Dispersion polymerization of styrene in supercritical carbon dioxide using monofunctional perfluoropolyether and silicone-containing fluoroacrylate stabilizers

The free radical dispersion polymerization of styrene was carried out in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) using two different stabilizers. The polymerizations are performed in the presence of poly(heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate-co-tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silyllpropyl methacrylate) p(HDFDA-co-SiMA) and a commercially available carboxylic acid-terminated perfluoropolyether (Krytox^® 157FSL) as polymerization stabilizers. Dry, fine powdered spherical polystyrene particles were produced under optimised conditions. The resulting high yield of spherical and relatively uniform micron-size polystyrene particles were formed utilizing various amounts of p(HDFDA-co-SiMA) random copolymer. However, it was observed that Krytox^® 157FSL was not a good stabilizer as p(HDFDA-co-SiMA) for the dispersion polymerization of styrene. The particle diameter was shown to be dependent on the type of the stabilizer and the weight percent of the stabilizer added to the system. The effect of varying the concentrations of stabilizers and initiator, reaction time and reaction pressure upon the polymerization yield, molar mass and morphology of polystyrene have been investigated.     

Promotion of one-pot Robinson annelation achieved by gradual pressure and temperature manipulation under supercritical conditions

The one-pot Robinson annelation from 2-methyl-cyclohexane-1,3-dione with 3-buten-2-one can be achieved in high yield (95%) and high selectivity (95%) by pressure and temperature manipulation using supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of MgO catalyst, whose method could be applied for various ketones to synthesize fused polycyclic compounds.     

Nanofiltration membrane behavior in a supercritical medium

The permeability values of “TN” organomineral nanofiltration membranes to water, L, and to supercritical CO₂, G, were compared. The resulting values for G were an order of magnitude higher than for L. The difference may be directly related to the viscosity difference between the two fluids. Temperature- and pressure-related variations in G were also analyzed; for this purpose, Poiseuille's model satisfactorily accounts for experimental behavior, while Knudsen's model is unsuitable. A hysteresis effect was observed on the isotherms corresponding to variations in G versus pressure, suggesting partially irreversible CO₂ adsorption on the micropore walls, that would diminish the radius. This phenomenon could be enhanced by an increased fluid density and viscosity.     

Supercritical CO2 improved phosphine imide reaction on peracetylated β-cyclodextrin

Supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂) was successfully used as solvent and reagent in the ‘one-pot’ phosphine imide reaction. In sCO₂ smooth conditions and with or without assistance of triphenylphosphine-bounded polymer, the reaction efficiently leads to the desired urea β-Cd compounds in a short time, bringing an interesting alternative for solving problems of OVC and hazardous reagent substitution in the synthesis of ureido-Cds and, by extension, of urea derivatives.     

Synthesis of new CO2-soluble ruthenium(II) and cobalt(II) polypyridine complexes bearing fluorinated alkyl chains and their application to photoreduction of liq. CO2

Eight types of new CO₂-soluble or CO₂-philic ruthenium(II) and cobalt(II) polypyridine complexes, namely, [M(F84OPh)₃](BArF)₂, [M(F44OPh)₃](BArF)₂, [M(F62Ph)₃](BArF)₂, and [M(F62O)₃](BArF)₂ (M = Ru or Co, BArF: tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate), were prepared from bipyridine derivatives bearing highly fluorinated alkyl chains and applied to the photoreduction of liq. CO₂ under a high pressure of 6.8 MPa at 35 °C. All these complexes have higher philicity toward liq. CO₂ than the corresponding complexes with PF⁶⁻ as the counteranion. Using the Ru(II)-Co(II) systems of [M(F44OPh)₃](BArF)₂ and [M(F62O)₃](BArF)₂, direct photoreduction of CO₂ was achieved without the use of any organic solvent.     

Use of various filters for generating modified supercritical fluid mobile phases

Summary Adding various components to supercritical carbon dioxide in supercritical fluid chromatography can extend or significantly alter the solvating properties. Polar samples which are difficult to analyze with pure supercritical CO₂ because of their high polarity can be separated by addidng polar modifiers. In this paper, a new mixing method using an HPLC filter for adding polar modifier to CO₂ is described. Although several filters were tried, only one could keep the amount of modifier in the mobile phase constant for a long time. The amount of water or methanol dissolved in supercritical CO₂ was measured by an amperometric microsensor made of a thin film of perfluorosulfonate ionomer (PFSI).     

