Thermochemical conversion of cellulose in polar solvent (sulfolane) into levoglucosan and other low molecular-weight substances

Pyrolysis of cellulose in sulfolane, an aprotic polar solvent, was conducted at the temperature between 200 and 330 °C. Sulfolane was used as a good solvent for levoglucosan, the major anhydromonosaccharide formed from cellulose pyrolysis, for prevention of the polymerization reaction. Cellulose was observed completely decomposed into soluble products in sulfolane within 3, 10, 60 and 480 min at 330, 280, 240 and 200 °C, respectively. The soluble products had molecular weights less than 500 after acetylation (GPC analysis) and similar product composition to that from cellulose pyrolysis under nitrogen (levoglucosan, levoglucosenone, furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by HPLC analysis). Pyrolysis of cellulose in polar solvent, which can solubilize anhydromonosaccharides, is proposed as a method for selective formation of levoglucosan and other low molecular-weight (MW) substances. As well, the cellulose pyrolysis in sulfolane did not suffer from carbonization reactions (microscopic and IR spectroscopic analysis) as did cellulose pyrolysis under nitrogen or in dioctyl phthalate (a poor solvent for levoglucosan) which gave brown/black solids. The residues obtained from the pyrolysis in sulfolane were colorless and gave similar IR spectra to that of the original cellulose. Based on these results, a ‘surface-peeling mechanism’ is proposed, and the role of the solvent in the mechanism is discussed.     

Phase distribution of the products of radiation and postradiation distillation of cellulose

A comparison of the postradiation dry distillation of cellulose and its distillation in the mode of electron-beam radiation heating has shown that irradiation reduces the yield of char and water. Preirradiation of cellulose at doses of 0.2–2.2 MGy stimulates a monotonic increase in the proportion of total organic products in the condensate distilled off during postradiation dry distillation, reducing the proportion of water by one third. Effective distillation of cellulose in the radiation heating mode is observed at a dose rate above ∼1 kGy/s. The condensate distilled off at 1.5–2.5 kGy/s is composed of organic compounds by ∼90% and is characterized by a high density (up to 1.33 g/cm³) and a high refractive index (up to 1.4690).     

Thermochemistry of Benzene Solution in Alcohols, Aprotic Solvents, and Mixtures of Aprotic Solvents with Methanol

The standard enthalpies of solution of benzene at 25°C in alcohols (methanol, 1-propanol, 1-pentanol, 1-decanol), aprotic solvents (1,4-dioxane, acetone, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, propylene carbonate), and mixtures of methanol with these aprotic solvents were determined. Multiple regression analysis revealed the role of specific and nonspecific interactions in solvation of benzene in these solvents.     

Isotope Effect on Fractional Dilatability of Solute Water as an Indicator of the H-Bonding Ability of an Aprotic Dipolar Solvent

Based on experimental data about the density of very dilute solutions of H₂O and D₂O in 1,4-dioxane, hexamethylphosphotriamide, and acetonitrile at 278.15 K-318.15 K we determined the limiting partial molar volume (error ±0.03 cm³·mol⁻¹) and dilatability of the water component. A correlation equation has been derived which relates the isotope effect (IE) in the limiting excess partial molar dilatability of water to the energy of the H₂O-solvent hydrogen bond. The stated IE may be used as a “structural indicator” for evaluating the ability of an aprotic dipolar solvent to undergo specific interactions through hydrogen bonding.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by E. V. Ivanov, V. K. Abrosimov, and E. Yu. Lebedeva__________Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 1020–1026, November–December, 2004.     

Oxidative polymerization of phenylenediamines catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase

Ortho-, meta-, and para-phenylenediamines were polymerized using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and horseradish peroxidase as a catalyst in mixed solvents of 1,4-dioxane and water. The yield of the polymers was strongly dependent on solvent composition, and maximum yields were obtained at 15–30% 1,4-dioxane. The analysis of circular dichroic spectra of the enzyme suggested that enzyme structure was significantly modified at high 1,4-dioxane contents, which may be responsible for the decrease of catalytic activity of the enzyme. On the basis of IR and electronic spectra of the polymers, it was considered that o- and p-phenylenediamine polymers retain disubstituted benzene nuclei, which suggests that the polymerization proceeded mainly via N—N coupling. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2593–2600, 1998     

Separation and quantitation of oxprenolol in urine and pharmaceutical formulations by HPLC using a Chiralpak IC and UV detection

