(Liquid + liquid) and (liquid + solid) equilibrium of aqueous two-phase systems containing poly ethylene glycol di-methyl ether 2000 and di-sodium hydrogen phosphate

(Liquid + liquid) equilibrium (LLE) for the {poly ethylene glycol di-methyl ether 2000 (PEGDME₂₀₀₀) + Na₂HPO₄ + H₂O} system have been determined experimentally at T = (298.15, 308.15, 313.15, and 318.15) K. The effects of temperature on the binodals and tie-lines for the investigated aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) have been studied. An empirical non-linear expression developed by Merchuk was used for reproducing the experimental binodal data. In this work, the three fitting parameters of the Merchuk equation were obtained with the temperature dependence expressed in the linear form with (T ? T₀) K as a variable. Furthermore, the modified local composition segment-based NRTL and Wilson models and also osmotic virial equation were used to describe the LLE data of the studied system. Also, the effects of the type of salt on LLE are discussed. In addition, the effects of end groups of the polymers PEGDME₂₀₀₀ and poly ethylene glycol 2000 on phase forming ability were studied. The complete phase diagram for the poly ethylene {glycol di-methyl ether 2000 (PEGDME₂₀₀₀) + Na₂HPO₄ + H₂O} system has also been determined at T = 298.15 K.     

Liquid–liquid equilibria of ternary mixture (propargyl alcohol + diisopropyl ether + water)

The liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) of ternary mixture (propargyl alcohol + diisopropyl ether + water) were measured under atmospheric pressure and at different temperatures of 297.25, 304.35, 313.15, and 323.25 K. It was found that the end points of tie-lines at the four temperatures were located almost on a common solubility curve but the tie-lines possessed different slopes that described different equilibrium relations. A comparison of the predicted values through use of UNIFAC method with the measured LLE data was carried out but the predicted values showed remarkable deviations from the experimental data.     

Isobaric (vapour + liquid + liquid) equilibrium data for (di-n-propyl ether + n-propyl alcohol + water) and (diisopropyl ether + isopropyl alcohol + water) systems at 100 kPa

Isobaric (vapour + liquid + liquid) equilibria were measured for the (di-n-propyl ether + n-propyl alcohol + water) and (diisopropyl ether + isopropyl alcohol + water) system at 100 kPa.The apparatus used for the determination of (vapour + liquid + liquid) equilibrium data was an all-glass dynamic recirculating still with an ultrasonic homogenizer couple to the boiling flask.The experimental data demonstrated the existence of a heterogeneous ternary azeotrope for both ternary systems. The (vapour + liquid + liquid) equilibria data were found to be thermodynamically consistent for both systems.The experimental data were compared with the estimation using UNIQUAC and NRTL models and the prediction of UNIFAC model.     

(Liquid + liquid) equilibria for ternary mixtures of (ethylene glycol + toluene + n-octane)

Tie-line data for ternary systems of (ethylene glycol + toluene + n-octane) at three temperatures (295.15, 301.15, and 307.15) K are reported. The compositions of liquid phases at equilibrium were determined and the results were correlated with the UNIQUAC and NRTL activity coefficient models. The partition coefficients and the selectivity factor of ethylene glycol are calculated and compared to suggest which ethylene glycol is more suitable for extracting of toluene from n-octane. The phase diagrams for the studied ternary mixtures including both the experimental and correlated tie lines are presented. From the phase diagrams and the selectivity factors, it is concluded that ethylene glycol may be used as a suitable solvent in extraction of toluene from n-octane mixtures.     

New architectures of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methylthiirane) in block copolymers

Two synthetic ways were experimented to prepare new architectures of block copolymers made of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(methylthiirane). The coupling of both blocks conveniently end-capped as well as anionic polymerization of methylthiirane initiated by PEG-thiols gave readily the copolymers. Their characterization by ¹H NMR, SEC and IR confirmed the expected structures.     

