Odd–even effect in the formation and extraction performance of Ionic-Liquid-Based aqueous biphasic systems

Ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems (IL-based ABS) have been extensively investigated in the separation of high-value biomolecules. However, the understanding of the molecular-level mechanisms ruling phase separation and extraction performance of these systems is crucial to successfully design effective separation processes. In this work, IL-based ABS composed of K2HPO4 and cholinium carboxylate ILs ([Ch][CnCO2] with n = 1 to 7, comprising anions with odd and even alkyl chain length) were investigated. The respective ternary phase diagrams, including binodal curves, tie-lengths, tie-line lengths and critical points, as well as the Setschenow salting-out coefficients (ks) that is a quantitative measure of the two-phase formation ability, were determined at 298 K. The extraction performance of these systems was then evaluated for four amino acids (L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine/L-dopa). It was found that ILs composed of anions with even alkyl chains display slightly higher ks values, meaning that these ILs are more easily salted-out or more easily phase separate to form ABS. On the other hand, ABS formed by ILs with anions comprising odd alkyl chains lead to slightly higher partition coefficients of amino acids. Beyond the neat ILs odd-even effect resulting from their nanostructuration, being this a well-known phenomenon occurring in a series of their thermophysical properties, it is here shown the existence of an odd-even effect displayed by the IL anion aliphatic moiety in aqueous solution, visible both in the two-phase formation ability and extraction performance of ABS. These findings contribute to elucidate the molecular-level mechanisms governing ABS formation and partitioning of biomolecules, ultimately allowing the design of effective separation platforms.publishe

Ukrainian-Canadian Folk Music of the Waterford Area

Anthony Proracki et Alan Henderson ont recueilli, l ’été dernier, de la musique folklorique Ukrainienne dans la région de Waterford, Ontario. Dans ce premier rapport de leurs découvertes, ils résument sommairement le genre de chants q u ’ils ont enregistrés et en donnent des exemples avec traductions en langue anglaise

C18:1 Methyl Ester Metathesis in [bmim][X] Type Ionic Liquids

The efficacy of [bmim][X] ionic liquids (ILs) (X = PF6−, BF4− and NTf2−) as reaction media for methyl oleate metathesis was compared with that of conventional organic solvents (PhCl, PhMe, DCM and DCE) using the well-defined first and second generation Grubbs precatalysts, RuCl2(PCy3)(L)(=CHPh) (L = PCy3 or H2IMes). Best catalytic performance, with excellent selectivity (>98%) at moderate reaction temperatures, was achieved in [bmim][X] ILs compared to conventional solvents. The effects of anion, reaction temperature, solvent polarity, solvent viscosity, and ligand-anion interaction on the reaction are also addressed

Ionic liquids breakdown by Fenton oxidation

Fenton oxidation has proved to be an efficient treatment for the degradation of ionic liquids (ILs) of different families viz. imidazolium, pyridinium, ammonium and phosphonium, in water. The intensification of the process, defined as the improvement on the efficiency of H2O2 consumption, by increasing the temperature is necessary to avoid high reaction times and the need of large excess of H2O2. In this work, temperatures within the range of 70-90°C have been used, which allowed an effective breakdown of the ILs tested (1 g L-1 initial concentration) with the stoichiometric amount of H2O2 and a relatively low Fe3+dose (50 mg L-1). Under these conditions conversion of the ILs was achieved in less than 10 min, with TOC reductions higher than 60% upon 4 h reaction time, except for the phosphonium IL. The remaining TOC corresponded mainly to short-chain organic acids. The treatment reduced substantially the ecotoxicity up to final values below 0.01 TU in most cases and a significant improvement of the biodegradability was achieved. Upon Fenton oxidation of the four ILs tested hydroxylated compounds of higher molecular weight than the starting ILs, fragments of ILs partially oxidized and short-chain organic acids were identified as reaction by-products. Reaction pathways are proposedThis research has been supported by the Spanish MICINN through the projects CTQ2008-03988 and CTQ2010-14807 and by the CM through the project S-2009/AMB-158

Que serait le tourisme sans pétrole?

