A “top-down” in silico approach for designing ad hoc bio-based solvents: application to glycerol-derived solvents of nitrocellulose

Potentially effective glycerol-based solvents for nitrocellulose have been designed using a top-down in silico procedure that combines Computer Assisted Organic Synthesis (CAOS) and Molecular Design (CAMD). Starting from a bio-based building block – glycerol – a large number of synthetically feasible chemical structures have been designed using the GRASS (GeneratoR of Agro-based Sustainable Solvents) program. GRASS applies well-selected industrial chemical transformations to glycerol together with a limited number of relevant co-reactants. Then, the most promising structures are considered as lead compounds for further modification in silico thanks to the IBSS (InBioSynSolv) program, which generates derivatives with alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkene, cycloalkene or phenyl substituents. Finally, IBSS ranks all the candidates according to the value of their overall performance function to best fit the predefined specifications, i.e. (i) high solubilisation of nitrocellulose, (ii) slow evaporation and non-flammability (iii) low toxicity and environmental impact. This general strategy enables the highlighting of the most relevant solvent candidate derived from any building block for a given application. To validate the approach, 15 commercially available solvents derived from glycerol were confronted with nitrocellulose and led to highlight diacetin as an effective and safe solvent

Glycerol Acetals and Ketals as Bio-based Solvents: Positioning in Hansen and COSMO-RS spaces, Volatility and Stability towards Hydrolysis and Autoxidation

Four recently launched cyclic glycerol acetals or ketals are evaluated as bio-based solvents. Three of them are industrially available and result from the condensation of glycerol with formaldehyde, acetone and isobutyl methyl ketone. The fourth is under development and is prepared by the reaction of glycerol with benzaldehyde under heterogeneous acidic catalysis. Their solvent properties are evaluated through Hansen and COSMO-RS (COnductor-like Screening MOdel for Real Solvents) approaches, in comparison to traditional petrochemical solvents. Dioxolane- and dioxane-type isomers have close solubility parameters; however the nature of the starting aldehyde/ketone significantly impacts the solvency properties. Stability to hydrolysis depends heavily on both the aldehyde/ketone part and on the size of the ring. In acidic medium, acetals are found to be more stable than ketals and glycerol-based ketals are more stable than ethylene glycol-based ketals. In the case of benzaldehyde glycerol acetal, it is shown that the 6-member ring isomer (dioxane-type) is approximately 8 times more stable than the 5-member ring counterpart (dioxolane-type) at low pH. Stability towards autoxidation by O2 is high for formaldehyde and acetone-derived acetals and drops for the other two compounds. Glycerol acetals and ketals are promising potential alternatives to some harmful solvents such as glycol ethers and aniline

Conception, modelisation and evaluation of biobased solvents

Le bouleversement du monde des solvants classiques, résultant de la récente prise de conscience des risques environnementaux et sanitaires liés à leur utilisation, a conduit au développement de nouveaux solvants présentant un meilleur profil HSE et dérivés de la biomasse végétale : les agro-solvants. Ces solvants alternatifs ont été recensés, modélisés et comparés aux solvants organiques classiques dans un panorama purement théorique établi grâce à l'approche COSMO-RS. Cet outil permet non seulement d'aider à la substitution de solvants indésirables mais aussi de souligner les besoins de nouvelles structures. Une démarche in silico de conception raisonnée d'agro-solvants, via le développement d'un logiciel de synthèse automatique, GRASS, a ainsi été mise en place et permet de générer virtuellement des produits de commodités à partir d'agro-synthons abondants (glycérol, acide itaconique, isosorbide, etc.) et de transformations chimiques pertinentes industriellement. Les structures générées sont ensuite triées via des modèles de prédiction de propriétés physico-chimiques afin de sélectionner les mieux adaptés pour une application donnée. Des agro-solvants dérivés du glycérol et de l'isosorbide (éthers, esters, acétals) ont été sélectionnés, synthétisés puis évalués expérimentalement en considérant leurs propriétés physico-chimiques (Tfus, Téb, d, η, stabilités à l'hydrolyse et à l'oxydation), leurs capacités de solubilisation de deux pesticides cibles et leurs propriétés hydrotropes. Ces mesures expérimentales ont ensuite été confrontées à différents modèles de prédiction.Many of the traditional organic solvents (halogenated compounds, aromatics, glycols ethers) are banned or about to be, as a result of the recent awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with their use. There is therefore an urgent need to find alternatives with good ESH (Environment, Safety and Health) profiles, preferably coming from renewable feedstock: the so-called biosolvents. In this work, these alternative solvents have been listed, modeled, and compared to classical organic ones to give a purely predictive landscape obtained thanks to the COSMO-RS approach. This tool can be used to help in finding substitution solutions and also highlights the needs for new biosolvents. A Computer-Assisted Organic Synthesis program, named GRASS, has been developed to help in the rational design of biosolvents from a bio-based building block (glycerol, itaconic acid, isosorbide, etc.) through industrially-relevant chemical transformations. Then, all the virtual derivatives generated have been sorted out thanks to property prediction models in order to select the most relevant ones. Biosolvents coming from glycerol and isosorbide (ethers, esters, acetals) have been selected, synthesized and experimentally evaluated as solvents considering their physico-chemical properties (m.p., b.p., d, η, stabilities to hydrolysis and to oxidation), their capacities to solubilise two agrochemicals, and their hydrotropic properties. These experimental data have then been compared to various prediction models