Determination and correlation of liquid–liquid equilibria for the (water + carboxylic acid + dimethyl maleate) ternary systems at T = 298.2 K

(Liquid–liquid) equilibrium (LLE) data for the ternary systems of {water + carboxylic acid (formic, acetic, propionic or butyric acid) + dimethyl maleate} were measured at T = 298.2 K and atmospheric pressure. Selectivity values for solvent separation efficiency were derived from the tie-line data. A comparison of the extracting capabilities of the solvent was made with respect to distribution coefficients, separation factors, and solvent-free selectivity bases. The reliability of the data was ascertained from Othmer–Tobias plots. The experimental data were correlated using the UNIQUAC and NRTL (α = 0.2) equations, and the binary interaction parameters were reported. The phase diagrams for the ternary mixtures including both the experimental and calculated tie-lines were presented.     

Terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate or poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate with methacrylic acid and sodium styrene sulfonate: determination of the reactivity ratios

Materials bearing ionic monomers were obtained through free radical terpolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PMEM) or poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate (PEEM) with methacrylic acid (MA) and sodium styrene sulfonate (NaSS). The reactions were carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide using azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator. The reactivity ratios of the different couple of monomers were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation using the Finnemann-Ross, Kelen-Tüdos and Tidwell-Mortimer methods. The values of the reactivity ratios indicate that the different monomer units can be considered as randomly distributed along the chains for terpolymerizations of MMA, PMEM or PEEM with MA and NaSS. The average composition of the comonomers in the different terpolymers were calculated, showing a good agreement between the experimental and theoretical compositions. The instantaneous compositions are constant until about 70% of conversion. For higher conversions, the insertion of ionic monomers increases or decreases according to the system studied.     

(Vapor + liquid) equilibria for the {water + poly(ethylene glycol diacetyl ether) (PEGDAE) and methanol + PEGDAE} systems

We measured binary (vapor + liquid) equilibrium data for the {water + poly(ethylene glycol diacetyl ether) (PEGDAE) and methanol + PEGDAE} systems at pressures up to 400 kPa and temperatures from 333 K to 393 K. A static apparatus was used in this study. The measured data were correlated by the Peng–Robinson equation of state using the Wong–Sandler mixing rules with NRTL as the excess Gibbs free energy model.     

Thermal,morphological, mechanical and aging properties of polylactide blends with poly(ether urethane) based on chain-extension reaction of poly(ethylene glycol) using diisocyanate

Poly(ether urethane)s(PEU), including PEUI15 and PEUH15, were prepared through chain-extension reaction of poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG-1500) using diisocyanate as a chain extender, including isophorone diisocyanate(IPDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate(HDI). These PEUs were used to toughen polylactide(PLA) by physical and reactive blending.Thermal, morphological, mechanical and aging properties of the blends were investigated in detail. These PEUs were partially compatible with PLA. The elongation at break of the reactive blends in the presence of triphenyl phosphate(TPP)for PLA with PEUH15 or PEUI15 was much higher than that of the physical blends. The aging test was carried out at-20 °C for 50 h in order to accelerate the crystallization of PEUs. The PEUs in the PLA/PEU blends produced crystallization and formed new phase separation with PLA, resulting in the declined toughness of blends. Fortunately, under the aging condition,although PEUH15 in blends could also form crystallization, the reactive blend of PLA/PEUH15/TPP(80/20/2) had higher toughness than the other blends. The elongation at break of PLA/PEUH15/TPP(80/20/2) dropped to 287% for the aging blend from 350% for the original blend. The tensile strength and modulus of PLA/PEUH15/TPP blend did not change obviously because of the crystallization of PEUH15.     

Formation of nanoporous poly(aryl amide ether) (PAAE) films by selective removal of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) from PEG/PAAE composite films

Poly(aryl amide ether) (PAAE) thin films with nanometer-sized pores have been prepared in two steps: (1) solution casting of partially miscible poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/PAAE blends from one of their common solvents, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), results in formation of PEG/PAAE nanocomposite films; (2) selective removal of PEG component by water washing yields nanosized, porous PAAE films. The pores have been found to have a small size variation and cover the whole surface homogeneously. With an increase in PEG contents, the sizes of the pores increase but the size distributions do not have much changes. This has been ascribed to formation of small PEG domains in PEG/PAAE composite films, which is facilitated by the strong interactions, mostly hydrogen bonds, between PEG and PAAE macromolecular chains.     

