Functional Solution Composed of Cu(I) Salt and Ionic Liquids to Separate Propylene from Propane

We prepared a new class of functional solutions by dissolving CuCl or CuBr into 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([BMIM]­[Br]) or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([EMIM]­[Br]). We determined experimentally the solubility of propylene and propane in such solutions respectively at 1–8 bar and 298–313 K, and investigated the separation of propylene from propylene/propane mixture. The absorption capacity and selectivity for propylene were enhanced with the addition of Cu­(I) salt and were affected by cationic side chain and anionic species following this order [EMIM]­[Br]-CuCl < [EMIM]­[Br]-CuBr < [BMIM]­[Br]-CuCl < [BMIM]­[Br]-CuBr. It was observed that this absorption was a chemical nature through π-interaction between Cu­(I) cation and propylene. In a typical result, the absorption capacity for propylene of [BMIM]­[Br]-CuBr (Cu­(I) cation, 1.5 M) is 0.13 mol/L at 298 K and 1 bar while it is 0.01 mol/L for propane with a selectivity of 13, which is comparable to those absorption systems with more expensive silver salts; the selectivity is high, up to 64.6 for 80 mol % propylene mixture with propane. The effects of temperature and pressure on absorption were investigated. Such systems of Cu­(I) salt and ionic liquids are potential absorption reagents for separation of propylene and propane with competitive cost to silver systems

Image_1_Impact of socioeconomic status on cancer staging, survival in non-small cell lung cancer.TIF

PurposeWe performed this study to evaluate the association of socioeconomic status (SES) factors with cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We further assessed the predictive value of a novel Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM)-SES staging system, combining the TNM stage with the SES stage.MethodsUsing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, we selected 40,378 patients diagnosed with NSCLC from 2012 to 2016. Cox regression method and Harrell's concordance index (C-index) were performed to select the SES factors related to CSS and evaluate the predictive ability of the novel TNM-SES stage. We used Kaplan–Meier curves and a log-rank test to conduct a survival analysis.ResultsWe identified four SES factors (marriage, insurance, education, and household income) associated with CSS and constructed the SES stage (SES-1 and SES-2). NSCLC patients with SES-2 stage (low SES) was associated with young adult, black race, male, squamous carcinoma, upper lobe site, and advanced stage. SES-2 stage patients were significantly associated with a dismal prognosis of patients with NSCLC, with a 21.0% increased risk (HR = 1.21, 95%CI (1.18–1.24), p ConclusionOur population-based study indicated that SES was significantly associated with cancer staging and SCC in patients with NSCLC. Our novel TNM-SES staging system showed a superior predictive value to the traditional TNM stage. The impact of SES on patients with NSCLC should receive more concern in clinical management.</p