Abstract  

A stereoselective HPLC method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of oxprenolol enantiomers in urine and pharmaceutical products. Enantiomeric resolution of oxprenolol was achieved on cellulose tris(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamate) immobilized onto a 5 μm spherical porous silica chiral stationary phase (CSP) known as Chiralpak IC with UV detection at 273 nm. The mobile phase consisted of n-hexane:isopropanol:triethylamine 70:30:0.1 (v/v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 cm³/min. The method was validated for its linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.5–75 μg/cm³, with a detection limit of 0.1 μg/cm³ for each enantiomer. An average recovery of 99.0% and a mean relative standard deviation of 2.6% at 40.0 μg/cm³ for S-(−)- and R-(+)-enantiomers were obtained. The overall recoveries of oxprenolol enantiomers from pharmaceutical formulations were in the range 97.5–99.0%, with RSDs ranging from 0.6 to 0.8%. The mean extraction efficiency of oxprenolol from urine was in the range of 86.0–93.0% at 0.5–5 μg/cm³ for each enantiomer. The assay method proved to be suitable as a chiral quality control for oxprenolol formulations using HPLC and for therapeutic drug monitoring.     

Infrared spectra of cyclic ethers and their derivatives

The IR spectra of six monosubstituted and of four 2,6-disubstituted 1,4-dioxanes have been studied in the 650–1800cm^–1 region. The assignment of the bands due to the vibrations of the 1,4-dioxane ring and to the deformation vibrations of the methylene groups of the ring is given. The appearance of a whole series of new absorption bands on passing from unsubstituted 1,4-dioxane to its derivatives is explained by the change in the symmetry of the molecule and the removal of the prohibition from the vibrations previously inactive in the IR spectra connected with this reduction in symmetry. It is proposed to use, in order to confirm the presence of a 1,4-dioxane ring in a molecule from the results of IR spectroscopy, not only the 1126-cm^–1 band but the whole group of bands lying in the frequency ranges 800–950, 1000–1150, and 1200–1300 cm^–1.For part I, see [3].     

Thermodynamic functions of solvation of 1,4-dioxane in various solvents at 298.15 K

The standard changes in enthalpy during the solvation of 1,4-dioxane in methanol, ethyl acetate, DMF, and acetonitrile were determined from calorimetric data and compared with the literature data for a series of solvents with different polarities. The standard changes in the Gibbs energy during the solvation of 1,4-dioxane in a wide series of solvents were calculated from the activity coefficients reported in the literature. The variation of the solvation functions of low-polar 1,4-dioxane in the series of solvents was found to be consistent with the enthalpy-entropy compensation rule. The results for 1,4-dioxane were compared with those for its open-chain analog and related large cyclic molecules. The electrostatic interactions of the solute with the solvents did not markedly affect the thermodynamic characteristics of ether in media with different polarities, but affected the interaction of the solute with the solvent more significantly. The solvation of the small ring of 1,4-dioxane in aprotic solvents was accompanied by a more significant exothermal effect than in the case of its open-chain analog. The conclusion was drawn that the enthalpies of the formation of hydrogen bonds between 1,4-dioxane and the associated water and chloroform molecules in solution were smaller in magnitude than the bonds of the similar open-chain polyether.     

Inhibiting effect of 6-methyluracil derivatives on the free -radical oxidation of 1,4-dioxane

The antioxidation activity of 5-substituted 6-methyluracils was quantitatively estimated in the model system of initiated radical-chain oxidation of 1,4-dioxane. The rate constants of the reactions of 1,4-dioxane peroxide radicals with 6-methyluracil (1), 6-methyl-5-piperidinouracil (2), 6-methyl-5-morpholinomethyluracil (3), 6-methyl-5-morpholinouracil (4), 6-methyl-5-methylaminouracil (5), 5-ethylamino-6-methyluracil (6), and 5-hydroxy-6-methyluracil (7) were measured. Among compounds 1–7, derivative 7 is most efficient with an inhibition rate constant of (5.2±0.1) · 10⁴ L mol^-1 s^-1 (60 °C).     

Heterogeneity in cellulose pyrolysis indicated from the pyrolysis in sulfolane

In sulfolane (tetramethylene sulfone), which is a good solvent for the primary product, levoglucosan, cellulose is pyrolyzed completely into soluble products without forming any char. Residues during pyrolysis in sulfolane at 200, 240 and 330 °C were obtained always as colorless non-carbonized substances. From the change in the crystallinity and crystallite size as compared with the ordinary pyrolysis, a heterogeneous mechanism is indicated for cellulose pyrolysis, starting from a molecule which is less stabilized due to lack of some intermolecular interactions.     