(Solid + liquid) phase equilibria and heat capacity of (diphenyl ether + biphenyl) mixtures used as thermal energy storage materials

The (solid + liquid) phase equilibrium for eight {x diphenyl ether + (1 − x) biphenyl} binary mixtures, including the eutectic mixture were studied by using a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. A good agreement was found between previous literature and experimental values here presented for the melting point and enthalpy of fusion of pure compounds. The well-known equations for Wilson and the non-random two-liquid (NRTL) were used to correlate experimental solid liquid phase equilibrium data. Moreover, the predictive mixture model UNIFAC has been employed to describe the phase diagram. With the aim to check this equipment to measure heat capacities in the quasi-isothermal Temperature-Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry method (TMDSC), four fluids of well-known heat capacity such as toluene, n-decane, cyclohexane and water were also studied in the liquid phase at temperatures ranging from (273.15 to 373.15) K. A good agreement with literature values was found for those fluids of pure diphenyl ether and biphenyl. Additionally, the specific isobaric heat capacities of diphenyl ether and biphenyl binary mixtures in the liquid phase up to T = 373.15 K were measured.     

Phase equilibria study of the (N-octylisoquinolinium thiocyanate ionic liquid + aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon,or thiophene) binary systems

Binary liquid + liquid phase equilibria for 8 systems containing N-octylisoquinolinium thiocyanate, [C₈iQuin][SCN] and aliphatic hydrocarbon (n-hexane, n-heptane), cyclohexane, aromatic hydrocarbon (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene) and thiophene have been determined using dynamic method. The experiment was carried out from room temperature to the boiling-point of the solvent at atmospheric pressure. For the tested binary systems the mutual immiscibility with an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) for {IL + aliphatic hydrocarbon, or thiophene} were observed. The immiscibility gap with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) for the {IL + aromatic hydrocarbon} were determined. The parameters of the LLE correlation equation for the tested binary systems have been derived using NRTL equation. The phase equilibria diagrams presented in this paper are compared with literature data for the corresponding ionic liquids with N-alkylisoquinolinium, or N-alkylquinolinium cation and with thiocyanate – based ionic liquids. The influence of the ionic liquid structure on mutual solubility with aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and thiophene is discussed.     

Salt effect on (liquid + liquid) equilibrium of (water + tert-butanol + 1-butanol) system: Experimental data and correlation

(Liquid + liquid) equilibrium data for the quaternary systems (water + tert-butanol + 1-butanol + KBr) and (water + tert-butanol + 1-butanol + MgCl₂) were experimentally determined at T = 293.15 K and T = 313.15 K. For mixtures with KBr, the overall salt concentrations were 5 and 10 mass percent; for mixtures with MgCl₂, the overall salt concentrations were 2 and 5 mass percent. The experimental results were used to estimate molecular interaction parameters for the NRTL activity coefficient model, using the Simplex minimization method and a concentration-based objective function. The correlation results are extremely satisfactory, with deviations in phase compositions below 1.7%.     

Effect of temperature on the intrinsic viscosity of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends in aqueous solutions

In this work the intrinsic viscosity of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends in aqueous solutions were measured at 283.1–313.1 K. The expansion factor of polymer chain was calculated by use of the intrinsic viscosities data. The thermodynamic parameters of polymer solution (the entropy of dilution parameter, the heat of dilution parameter, theta temperature, polymer–solvent interaction parameter and second osmotic virial coefficient) were evaluated by temperature dependence of polymer chain expansion factor. The obtained thermodynamic parameters indicate that quality of water was decreased for solutions of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends by increasing temperature. Compatibility of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends were explained in terms of difference between experimental and ideal intrinsic viscosity and solvent–polymer interaction parameter. The results indicate that the poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) blends were incompatible.     

Precipitation temperature of poly(ethylene glycol) in some electrolyte solutions

The effect of sodium fluoride, sodium bromide, tetramethyl ammonium chloride, tetramethyl ammonium bromide and sodium formate on both precipitation and θ-temperatures of poly(ethylene glycol) (M_w = 4000) in aqueous solution have been determined. Curves have been drawn to represent the effect of such ions on both the θ and the precipitation temperatures of the polymer. The effectiveness increases in the order (CH₃)₄ NBr, NaBr, (CH₃)₄NCl, NaF and HCOONa. The M_w-temperatures obtained at infinite dilution are 445 K for NaBr, NaF, (CH₃)₄ NBr and (CH₃)₄NCl and 415 K for HCOONa.     