Descriptif éditeur, 4ème de couverture:Cet ouvrage est nouveau dans le sens où peu de personnes à ce jour s\u27interrogent sur les conséquences de la rareté d\u27une énergie fondamentale pour le secteur du tourisme. En dénonçant les excès pratiqués tout en lui reconnaissant ses vertus, les auteurs osent défier le temps. Ils nous transportent en 2050 ... Ils insistent sur la nécessité de trouver des alternatives au kérosène/pétrole. Ce liquide est indispensable pour l\u27acte du voyage précédant le ressourcement touristique. Ils interrogent le lecteur sur la conduite à adopter dans un avenir proche pour une activité certes internationale, au vu des touristes du même nom, mais non globale au regard des écarts de nos modes de vie. Si les pratiques du tourisme doivent demeurer, elles s\u27entendent, naturellement pour eux, "autrement". Le tourisme peut être à l\u27origine de nombreuses innovations alliant technologies et pratiques sociétales. C\u27est en cela que l\u27ouvrage dérange, interpelle. Il ne peut laisser indifférent car il suggère des solutions. Foisonnant d\u27idées, indéniablement novateur, cet ouvrage déroutant peut être lu par tous les acteurs de la filière : citoyens/touristes, hôteliers, voyagistes, collectivités ..

Heavy Metal Extraction under Environmentally Relevant Conditions Using 3-Hydroxy-2-Naphthoate- Based Ionic Liquids: Extraction Capabilities vs. Acute Algal Toxicity

We investigated the applicability of three task-specific ionic liquids (ILs) as heavy metal extracting agents by contrasting extraction capabilities with algal toxicity. The compounds tested were trihexyltetradecylphosphonium-, methyltrioctylphosphonium- and methyltrioctylammonium 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoates. Experiments were performed to assess if these ILs can provide environmentally safe residual concentrations of the target metals after extraction. Both pure water and natural mineral water samples were spiked with 20 mu g L-1 of Cu, Ag, Cd, Hg and Pb, respectively. Quantitative extraction (> 99%) of Hg and Ag was achieved. Cu and Hg were below the respective no-observed-effect-concentrations (NOECs) after extraction and Ag below 0.03 mu g L-1. Acute toxicity assays were conducted using two freshwater green algae Raphidocelis subcapitata and Tetradesmus obliquus. Growth inhibition and maximum photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II after 72 h were assessed. ILs were less toxic than similar compounds, but still must be classified as acute toxicants for algae. An inhibiting effect on both growth and chlorophyll fluorescence was observed. The leaching of the ILs into the samples remains a limitation regarding their environmental-friendly applicability. Nonetheless, the extremely efficient removal of Cu, Ag and Hg under environmentally relevant conditions calls for further research, which should focus on the immobilization of the ILs

Synthesis, Structural Analysis and Antimicrobial Activities of Novel Water Soluble Ionic Liquids Derived from N-Heterocyclic Carbene Salts

Six N-heterocyclic Carbene based Ionic Liquids (ILs) have been synthesized by conventional methods. The ILs were spectroscopically characterized by NMR and FT-IR techniques. Their in vitro antimicrobial activities were determined towards gram-positive and gram-negative bacterias and yeast strains using minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) assay. The best inhibition performances were obtained with compound 1 due to its more hydrophilic nature compared with the others. It exhibited 1 mg L–1 MIC value against to the most bacteria while the others showed 4 mg L–1. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Síntese de líquidos iónicos mais benignos para aplicações específicas