Swelling of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels in water-aprotic solvent mixtures

The swelling volume of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) gel in aprotic solvents (acetonitrile (AcN)-, tetrahydrofuran (THF)-, 1,4-dioxane (DO)- and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO))-water mixtures was measured at 25°C. The gel swollen in water shrank first and then reswelled with addition of the aprotic solvents. At an intermediate mole fraction (XDMSO) range of DMSO-water mixtures, the gel demonstrated a reentrant swelling phenomenon the hydrated gel shrank first on addition of a small amount of solvent, showed a typical wide reentrant transition, and gradually reswelled in the range near pure solvent. On the other hand, the gels in AcN-, THF-, and DO-water mixtures demonstrated a reentrant-convex swelling phenomenon: the gels reswelled after a reentrant phase transition in low Xorg (XAcN, XTHF and XDO), showed a maximum swelling in the intermediate Xorg region, and shrank again gradually in the high Xorg region. Such a swelling behavior of the gel was interpreted by correlating with solution properties of the aqueous aprotic solvent mixtures.The strength of hydrogen bonding around amide groups of the homopolymer was examined in pure solvents (water, THF, and DMSO) and in all proportion of aqueous THF to observe the relation with swelling behavior of gel by spectrum analysis of the amide I and II bands of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The swelling properties of gels in solvents and the aqueous mixtures were well correlated with the peak shifts of amide groups of the homopolymer.     

Viscoelastic characterization of TEOS sols in three different solvents when DBTL is used as polycondensation catalyst

The gelation process of TEOS sols in three different solvents using di-n-butyltin dilaurate (DBTL) as polycondensation catalyst has been investigated. Sol compositions were similar to those employed in the field of stone consolidation for the conservation of historical buildings. Three different systems were studied: TEOS in ethanol (S-EtOH) which was tested to explain gelation in protic solvents; TEOS in a mixture of methylethylketone/acetone (S-MA) to represent aprotic solvents; and TEOS in a blend of MEK/ethanol (S-ME) for comparison of a system with properties intermediate between protic and aprotic solvents. The gelation process was studied by measuring the viscoelastic behavior near the gelation point (GP). A scaling exponent (Δ) was determined for the elastic modulus, G(ω)′ and the viscous modulus, G′′(ω), which both follow the same power law, ω^Δ, at GP. The fractal dimension, df, was calculated from the scaling exponent, Δ, for each TEOS-DBTL system. For each type of solvent studied, values of Δ from 0.34 to 0.53 with df of 1.9–2.2 were obtained. The results suggest that DBTL leads to a TEOS polycondensation mechanism similar to that observed for a base-catalyst system. However, the change in df suggests that there is a significant effect of the solvent on aggregation mechanisms of the gelation process. A diffusion limited cluster–cluster aggregation mechanism (DLCCA) was observed when ethanol was used as protic solvent, while a reaction limited cluster–cluster aggregation mechanism (RLCCA) was observed for MEK/acetone (aprotic solvent).     

Biodegradable polymers based on renewable resources. II. Synthesis and biodegradability of polyesters containing furan rings

A series of polyesters were synthesized by the bulk polycondensations of the respective combinations of two difuranic diesters, i.e., bis(5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-furyl)methane ( 4a ) and 1,1-bis(5-(methoxycarbonyl)-2-furyl)ethane ( 4b ), with two 1,4 : 3,6-dianhydrohexitols [1,4 : 3,6-dianhydro-D -glucitol ( 1 ) and 1,4 : 3,6-dianhydro-D -mannitol ( 2 )], four aliphatic diols, and three oligo(ethylene glycol)s. The polycondensations were carried out at 220–230°C in the presence of titanium isopropoxide as a catalyst, giving polyesters having number average molecular weight up to 2.4 × 10⁴. These polyesters are soluble in a variety of solvents including chlorinated hydrocarbons, 1,4-dioxane, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and sulfolane. Soil-burial tests along with enzymatic degradation experiments showed that these polyesters are potentially biodegradable. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 2729–2737, 1997     

Headspace gas chromatography analysis of toxic contaminants in ethoxylated alcohols and alkylamines

Summary Headspace-gas chromatography was used to determine the contents of toxic 1,4-dioxane, ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol in ethoxylated alcohols and alkylamines, and in commercial cosmetics and washing products. A Permaphase PEG capillary column was used for the determination of 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide and a DB-17 column for ethylene glycol determination. Dimethylformamide was used as the solvent in the determination of 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, and undecanol in the case of ethylene glycol. The detection limits for ethylene oxide, 1,4-dioxane and ethylene glycol are 1,2 and 10 μg·g⁻¹, respectively.     