Synthesis and properties of polymer brushes composed of poly(diphenylacetylene) main chain and poly(ethylene glycol) side chains

Novel cylindrical polymer brushes consisting of poly(diphenylacetylene) main chain and poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether monomethacrylate) (PPEGMA) side chains were synthesized by the diphenylacetylene macromonomer or side chain initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether monomethacrylate (PEGMA) from an bromo isobutyryl-bearing poly(diphenylacetylene) (poly(BrDPA)) method. The diphenylacetylene macromonomer, namely, DPA-PPEGMA, were prepared by the ATRP of PEGMA from bromo isobutyryl-bearing diphenylacetylene. DPA-PPEGMA was polymerized successfully with WCl₆-Ph₄Sn catalyst to give high molecular weight polymer brushes poly(DPA-PPEGMA). Meanwhile, polymer brushes (PDPA-g-PPEGMA) were obtained by ATRP of PEGMA from poly(BrDPA). The molecular weight of the side chains of PPEGMA could be controlled simply by modulating the ATRP time. The macromonomer and polymer brushes are soluble in nonpolar solvents such as toluene and chloroform. The polymers of poly(BrDPA) and poly(DPA-PPEGMA) absorb in the longer wavelength region, with two peaks at around 370 and 414 nm. The polymers are thermally stable and exhibit double crystallization and melting peaks during the cooling and heating scans.     

(Liquid + liquid), (solid + liquid), and (solid + liquid + liquid) equilibria of systems containing cyclic ether (tetrahydrofuran or 1,3-dioxolane), water,and a biological buffer MOPS

Two liquid phases were formed as the addition of a certain amount of biological buffer 3-(N-morpholino)propane sulfonic acid (MOPS) in the aqueous solutions of tetrahydrofuran (THF) or 1,3-dioxolane. To evaluate the feasibility of recovering the cyclic ethers from their aqueous solutions with the aid of MOPS, we determined experimentally the phase diagrams of the ternary systems of {cyclic ether (THF or 1,3-dioxolane) + water + MOPS} at T = 298.15 K under atmospheric pressure. In this study, the solubility data of MOPS in water and in the mixed solvents of water/cyclic ethers were obtained from the results of a series of density measurements, while the (liquid + liquid) and the (solid + liquid + liquid) phase boundaries were determined by visually inspection. Additionally, the tie-line results for (liquid + liquid) equilibrium (LLE) and for (solid + liquid + liquid) equilibrium (SLLE) were measured using an analytical method. The reliability of the experimental LLE tie-line results data was validated by using the Othmer–Tobias correlation. These LLE tie-line values were correlated well with the NRTL model. The phase diagrams obtained from this study reveal that MOPS is a feasible green auxiliary agent to recover the cyclic ethers from their aqueous solutions, especially for 1,3-dioxolane.     

Polycaprolactone–poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer,I: synthesis and degradability in vitro

A new type of biodegradable polymer material, poly(caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymer (PCL-b-PEG), was synthesized by means of direct copolycondensation of ε-caprolactone with poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of a Ti(OBu)₄ catalyst. The degradability of the polycaprolactone was improved by introducing a PEG component into it. The degradation of PCL-b-PEG copolymer increase with a decreasing crystallinity of the copolymer, and can be controlled by adjusting the component ratio of the copolymer.     

Experimental and theoretical study of quaternary (liquid + liquid) equilibria for mixtures of (methanol or water + ethanol + toluene + n-decane)

Experimental (liquid + liquid) equilibrium data were obtained for the extraction of toluene from n-decane by mixed-solvents (ethanol + water) and (ethanol + methanol) at three temperatures (298.15, 303.15, and 313.15) K and ambient pressure.The measured tie-line data for two quaternary mixtures of {(ethanol +  water) + toluene + n-decane} and {(ethanol + methanol) + toluene + n-decane} are presented. The experimental quaternary (liquid + liquid) equilibrium data have been correlated using the NRTL activity coefficient model to obtain the binary interaction parameters of these components. The NRTL models predict the equilibrium compositions of the quaternary mixtures with small deviations. The partition coefficients and the selectivity factor of the mixed-solvents used were calculated and presented. From our experimental and calculated results, we conclude that for the extraction of toluene from n-decane mixtures the mixed-solvent (ethanol + methanol) has a higher selectivity factor than the other mixed-solvent at the three temperatures studied.