Doutoramento em QuímicaNas últimas décadas, os líquidos iónicos (ILs) têm sido alvo de elevado interesse quer por parte da academia como a nível industrial. Isto deve-se em grande parte às suas propriedades únicas, assim como à possibilidade de, através de uma apropriada combinação dos seus iões, ser possível ajustar as suas propriedades para uma dada aplicação. Assim, os ILs têm vindo a ser considerados uma abordagem inovador para a “Química verde” e para a sustentabilidade. Contudo, a sua solubilidade em água faz com que estes possam facilmente chegar ao ecossistema aquático, podendo representar um perigo para este. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é estudar novos ILs, mais sustentáveis, assim como algumas das suas potenciais aplicações. Assim, foram investigados ILs como sendo antioxidantes, seletores quirais, hidrótopos, surfactantes, compostos magnéticos, assim como novos compostos hidrofóbicos. Para cada classe de ILs, foi estudada a sua síntese, caracterização físico-química e perfil de ecotoxicidade. Os novos ILs antioxidantes preparados neste trabalho foram avaliados quanto à sua solubilidade em água, estabilidade térmica, citotoxicidade e ecotoxicidade. Foram também estudados vários ILs quirais, quer baseados em aniões quirais (derivados de vários aminoácidos e do ácido tartárico), quer em catiões quirais (derivados da quinina, L-prolina e L-valina), no que respeita à sua estabilidade térmica, rotação ótica e ecotoxicidade. Além disso, foi avaliado o impacto de diferentes estruturas químicas dos ILs, assim como da sua concentração, na solubilidade de fármacos com reduzida solubilidade em água, a fim de analisar o seu comportamento enquanto hidrótopos cataniónicos. Entre as estruturas mais hidrofóbicas referidas neste trabalho estão vários ILs com natureza surfactante e um IL hidrofóbico baseado no anião per-fluoro-tertbutóxido. Relativamente aos ILs com carácter surfactante, foram preparados ILs pertencentes à família dos imidazólios, amónios quaternários e fosfónios, sendo posteriormente avaliados quanto à sua natureza de agregação, propriedades térmicas, ecotoxicidade, e à sua capacidade em promover disrupção celular. Por sua vez, o IL baseado no anião per-fluoro-tert-butóxido foi estudado relativamente às suas propriedades físicas, tais como a sua densidade, viscosidade e tensão superficial, assim como à sua toxicidade. Por fim, 24 ILs magnéticos foram preparados conjugando o catião colínio com diferentes aniões magnéticos ([FeCl4]-, [MnCl4]2-, [CoCl4]2- and [GdCl6]3-), sendo seguidamente avaliados quanto à sua ecotoxicidade. Visando o desenho racional de novos ILs, foi desenvolvido um modelo preditivo QSAR, onde foram utilizandos os dados de ecotoxicidade medidos neste trabalho. As previsões deste modelo relativamente à não toxicidade de um certo número de novos ILs foram testadas com êxito através da síntese destes compostos e posterior avaliação da sua ecotoxicidade utilizando o bioensaio Microtox.Due to their unique properties, ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted an increased scientific and industrial attention in the last decades. The possibility of tailoring their properties for a specific task by the adequate combination of their ions, makes these ionic compounds good candidates for a wide range of different applications. Actually, ILs have been described as an innovative approach to the “Green Chemistry” and sustainability principles. However, their solubility in water allows their easy access to the aquatic compartment, which makes them potentially hazardous compounds to aquatic organisms. The main goal of this work is to study new, more environmental friendly, IL structures and their main applications. ILs as antioxidants, chiral selectors, hydrotropes, surface-active compounds, with magnetic properties, as well as, new hydrophobic compounds are investigated. The synthesis, physico-chemical characterization and ecotoxicity profile were studied for the various classes of task specific ILs evaluated. New cholinium-based ILs with antioxidant nature were studied regarding their solubility in water, thermal stability, cytotoxicity, and ecotoxicity. Moreover, a large range of chiral ILs (CILs) based on several chiral anions (derived from chiral amino acids and tartaric acid) and chiral cations (based on quinine, L-proline and L-valine), was investigated and their thermal stability, optical rotation and ecotoxicity evaluated. Furthermore, the impact of different ILs structures and concentrations on the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs was studied, and their role as catanionic hydrotropes investigated. Among the most hydrophobic structures reported in this work are several surface-active ILs and a hydrophobic IL based on the per-fluoro-tert-butoxide anion. The tensioactive ILs, belonging to the imidazolium, quaternary ammonium and phospholium families were tested in terms of their aggregation behavior, thermal properties, ecotoxicity, and their capacity to promore cell disruption. On the other hand, the per-fluoro-tert-butoxide-based IL was evaluated regarding its physical properties, such as density, viscosity, and surface tension and toxicity. Finally, 24 magnetic ILs belonging to the cholinium family and using [FeCl4]-, [MnCl4]2-, [CoCl4]2- and [GdCl6]3- as anions were investigated and their ecotoxicity evaluated. Aiming at the rational design of ILs, a predictive QSAR model was developed with our help, and using ecotoxicity data measured in this work. The predictions of this model concerning the non-toxicity of a number of novel ILs were successfully tested by synthesizing these compounds and evaluating their toxicity using the Microtox bioassay

Sinanthropus Pekinensis

On y traite des fossiles des êtres considérés par certains paléontologistes comme anatomiquement antermédiaires entre le singe et l\u27homme: Sinan­ thropus Pekinensis, Pithecantropus erectus, Eoanthropus Davosoni. L\u27auteur informe, qu\u27 on est certain qu\u27 ils étaient falsifiés (Eoanthropus Dawsoni) et dans des livres interpretés d\u27une façon erronée