Thermodynamic properties of aqueous-organic systems with low water contents. 2. Limiting partial molar volumes of D2O and H2O intert-butyl alcohol and 1,4-dioxane at 288.15–318.15 K

The densities of dilute solutions of H₂O and D₂O in 1,4-dioxane and tert-BuOD have been measured in the interval 288.15–318.15 K with an error of 2·10^–6 g/cm³. The limiting partial molar volumes of D₂O and H₂O in 1,4-dioxane andtert-butanol have been determined by using an original procedure; the changes in the partial molar volume of water due to H-D substitution in the water molecules have been calculated. The analysis of the temperature dependence of the partial volumes of the components of the binary mixtures H₂O (D₂O) + 1,4-dioxane and H₂O (D₂O) +tert-BuOH (tert-BuOD) showed on the basis of Maxwell's crossing equations that the addition of small amounts of water significantly alters the structure of the unary organic solvent. In the presence of trace amounts of water the expansibility of 1,4-dioxane increases and that oftert-butanol decreases.For previous communication, see [1].Institute of the Chemistry of Nonaqueous Solutions, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ivanovo 153018. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 568–571, March, 1992.     

Preferential Uniplanar Orientation of Cellulose Microfibrils Reinvestigated by the FTIR Technique

A simple detection method to observe the uniplanar orientation behavior of native cellulose microfibrils to the cell wall surface by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in the transmission mode is reported. Four bands at 1372, 1355, 1337, and 1317 cm⁻¹ (the latter two have been mentioned previously by Liang and Marchessault (1960, J. Polym. Sci. 43: 85–100)) were found to be sensitive to such orientation: the two middle bands at 1355 and 1337 cm⁻¹ increase remarkably when the 0.60–61 nm lattice planes lie parallel to the cell wall surfaces. The reverse was true when the 0.53–54 nm lattice planes oriented preferentially. Polarization of the two bands at 1372 and 1355 cm⁻¹ was parallel, while that of the other two bands at lower wavenumbers, i.e., at 1337 and 1317 cm⁻¹, was perpendicular to the molecular axis of cellulose. These bands were assigned to OH-related motion, probably to in-plane OH bending, as reported by Maréchal and Chanzy (2000, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 523: 183–196).     

The temperature dependence of the solubility of carbon dioxide in several extraction solvents

The solubility of CO₂ in the extraction solvents 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 4-formylmorpholine, γ-butyrolactone, sulfolane and 1,4-dioxane have been measured over the temperature range 303. 15–333.15 K at a partial pressure 1 a1 atm. using the falling-film flow technique. For all systems, the solubility was found to decrease with increasing temperature. Agreement with solubilities predicted by the Redlich-Kwong equation of state for binary systems was within ±3.0%     

Viscosity Arrhenius Activation Energy and Derived Partial Molar Properties in 1,4-Dioxane + Water Binary Mixtures from 293.15 to 323.15 K

The knowledge and prediction of physicochemical properties of binary liquid mixtures is of great importance for understanding intermolecular interactions. Viscosities (η) have been investigated by using density (ρ) and kinematic viscosity (ν) measurements for 1,4-dioxane + water (D–W) mixtures over the entire range of mole fractions under atmospheric pressure, at 311.15, 316.15 and 320.15 K, in order to increase the studied temperatures range available from the literature and to improve the investigations. The viscosity Arrhenius activation energy of 1,4-dioxane + water mixtures was calculated from the present experimental viscosity measurements, and those presented in a previous work at only four temperatures, and for three temperatures in the present work, over the entire range of composition in the temperatures range from 293.15 to 323.15 K. Based on the partial molar activation energy from the Arrhenius equation for viscosity, interactions between water and 1,4-dioxane molecules are discussed. Comparison between some reduced Redlich–Kister functions covering the composition domain shows the existence of two distinct behaviors.     

The reaction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone and 3,6-di-tert-butylcatechol withtert-butyl hydroperoxide

Reaction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone and 3,6-di-tert-butylcatechol withtert-butyl hydroperoxide in aprotic solvents leads to the generation of semiquinone (SQ^.H), alkylperoxy (ROO^.), and alkyloxy radicals. The reaction of SQ^.H and ROO^. produces 2,5-di-tert-butyl-6-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone, 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1-oxacyclohepta-3,5-diene-2,7-dione, and 2,5-di-tert-butyl-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone. The radical generated from solvent attacks SQ^.H at position 4 with C−C bond formation. 4-Benzyl-2,5-di-tert-butyl-6-hydroxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1-dione produced in this way is transformed into 4-benzyl-3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone under the reaction conditions. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 943–946, May, 1999.     

Analysis of Oxygenated Solvents in Groundwater by Dynamic Thermal Stripping-GC-MSD

Abstract

Analysis of three oxygenated solvents (acetone, THF and 1,4-dioxane) in groundwater was conducted by dynamic thermal stripping followed by thermal desorption into a GC-MSD with monitoring of selected ions. This method has a significantly better practical quantitation limit than the current EPA method (13 vs. 150 μg/L for 1,4-dioxane). Using this method a plume of groundwater contaminated with 1,4-dioxane emanating from a former solvent disposal site was mapped. More than 10 years after disposal, concentrations of 1,4-dioxane greater than 3 mg/L were measured at points more than 300 m from the site.