Phase equilibria and critical phenomena in the cesium nitrate–water–pyridine ternary system

The solubilities of components, phase equilibria, and critical phenomena in the cesium nitrate–water–pyridine ternary system are studied in the 5–100°C temperature range by the visual–polythermal method. Cesium nitrate is found to exhibit a salting-out effect at temperatures above 79.9°C causing phase separation in homogeneous water–pyridine solutions. The temperature of formation of the critical monotectic tie line (79.9°C) and the compositions of solutions corresponding to the liquid–liquid critical points at three temperatures are determined. The pyridine distribution coefficients between the aqueous and organic phases of the monotectic state at 85.0, 90.0, and 100.0°C are calculated. Their values demonstrate that salting-out of pyridine from aqueous solutions by cesium nitrate increases at higher temperatures. The plotted isotherms of phase diagrams confirm the fragment of the scheme of topological transformation of the phase diagrams of salt–binary solvent ternary systems with salting-in and salting-out phenomena.     

Determinants for intrinsically disordered protein recruitment into phase-separated protein condensates

Multivalent interactions between amino acid residues of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) drive phase separation of these proteins into liquid condensates, forming various membrane-less organelles in cells. These interactions between often biased residues of IDPs are also likely involved in selective recruitment of many other IDPs into condensates. However, determining factors for this IDP recruitment into protein condensates are not understood yet. Here, we quantitatively examined recruitment tendencies of various IDPs with different sequence compositions into IDP-clustered condensates both in vitro as well as in cells. Condensate-forming IDP scaffolds, recruited IDP clients, and phase separation conditions were carefully varied to find key factors for selective IDP partitioning in protein condensates. Regardless of scaffold sequences, charged residues in client IDPs assured potent IDP recruitment, likely via strong electrostatic interactions, where positive residues could further enhance recruitment, possibly with cation–pi interactions. Notably, poly-ethylene glycol, a widely used crowding reagent for in vitro phase separation, abnormally increased IDP recruitment, indicating the need for careful use of crowding conditions. Tyrosines of IDP clients also strongly participated in recruitment both in vitro and in cells. Lastly, we measured recruitment degrees by more conventional interactions between folded proteins instead of disordered proteins. Surprisingly, recruitment forces by an even moderate protein interaction (K_d ∼ 5 μM) were substantially stronger than those by natural IDP–IDP interactions. The present data offer valuable information on how cells might organize protein partitioning on various protein condensates.

Diverse interactions between folded and disordered proteins collectively dictate selective protein recruitment into bimolecular condensates.     

Phase equilibria in the Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>S–Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>AsS<Subscript>4</Subscript>–S system

Phase equilibria in the Cu₂S–Cu₃AsS₄–S system were studied by differential thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction. Important plots characterizing this system were constructed, namely, the T–x diagrams of the lateral quasi-binary systems Cu₂S–Cu₃AsS₄ and Cu₃AsS₄–S, some internal sections, the isothermal section of the phase diagram at 300 K, and the projection of the liquidus surface. The fields of primary crystallization of phases and the types and coordinates of in- and monovariant equilibria were found. A wide region of separation of liquid phases was detected in the system.     

Phase diagrams for the system water/butyric acid/propylene carbonate at <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis> = 293.2–313.2 K and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> = 101.3 kPa

Phase diagrams for the system water/butyric acid/propylene carbonate were plotted at T = 293.2, 303.2, 313.2 K and p = 101.3 kPa. Acidimetric titration and refractive index methods were used to determine tie-line data. Solubility data revealed that the studied system exhibits type-1 behavior of liquid–liquid equilibrium. The experimental data were regressed and acceptably correlated using the UNIQUAC and NRTL models. As a result, propylene carbonate is a suitable separating agent for aqueous mixture of butyric acid.     

Molecular Thermodynamics for Chemical Process Design

Thermodynamic properties are essential for quantitative process design to produce chemical products. Caloric properties are required for heat balances, but these properties are usually available or estimated easily. More important—and often much more difficult to estimate—are the chemical potentials of components in mixtures; it is these potentials which determine phase equilibria, as required for separation operations, and chemical equilibria, as required for chemical reactors and for separation operations based on chemical reactions. Molecular thermodynamics is an engineering-oriented science for calculating the desired chemical potentials from a minimum of experimental data. This applied science, based on classical and statistical thermodynamics, yields chemical potentials through models that are based on molecular physics and physical chemistry. Selected examples are cited to illustrate the applicability of molecular thermodynamics: group-contribution methods for obtaining chemical potentials in highly nonideal mixtures as required for distillation-column and process-safety design; equation of state for precipitation of uniform-sized crystals from supercritical fluids; molecular-orbital calculations to guide process development for alternatives to environmentally dangerous chlorofluorohydrocarbons; molecular-simulation calculations for separation of gas mixtures with porous adsorbents; equilibria in two-phase aqueous systems for separation of protein mixtures; and, finally, extended polymer-solution thermodynamics to guide synthesis of hydrogels suitable for protein recovery from soybeans and for novel drug-delivery devices.     