Conception, modélisation et caractérisation de solvants agro-sourcés

Le bouleversement du monde des solvants classiques, résultant de la récente prise de conscience des risques environnementaux et sanitaires liés à leur utilisation, a conduit au développement de nouveaux solvants présentant un meilleur profil HSE et dérivés de la biomasse végétale : les agro-solvants. Ces solvants alternatifs ont été recensés, modélisés et comparés aux solvants organiques classiques dans un panorama purement théorique établi grâce à l'approche COSMO-RS. Cet outil permet non seulement d'aider à la substitution de solvants indésirables mais aussi de souligner les besoins de nouvelles structures. Une démarche in silico de conception raisonnée d'agro-solvants, via le développement d'un logiciel de synthèse automatique, GRASS, a ainsi été mise en place et permet de générer virtuellement des produits de commodités à partir d'agro-synthons abondants (glycérol, acide itaconique, isosorbide, etc.) et de transformations chimiques pertinentes industriellement. Les structures générées sont ensuite triées via des modèles de prédiction de propriétés physico-chimiques afin de sélectionner les mieux adaptés pour une application donnée. Des agro-solvants dérivés du glycérol et de l'isosorbide (éthers, esters, acétals) ont été sélectionnés, synthétisés puis évalués expérimentalement en considérant leurs propriétés physico-chimiques (Tfus, Téb, d, , stabilités à l'hydrolyse et à l'oxydation), leurs capacités de solubilisation de deux pesticides cibles et leurs propriétés hydrotropes. Ces mesures expérimentales ont ensuite été confrontées à différents modèles de prédiction.Many of the traditional organic solvents (halogenated compounds, aromatics, glycols ethers) are banned or about to be, as a result of the recent awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with their use. There is therefore an urgent need to find alternatives with good ESH (Environment, Safety and Health) profiles, preferably coming from renewable feedstock: the so-called biosolvents. In this work, these alternative solvents have been listed, modeled, and compared to classical organic ones to give a purely predictive landscape obtained thanks to the COSMO-RS approach. This tool can be used to help in finding substitution solutions and also highlights the needs for new biosolvents. A Computer-Assisted Organic Synthesis program, named GRASS, has been developed to help in the rational design of biosolvents from a bio-based building block (glycerol, itaconic acid, isosorbide, etc.) through industrially-relevant chemical transformations. Then, all the virtual derivatives generated have been sorted out thanks to property prediction models in order to select the most relevant ones. Biosolvents coming from glycerol and isosorbide (ethers, esters, acetals) have been selected, synthesized and experimentally evaluated as solvents considering their physico-chemical properties (m.p., b.p., d, , stabilities to hydrolysis and to oxidation), their capacities to solubilise two agrochemicals, and their hydrotropic properties. These experimental data have then been compared to various prediction models.LILLE1-Bib. Electronique (590099901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Hansen approach versus COSMO-RS for predicting the solubility of an organic UV filter in cosmetic solvents

International audienc

Hydrotropic properties of alkyl and aryl glycerol monoethers.

International audienceThree pentyl and three aryl 1-O-monoglyceryl ethers prepared via a green catalytic route were investigated as hydrotropic solvents. Their amphiphilicities were quantified by comparing their so-called "fish" diagrams constructed with oils of increasing hydrophobicity (EACN). For the same number of carbon atoms, the presence of a methyl substituent in β position makes the hydrotrope slightly more hydrophobic, as evidenced by the more hydrophobic optimal oil. Branched isomers are also less efficient since they require higher concentrations to get microemulsions. The presence of an aromatic moiety within the hydrophobic chain increases the solubility of the hydrotrope in water in comparison to the alkyl derivative that has the same number of carbon atoms. It also modifies significantly the associative behavior in oil/water systems: Benzylglycerol monoether is able to form Winsor III systems, just as the pentyl derivatives, but with much more polar oils, whereas phenylglycerol is not. In oil/water systems, all glycerol-derived amphiphiles exhibit a twice-lower temperature-sensitivity compared to their ethyleneglycol counterparts. The pentyl and benzyl 1-O-monoglyceryl ethers can be classified as amphiphilic solvents, or "solvo-surfactants", as regards to their surface-active properties and good solubilizing abilities

Selection of a Greener Set of Solvents Evenly Spread in the Hansen Space by Space-Filling Design

International audienc

Recirculation: A New Concept to Drive Innovation in Sustainable Product Design for Bio-Based Products

Bio-based products are made from renewable materials, offering a promising basis for the production of sustainable chemicals, materials, and more complex articles. However, biomass is not a limitless resource or one without environmental and social impacts. Therefore, while it is important to use biomass and grow a bio-based economy, displacing the unsustainable petroleum basis of energy and chemical production, any resource must be used effectively to reduce waste. Standards have been developed to support the bio-based product market in order to achieve this aim. However, the design of bio-based products has not received the same level of attention. Reported here are the first steps towards the development of a framework of understanding which connects product design to resource efficiency. Research and development scientists and engineers are encouraged to think beyond simple functionality and associate value to the potential of materials in their primary use and beyond