Formation of integrally skinned asymmetric polysulfone gas separation membranes by supercritical CO2

Integrally skinned asymmetric polysulfone membranes were prepared from originally dense films inducing asymmetry by the formation of the porous layer adding to one side of the membranes chloroform and supercritical CO₂ (SCCO₂), and then allowing the SCCO₂ expansion to occur. The influence of the chloroform/polysulfone mass ratio (g CH₃Cl/g PSF), SCCO₂ density and depressurization rate over the thickness of both the porous and the dense skin layers, the morphology of the porous support and the pure O₂ and N₂ permeability and selectivity performance were studied.The results show that it is possible to induce a very-controlled asymmetry in a dense film following the procedure described in this work and as expected, the thickness of the porous layer increases while the dense skin layer decreases as the chloroform/polysulfone mass ratio increases. Images of the porous layer show that the average-pore size decreases at high SCCO₂ densities and slightly decreases with increasing the CO₂ depressurization rates. The O₂ and N₂ permeability coefficients, measured at 35 °C and 2 bar, for the polysulfone asymmetric membranes are practically the same of those determined in dense films, suggesting that the dense skins are essentially defect-free of pinholes.     

Preparation of β-cyclodextrin-polyaniline complex in supercritical CO2

A method is proposed to prepare β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)/polyaniline (PANI) inclusion complex. In this route, benzoyl peroxide (BPO, the oxidant) is first encapsulated into the cavity of β-CD. Aniline is then carried into the cavity of β-CD by supercritical (SC) CO₂, which polymerizes in situ to form inclusion complex. The product is characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis, ¹H NMR and XRD techniques. The results suggest that the columnar inclusion complexes may be formed.     

In situ FT-IR spectroscopic study on the conformational changes of isotactic polypropylene in the presence of supercritical CO2

The conformational changes of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) under supercritical CO₂ condition with different pressure and temperature have been carefully studied by in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Analysis of the corresponding spectra shows that the conformational ordering by supercritical CO₂ results in the intensity enhancement of the regularity bands of iPP. Due to the high CO₂ concentration and strong intermolecular interaction, iPP can reach an equilibrium state in a short time at high CO₂ pressure. The equilibrium time increases with soaking temperature. After supercritical CO₂ treatment, two mechanisms, the formation of short helix from amorphous phase and the extension of short helix into long one, happen simultaneously. The latter mechanism undergoes quickly at the beginning of induced conformational changes and then slows down, resulting in the slight increase of crystallinity. At the same time, the conformational ordering in amorphous phase happens continuously until a thermodynamic equilibrium. In summary, in the presence of supercritical CO₂, the conformational ordering of iPP chains occurs exclusively in the amorphous region, with no impact on the crystal part.     

聚合物-溶剂-超临界CO2三元体系的相行为

研究了聚合物-超临界二氧化碳二元体系溶解性,并考查了添加共溶剂对溶解性的影响,结果表明,添加共溶剂会大大提高CO2的溶解度.此外,还研究了聚合物-溶剂-超临界二氧化碳三元体系在高压时的相行为, 探讨了组分性质、含量等对温度-压力相图的影响.随着CO2含量的增加,压力-温度相图L-LV（单一液相向液气两相共存）边界线的斜率会出现突变点,发生由L-LV边界线向L-LL（单一液相向液液两相共存）边界线的过渡, 而L-LV边界线对不同聚合物并不敏感.     

Adsorption separation of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen on monoethanol amine modified B-zeolite

A new type of composite adsorbents was synthesized by incorporating monoethanol amine (MEA) into β-zeolite. The parent and MEA-functionalized β-zeolites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The adsorption behavior of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrogen (N₂) on these adsorbents was investigated at 303 K. The results show that the structure of zeolite was well preserved after MEA modification. In comparison with CH₄ and N₂, CO₂ was preferentially adsorbed on the adsorbents investigated. The introduction of MEA significantly improved the selectivity of both CO₂/CH₄ and CO₂/N₂, the optimal selectivity of CO₂/CH₄ can reach 7.70 on 40 wt% of MEA-functionalized β-zeolite (MEA(40)-β) at 1 atm. It is worth noticing that a very high selectivity of CO₂/N₂ of 25.67 was obtained on MEA(40)-β. Steric effect and chemical adsorbate-adsorbent interaction were responsible for such high adsorption selectivity of CO₂. The present MEA-functionalized β-zeolite adsorbents may be a good candidate for applications in flue gas separation, as well as natural gas and landfill gas purifications.     

One-pot three-component reaction of C60, amino acid and fluorinated benzaldehyde to C60-pyrrolidine derivatives

A series of fluorinated 2,5-disubstituted C₆₀-pyrrolidine derivatives were synthesized via one-pot three-component reaction of C₆₀, amino acid and fluorinated benzaldehyde under reflux in toluene or microwave irradiation. The cis- and trans-isomers could be isolated by chromatography and fully confirmed by ¹H NMR.     