Thermodynamic characteristics of the interaction of oxygen with metal melts of Fe-V-Me-Si-O-C (Me = Cr and Mn) systems

Based on the thermodynamics of the oxidation of the individual dopants in liquid metal alloys and on the topology of the phase diagrams of the oxide systems conjugated with the liquid metal alloys, surfaces of solubility of components of liquid metals (state diagrams) were constructed; an analysis of the nature of phase equilibria at various compositions of liquid metal solutions of the Fe-V-Cr-Si-O-C and Fe-V-Mn-Si-O-C systems was performed.     

The role of hydroxy aluminium sulfate minerals in controlling Al<Superscript>3+</Superscript> concentration and speciation in acidic soils

A thermodynamic approach for the complex chemical equilibria investigation of two-phase systems containing hydroxy aluminium sulfate (HAS) minerals in soils has been developed. This approach utilizes thermodynamic relationships combined with original mass balance constraints, where the HAS mineral phases are explicitly expressed. The factors influencing the distribution and concentrations of various soluble aluminium species have been taken into account. The new type of diagrams, based on thermodynamic, graphical and computerized methods, which quantitatively describe the distribution of soluble and insoluble inorganic, and organic, monomeric and polymeric aluminium species in acidic soil solutions in a large range of pH values has been used. The thermodynamics of equilibria of different natural HAS in soils, the conditions under which solids involving common ions can coexist at equilibrium, the acid-base and mineral equilibria and complex formation have been examined. It has been proved that the presence of sulfate ion dramatically alters the HAS mineral solubility under acidic conditions. The obtained data regarding the factors influencing Al speciation, based on the constructed diagrams of heterogeneous chemical equilibria, are in good agreement with the current experimental and theoretical evidence. The proposed approach is intended to determine the dominant processes that are responsible for the Al³⁺ concentration levels and its speciation in acidic soils.

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Development of a flowsheet for <Emphasis Type="Italic">sec</Emphasis>-butyl acetate production based on a complex analysis of the reaction and distillation components

The vapor–liquid and liquid–liquid phase equilibria in the reaction system of sec-butyl acetate production from n-butenes and acetic acid were simulated. The simulation made it possible to develop two variants of principal technological flowsheets of the process organization. The both variants are based on the principle of redistribution of the concentration fields between the separation regions: in the first case, due to the chemical reaction; in the second case, owing to the splitting phenomenon. The material balances of the schemes were calculated, and the static operating parameters were determined. The first variant of the flowsheet does not enable one to obtain sec-butyl acetate of the required quality and, therefore, heteroazeotropic distillation for the separation of sec-butyl acetate from acetic acid was proposed in the second variant. The use of water as a heteroazeotrope-forming agent in the separation block allows the quality of sec-butyl acetate satisfying the environment standard requirements (GOST) to achieve at technologically appropriate operating parameters.     

Phase equilibria in model surfactants forming Langmuir monolayers

The study of Langmuir monolayers has generated the attention of researchers because of their unique properties and their not well understood phase equilibrium. These monolayers exhibit interesting phase diagrams where the unusual liquid-liquid equilibrium can be observed for a single component monolayer. Monte Carlo computer simulations in the virtual Gibbs ensemble were used to obtain the phase diagram of Langmuir monolayers. The liquid-vapor and liquid-liquid phase equilibria were considered by constructing the Cailletet-Mathias phase diagrams. By using the Ising model and the rectilinear approximations the identification of the critical properties for both equilibria was determined. These critical parameters were calculated as a function of the strength of the interaction between the surfactant molecules and the aqueous subphase. As a result, we have identified the coexistence between a liquid expanded state (LES)-vapor and the liquid condensed state-LES, in agreement with experimental and theoretical evidence in the literature. We obtained a clear separation of phases and a strong dependence on the strength of the solvent used. Namely, as the interaction between the solvent and the head of the surfactant increases, the critical properties also increase. Equilibrium states were characterized by computing thermodynamic quantities as a function of temperature and solvent strength.     

