Aqueous Solutions Of PEG Research Articles

Analysis of Poly(ethylene glycol) from the conservation of 17th century shipwreck Vasa and associated wooden objects

Vasa, a Swedish warship that sunk in 1628 and was excavated in 1961, and associated wooden objects underwent a preservation process using various low molecular weights (600, 1500, and 4000 Mn) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to gradually displace the water within the wooden structure, preventing the collapse of the waterlogged wood upon drying. However, after six decades of aging after application, to what extent are these polymers degraded? To investigate this, a Soxhlet apparatus was used to extract PEG from wooden samples of Vasa, and lyophilization was used to dry aqueous PEG solutions, these samples being the runoff accumulated during the application of different molecular weights of PEG to Vasa and other associated wooden objects. These samples underwent analysis via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization – time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.The primary discovery was that the PEG within Vasa exhibited minimal degradation, with the dominant identified species, as determined by MALDI-TOF MS and NMR spectroscopy, being HO-PEG-OH. However, small quantities of HO-PEG-OH had undergone degradation, resulting in the formation of PEG chains with distinct end groups, notably a range of carbonyl-based compounds, including aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and esters, as observed through MALDI-TOF MS, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. These mass spectrometry product peaks could be confirmed by the expected mass difference through various end-group functionalizations, such as oxidations, esterifications, or ether formations. In addition to the carbonyl-based degradation products, some PEG chains had completely cleaved into two separate lower molecular weight HO-PEG-OH polymers, each approximately half of their original molecular weight, as revealed by GPC analysis.

Extensional rheology of elastoviscous aqueous PEO/PEG or DMS Boger fluids and weakly elastic alternatives for investigating viscoelastic flows and instabilities

Boger fluids that exhibit a rate-independent shear viscosity (typically ∼ 1 Pa∙s = 1000x water viscosity) and elasticity measurable using torsional rheometers (modulus, relaxation time, or first normal stress difference) are considered as the realization of viscoelastic fluids described by the Oldroyd-B model. However, Boger fluids, conventionally formulated as dilute solutions of high molecular weight (Mw) polymers in relatively high viscosity solvents (or solutions of oligomers or lower Mw polymer), are unsuitable for emulating polymeric fluids used in coating formulations that are lower in viscosity, appear inelastic in torsional shear rheometry, and yet appear prone to viscoelastic instabilities. Therefore, Dontula, Macosko, and Scriven (DMS) (AIChE J, 1998) chose to create an alternative model of elastic fluids by dissolving ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMw) poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in an aqueous solution of its lower Mw analog, often referred to as poly(ethylene glycol) or PEG. Even though numerous studies of printing and coating flow instabilities use this aqueous PEO/PEG or DMS Boger fluids as model viscoelastic fluids, only a few explicitly measured elastic properties, especially using relaxation time, and hardly any characterized extensional rheology. In this contribution, we recreate the DMS Boger fluids to examine their elasticity and extensional rheology response using dripping-onto-substrate (DoS) rheometry that relies on an analysis of capillarity-driven pinching dynamics. Though the aqueous PEG solution is often treated as a viscous and Newtonian solvent, we discover that in DoS rheometry, both the PEG solution and the DMS Boger fluid display power law response followed by elastocapillary, in contradiction with the assumptions and the response expected of the Oldroyd-B model. Furthermore, the solution of entangled PEG chains influences specific viscosity, pinching dynamics, and measured extensional rheology response in striking contrast with Newtonian solvents of the same viscosity. Lastly, we describe the possibility of using dilute, aqueous solutions of UHMw PEO as model viscoelastic fluids for coating flows, for both elasticity and extensional viscosity can be determined using DoS rheometry. Due to their water-like viscosity, the aqueous PEO solutions appeal as model fluids that have elasticity, emulate Newtonian fluids in the early stages of pinching, and have a relaxation time tunable by changing polymer Mw or concentration.