A comparative study on the dispersion behaviors and surface acid properties of molybdena on CeO2 and ZrO2 (Tet)

Dispersion of molybdena on CeO₂, ZrO₂ (Tet), and a mixture of CeO₂ and ZrO₂ (Tet), was investigated by using laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The results indicate that molybdena is dispersed on both individual oxide support and mixed oxide support at the adopted molybdena loadings (0.2 and 0.8 mmol Mo⁶⁺/100 m²) and the structure of the supported molybdena species is intimate association with its loading amount. Two molybdena species are identified by Raman results, i.e. isolated MoO²⁻₄ species at 0.2 mmol Mo⁶⁺/100 m² and polymolybdate species at 0.8 mmol Mo⁶⁺/100 m². IR spectra of ammonia adsorption prove that isolated MoO²⁻₄ species are Lewis acid sites on the Mo/Ce and/or Zr samples, and the polymolybdate species are Brönsted acid sites on the Mo/Ce and/or Zr samples. Moreover, a combination of the Raman, IR and TPR results confirms that at 0.2 mmol Mo⁶⁺/100 m² Ce + Zr, molybdena is preferentially dispersed on the surface of CeO₂ when a mixed oxide support (CeO₂ and ZrO₂) is present, which was explained in term of the difference of the surface basicity between CeO₂ and ZrO₂ (Tet). Surface structures of the oxide supports were also taken into consideration.     

A poly(ethylene glycol)-supported quaternary ammonium salt for highly efficient and environmentally friendly chemical fixation of CO2 with epoxides under supercritical conditions

A PEG-supported quaternary ammonium salt is proved to be an efficient and recyclable homogeneous catalyst for solvent-free synthesis of cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides under supercritical conditions. Supporting Bu₄NBr on soluble polymer PEG6000 enhances the catalytic activity. The workup procedure is straightforward, and the catalyst can be reused over five times with no appreciable loss of catalytic activity and selectivity.     

Development of Fe3O4-poly(l-lactide) magnetic microparticles in supercritical CO2

The Fe₃O₄-poly(l-lactide) (Fe₃O₄-PLLA) magnetic microparticles were successfully prepared in a process of solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical CO₂ (SEDS), and their morphology, particle size, magnetic mass content, surface atom distribution and magnetic properties were characterized. Indomethacin (Indo) was used as a drug model to produce drug-polymer magnetic composite microparticles. The resulting Fe₃O₄-PLLA microparticles with mean size of 803 nm had good magnetic property and a saturation magnetization of 24.99 emu/g. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) test indicated that most of the Fe₃O₄ were encapsulated by PLLA, which indicated that the Fe₃O₄-PLLA magnetic microparticles had a core–shell structure. After further loading with drug, the Indo-Fe₃O₄-PLLA microparticles had a bigger mean size of 901 nm, and the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis demonstrated that the SEDS process was a typical physical coating process to produce drug-polymer magnetic composite microparticles, which is favorable for drugs since there is no change in chemistry. The in vitro cytotoxicity test showed that the Fe₃O₄-PLLA magnetic microparticles had no cytotoxicity and were biocompatible, which means there is potential for biomedical application.     

CO2-Switchable Nanoemulsion Based on N,N-dimethyl Oleoaminde-Propylamine (DOAPA) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS)

This research reported a CO₂-switchable nanoemulsion that was formulated by dilution of water in oil microemulsion, which was formed by mixture of N,N-dimethyl oleoaminde-propylamine (DOAPA), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), n-hexane, n-butanol, and water. A reversible switch process was observed between a monophasic nanoemulsion and complete phase separation at R = 1:1 with the CO₂ and N₂ bubbling alternately. The phase separation was not found, but the reversible switch between single phase nanoemulsion was detected by zeta potential, electrical conductivity, and dynamic light scattering at R = 1:1.5 and 1.5:1.     