Theoretical Modeling of the Phase Separation Dynamics in Blends of Reactive Monomers

Summary: Experimental observations of the dynamics of phase behavior for blends of reactive constituents, i.e. diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), curing agent methylene dianiline (MDA), and a reactive liquid rubber (R45EPI), have been theoretically modeled by coupling system thermodynamics governed by a summation of the free energies of mixing and network elasticity with reaction kinetics and diffusion equations. Snap‐shots of the temporal evolution of ternary phase diagrams have been established based on the self‐condensation reactions of DGEBA‐MDA and R45EPI as well as a cross‐reaction between the two constituents forming a copolymer. Numerical solution of the proposed mean‐field model provides good qualitative agreement with experimental results, namely, the observance of phase separation followed by a phase dissolution and subsequent secondary segregation in a 50/25.4/50 DGEBA/MDA/R45EPI mixture, as well as a single gradual phase separation in a 70/25.4/30 mixture. The phase separation dynamics are explained by a competition between the growth in molecular weights of the reactive species rendering the systems towards instability, and the formation of copolymer acting to compatibilize the mixtures.

Theoretical phase diagram for a DGEBA/MDA/R45EPI system.     

Influence of Surfactant and Humidity on Sol-Gel Macroporous Organosilicate Coatings

In the preparation of macroporous hydrophobic organosilicate films using methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) as precursor, the effects of surfactant addition, surfactant properties and atmospheric humidity were explored. As films dried, preferential evaporation of the ethanol resulted in an increase of the relative water content. This led to development of phase separation between the hydrophobic gel and the aqueous liquid and ultimately the formation of macropores. In the presence of surfactant, surfactant adsorption at the aqueous phase/gel interface affected the extent of phase separation therefore the resulting pores. Span 20 surfactant (HLB = 8.6) has lower compatibility with the aqueous phase than Tween 20 (HLB = 16.7) and effectively increases the hydrophobicity of the gel phase leading to the formation of larger pores. An increase in Span 20 content from 2 wt.% to 5 wt.% also increased pore size. Film porosity also increased significantly with humidity inside the coating chamber. It would appear that the increased porosity is a result of increased phase separation caused by reduced water evaporation at the higher humidity. Highly macroporous (up to 80% porosity), reproducible and uniform films were obtained by incorporating Span 20 surfactant into the coating solutions and performing dip coating at 80% relative humidity.     

Evaluation and comparison of n‐alkyl chain and polar ligand bonded stationary phases for protein separation in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography

Protein retention is very sensitive to the change of solvent composition in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography for so called “on–off” mechanism, leading to difficulty in mobile phase optimization. In this study, a novel 3‐chloropropyl trichlorosilane ligand bonded column was prepared for protein separation. The differences in retention characteristics between the 3‐chloropropyl trichlorosilane ligand bonded column and n‐alkyl chain modified (C₂, C₄, C₈) stationary phases were elucidated by the retention equation . Retention parameters (a and c) of nine standard proteins with different molecular weights were calculated by using homemade software. Results showed that retention times of nine proteins were similar on four columns, but the 3‐chloropropyl trichlorosilane ligand bonded column obtained the lowest retention parameter values of larger proteins. It meant that their retention behavior affected by acetonitrile concentration would be different due to lower |c| values. More specifically, protein elution windows were broader, and retentions were less sensitive to the change of acetonitrile concentration on the 3‐chloropropyl trichlorosilane ligand bonded column than that on other columns. Meanwhile, the 3‐chloropropyl trichlorosilane ligand bonded column displayed distinctive selectivity for some proteins. Our results indicated that stationary phase with polar ligand provided potential solutions to the “on–off” problem and optimization in protein separation.     

Calculation of Ln-Ba (Ln = Gd,Pr, Nd,and Sm) phase diagrams

A thermodynamic model of liquid was suggested and Ln-Ba (Ln = Gd, Pr, Nd, and Sm) phase diagrams were calculated on the basis of generalization of literature data on thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria in lanthanide-barium metallic systems. The interaction parameter of Gd_{1 ? x} Ba _x regular melt was estimated on the assumption of a proportionality between the particle-particle interaction energies of liquid lanthanide and liquid barium, on the one hand, and the lanthanide radius, on the other.     

Thermodynamic Analysis of Phase Equilibria in the System Cyclohexane—Methanol

The phase diagram of cyclohexane-methanol was thermodynamically modeledin the range of 150 T/K 360 and at a pressure of 1 bar on the basis ofavailable experimental data. The Gibbs energy functions of four pure solid andtwo mixture phases were taken into consideration. The liquid phase was describedby a model based on mole fraction statistics and the simplified assumption ofmethanol tetramers mixed with cyclohexane monomers. The gas phase was treatedas a nonideal mixture with a Gibbs energy modeled on the basis of the virialcoefficient formalism considering only monomers. The Gibbs energies of the twosolid modifications of pure methanol, as well as pure cyclohexane, were fixedusing literature data. The pressure dependence of the Gibbs energies of the liquidand solid phases were neglected. The complete T-x phase diagram includinggas/liquid equilibria as well as p-x phase diagrams in the range of 20 and 55°C werecalculated. Experimental and calculated data were found to agree reasonably well.     

