes are being studied, for which analytical solutions are unavailable in any case, numerical simulation is shown to render electroneutrality unnecessary as an a priori assumption.     

Preparation of magnetic chitosan and graphene oxide-functional guanidinium ionic liquid composite for the solid-phase extraction of protein

A series of novel cationic functional hexaalkylguanidinium ionic liquids and anionic functional tetraalkylguanidinium ionic liquids have been synthesized, and then magnetic chitosan graphene oxide (MCGO) composite has been prepared and coated with these functional guanidinium ionic liquids to extract protein by magnetic solid-phase extraction. MCGO-functional guanidinium ionic liquid has been characterized by vibrating sample magnetometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectrometer and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. After extraction, the concentrations of protein were determined by measuring the absorbance at 278 nm using an ultra violet visible spectrophotometer. The advantages of MCGO-functional guanidinium ionic liquid in protein extraction were compared with magnetic chitosan, graphene oxide, MCGO and MCGO-ordinary imidazolium ionic liquid. The proposed method has been applied to extract trypsin, lysozyme, ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin. A comprehensive study of the adsorption conditions such as the concentration of protein, the amount of MCGO-functional guanidinium ionic liquid, the pH, the temperature and the extraction time were also presented. Moreover, the MCGO-functional guanidinium ionic liquid can be easily regenerated, and the extraction capacity was about 94% of the initial one after being used three times.     

Reference Electrode for Ionic Liquids

Reference electrodes for room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) applications were constructed that have a known and reproducible potential versus the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple. They are based on reference electrodes of the first kind, Ag/Ag⁺ couple type, or of the second kind, based on Ag/AgCl in M⁺Cl^?. The former uses AgNO₃ salt and the latter tetrabutylammonium chloride, Bu₄NCl, dissolved in acetonitrile which are then introduced to the ionic liquid of choice for a final concentration of 0.1 M. The reference electrodes can be easily and reproducibly constructed. An ionic contact of these reference systems with the test electrolyte was made using an asbestos fiber liquid junction. The internal compartment of the reference system was filled with the same ionic liquid as used for the electrochemical experiment. The performance of these reference electrodes was tested in selected ionic liquids using the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple. The stability, reproducibility, and temperature behavior of the two reference systems have been characterized in the following ionic liquids: 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIBF₄), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (BMI(CF₃SO₂)₂N), and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIPF₆). It has been found that the formal potentials of the examined reference systems are stable over several days. There is a linear relationship for the temperature studied in the range from 25 to 60 °C.     

Second virial coefficient of bmimBF4/triton X-100/ cyclohexane ionic liquid microemulsion as investigated by microcalorimetry

The second virial coefficient of the ionic liquid (IL) microemulsion was obtained for the first time using microcalorimetry. The heat of dilution of the microemulsion solutions was measured by isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC), and the second virial coefficient was derived from the heat of dilution and the number density of the IL microemulsion solutions on the basis of a hard-sphere interaction potential assumption and as a function of the second-order polynomial. The validity of the second virial coefficient was confirmed by the percolation behavior of different ionic liquid microemulsion solutions of Triton X-100 in cyclohexane with or without added salts. The information obtained from the second virial coefficient shows that the interactions between ionic liquid microemulsion droplets are much stronger than those for traditional microemulsions, which may be attributed to the relatively larger size of the microemulsion droplets.