2,5-Dichloro-1-(ROSO2)benzene [R = C6H5, C6F5, and CH2(CF2)4H]: Synthesis, molecular structure, and solubility in supercritical CO2

Highly crystalline phenyl 2,5-dichlorobenzenesulfonate (PDBS, T_melt = 86-87 °C) and pentafluorophenyl 2,5-dichlorobenzenesulfonate (FPDBS, T_melt = 120-122 °C) were synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray molecular structure determinations show that both compounds have similar three-dimensional molecular structures; however, PDBS crystals are thin platelets and FPDBS crystals form hexagonal tube-like structures that are predominately hollow at one end. PDBS crystals exhibit offset π-stacking of the phenoxy-rings that form complete two-dimensional layers each two molecules thick. Hydrogen-bonding interactions are calculated at ∼3.2 Å between the C6-hydrogen and the sulfonyl-oxygen of a neighboring molecule. On the other hand, for FPDBS, π-stacking of the dichloro-substituted ring as well as dipole-dipole interactions of the fluorinated-phenoxy rings appears to be the predominate intermolecular interactions. Neither structure exhibits any kind of side-on interaction of the phenyl rings. PDBS and FPDBS exhibit melting point depressions of 26 and 40 °C, respectively, in the presence of supercritical CO₂. Although both sulfonates exhibit high solubility in CO₂, much lower pressures are needed to dissolve FPDBS compared to PDBS. For example, at 100 °C FPDBS dissolves at 4750 psia and PDBS dissolves at 11,000 psia. The solubility data reinforce the observation that fluorinating a compound can significantly lower the conditions needed to dissolve that compound in CO₂.     

Significant rate acceleration in carbonate synthesis from carbon dioxide and oxiranes using dimethyl carbonate as a recyclable medium

The synthesis of cyclic carbonates by the reaction of oxiranes and carbon dioxide in the presence of catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide in dimethylcarbonate without any metal catalyst is reported. Significant rate acceleration in the reaction is observed in dimethylcarbonate as compared to the other solvents. Under the reaction conditions of 100 °C and 2.1 MPa in dimethyl carbonate, maximum conversion and selectivity is achieved. The dimethylcarbonate containing tetrabutylammonium bromide catalyst can be easily recovered and reused for at least six recycles with the same selectivity.     

ZIF-67/CeO2催化CO2和甲醇直接合成碳酸二甲酯

采用沉淀法将ZIF-67负载到CeO₂上,制备了具有多重活性位点的非均相催化剂ZIF-67/CeO₂,并研究其催化CO₂和甲醇直接反应生成碳酸二甲酯(DMC)的性能。采用 X 射线衍射、N2吸附-脱附、傅里叶变换红外光谱和 X 射线光电子能谱研究了ZIF-67/CeO₂的各种理化性质。结果表明,ZIF-67的引入使ZIF-67/CeO₂催化剂产生更多的氧空位。在考察的ZIF-67/CeO₂系列催化剂中,0.3-ZIF-67/CeO₂(0.3为Co、Ce物质的量之比)在具有高的比表面积的同时还能保持介孔结构,具有丰富的酸碱位点,并且具有较高的CO₂吸附容量,表现出最好的催化性能。在反应温度为140℃、压力为4.5 MPa的条件下反应4 h,DMC收率可达到3.79 mmol_DMC·gcat^-1。     

Development of a methodology for the simultaneous determination of inorganic and organolead compounds using supercritical fluid extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and its application to environmental matrices

A method for the extraction of triethyl lead (TEL⁺), trimethyl lead (TML⁺), and Pb²⁺ from sand was developed using supercritical modified CO₂-CH₃OH extraction and in situ complexation with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (NaDDTC) using a 2⁵ factorial exploratory design is described. The screened variables were (i) pressure (69-193 bar), (ii) temperature (40-150 °C), (iii) ligand amount (0-100 mg), (iv) methanol volume (0.0-0.5 mL) and (v) static time (0-45 min). The optimum extraction conditions found were as follow: pressure, 193 bar; temperature, 40 °C; amount of NaDDTC, 100 mg; methanol volume, 0.5 mL; static time 45 min; and CO₂ flow rate, 1 mL min⁻¹. Under these conditions the following recoveries were obtained (TML⁺ 97 ± 2%, TEL⁺ 70 ± 5%, and Pb²⁺ 100 ± 4%). The presence of NaDDTC is not necessary for the extraction of TML⁺ and TEL⁺, but it is a very significative parameter for Pb²⁺. A second experimental design 2² + star for temperature and pressure was realized, but the results were not better than those of the first model. SFE extract derivatization was achieved with pentylmagnesium bromide, and target analyte determination was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Detection limits in the full-scan mode were 4, 10, and 39 pg as lead for TMPeL, TEPeL and PbPe₄, respectively. The method was validated with urban dust containing TML⁺ (CRM 605. Pb 7.9 ±1.2 μg kg⁻¹) and river sediment containing inorganic lead (GBW08301. Pb 79.0 ± 12.0 mg kg⁻¹) as reference materials. The proposed method was applied to lead analysis in sand collected from an oil-polluted beach in Chile.