Separation and preconcentration by cloud point extraction procedures for determination of ions: recent trends and applications

The cloud point extraction procedure is an alternative to liquid–liquid extraction and based on the phase separation that occurs in aqueous solutions of non-ionic surfactants when heated above the so-called cloud point temperature. We review the more recent applications for determination of ions by means of this procedure for sample preparation over the range 2009 to first part of 2011. Following an introduction, the article covers aspects of cloud point extraction of one metal ion, two metals ions simultaneously, three metal ions simultaneously, multielement analysis, anions analysis, and on-line cloud point extraction. One hundred sixteen references are cited.

Structural Features of Solid Phases and Topology of Phase Diagrams

The paper considers model phase diagrams of binary and ternary systems involving transformations (transitions) of phase equilibria. The relationship between the type of structural solidstate transformation and the type of phase diagram is shown. Topological series of phase diagrams of systems with continuous and limited types of solid solutions are considered, including phase diagrams with polymorphic transitions between intermediate solid phases of variable composition.     

Stable Prenucleation Calcium Carbonate Clusters Define Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is an intermediate step during the precipitation of calcium carbonate, and is assumed to play a key role in biomineralization processes. Here, we have developed a model where ion association thermodynamics in homogeneous phases determine the liquid–liquid miscibility gap of the aqueous calcium carbonate system, verified experimentally using potentiometric titrations, and kinetic studies based on stopped‐flow ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy. The proposed mechanism explains the variable solubilities of solid amorphous calcium carbonates, reconciling previously inconsistent literature values. Accounting for liquid–liquid amorphous polymorphism, the model also provides clues to the mechanism of polymorph selection. It is general and should be tested for systems other than calcium carbonate to provide a new perspective on the physical chemistry of LLPS mechanisms based on stable prenucleation clusters rather than un‐/metastable fluctuations in biomineralization, and beyond.     

Phase equilibria and critical phenomena in the rubidium nitrate-water-acetonitrile system

Phase equilibria and critical phenomena were studied from -5 to 120°C in the rubidium nitrate-water-acetonitrile system, in which the liquid binary subsystem is characterized by liquid-liquid phase separation with an upper critical solution point (UCSP), using a visual polythermal method. We found that rubidium nitrate has a salting out effect on water-acetonitrile solutions and causes them to demix at any temperature in the specified range. Acetonitrile distribution coefficients between aqueous and organic monotectic phases were calculated for various temperatures. The minimum value was observed for 20.0°C. Six isothermal phase diagrams of the system were plotted to verify a fragment of the global scheme of the topological transformation of phase diagrams for salt-binary solvent ternary systems with salting out. The salting out effects of potassium, rubidium, and cesium nitrates on water-acetonitrile mixtures were comparatively analyzed.     

LC Enantioseparation of Aryl-Substituted β-Lactams Using Variable-Temperature Conditions

Direct reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic methods were developed for the separation of enantiomers of β-lactams. The enantiomers of 7 aryl-substituted β-lactams were separated on chiral stationary phases containing the macrocyclic glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin (Chirobiotic T) and teicoplanin aglycone (Chirobiotic TAG) at 10-°C increments in the range 5–45 °C, using different compositions of 0.1% aqueous triethylammonium acetate (pH 4.1)/methanol (v/v) as mobile phase. The mobile phase composition and temperature were varied to achieve baseline resolutions in a single chromatographic run. The dependence of the natural logarithms of the selectivity factors ln α on the inverse of temperature, 1/T, was used to determine the thermodynamic data on the enantiomers. The thermodynamic data revealed that all the compounds in this study undergo separation via the same enthalpy-driven chiral recognition mechanism. The different methods were compared in systematic chromatographic examinations. The effects of the organic modifier, the mobile phase composition and the temperature on the separation were investigated.     

A novel method for separating Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> from liquid radioactive waste using ionic liquids and a selective extractant

Selective separation of Cs ⁺ from liquid radioactive waste by “precipitation” was observed in a hydrophobic ionic liquid containing the Cs ⁺ -selective extractant dicyclohexano-18-crown-6. The precipitate was formed by the cation exchange mechanism, which simplified the treatment of Cs ⁺ after extraction. Solid–liquid extraction is a more economical extraction system than liquid–liquid extraction because it uses smaller quantities of ionic liquids. This work showed the possibility of developing a new method for removing Cs ⁺ from liquid radioactive waste using solid–liquid phase separation instead of the conventional liquid–liquid separation in an ionic liquid extraction system.