Mass transport mechanism of nitrate selective nanofiltration membranes on the basis of the Donnan steric pore model with dielectric exclusion (DSPM-DE)

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes can play an important role to mitigate the nitrate pollution, emphasizing the necessity for understanding its mass transport mechanism to enhance water purification strategies. This study focuses on the nitrate separation capabilities of thin film composite NF membranes having a polyamide (PA) selective layer. The selective layer of the membranes was fabricated through interfacial polymerization, with varying piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) monomer concentrations on porous polyacrylonitrile substrates. We studied their retention on aqueous solutions of PEG 200, single salts (NaCl, NaNO3, Na2SO4), and mixed salts (NaCl + NaNO3 and NaNO3 + Na2SO4). Through a new fitting scheme, the Donnan Steric Pore Model with Dielectric Exclusion (DSPM-DE) was utilized to correlate the PIP and TMC concentrations with the ion transport and exclusion mechanisms responsible for the membranes’ nitrate separation capabilities. The model could simulate the Na+/NO3-/SO42- system but not Na+/NO3-/Cl-. Dielectric exclusion and diffusion were the dominant partitioning and transport mechanisms, respectively, explaining the high retentions of sulfate (96 to 99 %) and the negative retentions of nitrate (−24 to 11 %). This study sheds light on the potential of NF membranes having PA selective layers for efficient nitrate/sulfate separation, providing valuable insights into the underlying transport and exclusion mechanisms.

Physiological quality of sunflower seeds under water stressed conditions

Water is one of the factors that most influences the seed germination process; however, its excess can cause injuries to cell membranes due to rapid imbibition. On the other hand, water restriction limits seed germination, promoting a reduction in cell water potential that disrupts physiological and metabolic reactions. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of sunflower seeds subjected to water stress induced by polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000). The experimental design used was completely randomized, consisting of six treatments consisting of osmotic potentials (0; -0.3; -0.6; -0.9; -1.2; and -1.5 MPa) simulated with aqueous solutions of PEG 6000. Germination, radicle protrusion, first count, germination speed index, abnormal seedlings, shoot length, and root length were evaluated. Water stress induced by PEG 6000 solutions affects the physiological quality of sunflower seeds, being proportional to the reduction of osmotic potential. Germination and seed vigor decrease under water stress conditions from an osmotic potential of -0.4 MPa, with the most negative potentials (-1.2 and -1.5 MPa) preventing seed germination.

Studies of monomer–dimer equilibria of methylene blue as a probe to investigate the solute–solvent and hydrophobic interactions in aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycols at 298 K

Electronic absorption spectrums of methylene blue (MB) in the concentration range wherein monomer–dimer equilibria exist have been systematically investigated in aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycols (PEG's) having molar mass 400, 1000 and 4000 g∙mol–1, at 298 K. The data on the absorption spectrums (550–700 nm) of MB are resolved to obtain monomer and dimer spectrums as well the geometrical details of the species (such as oscillatory strength, dipole moment etc.) are calculated. The molar absorption extinction coefficients for monomer and dimer cations of MB, the dimer dissociation constant values are calculated as a function of PEG concentrations. It has been noted that, absorption maximum occurs at 664 ± 1 and 605 ± 1 nm, respectively, for monomer and dimers which do not get affected much by presence of polymeric molecules and the data show perfect obedience of Beer–Lambert's law. The changes in dimer geometry from sandwich type to end–on–end type have been studied by applying exciton theory of Kasha et al. The dimer dissociation constant values at finite as well for infinitely dilute concentration of PEG's exhibit orderly amendment with respect to molar mass of PEG's and alteration in chain length of molecules. We report the free energy changes of transfer of dimeric cations of different concentrations from water to aqueous solutions of PEG's of fixed concentration, that is, to probe the interactions of water and PEG molecules with a hope of getting information about salting–in/salting–out effects, as well of binding of dye molecules with PEG's. We have suggested complexation of end hydroxylic groups of PEG's with dimer cations. The results are further interpreted as salting–in of PEG complex with MB–dimers only in the limit of infinite dilution (solute–solvent interactions) while salting–out of these complexed species is observed as a function of MB–dimer concentration.

A novel organic solvent-free method for manufacturing polyethersulfone hollow fiber membranes using melt extrusion

Hollow fiber membranes are traditionally manufactured using the spinning process, which takes advantage of the phase separation/inversion for the creation of a porous structure. In this work, the use of melt extrusion led to the fabrication of hollow fiber membranes without the use of organic solvents. Following post-treatment, the fabricated partially dense fibers are transformed into porous fibers. In detail, ternary blends of polyethersulfone/poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PESU/PEG/PVP) were developed by combining a solvent-free liquid mixture of PEG/PVP into PESU. Using a single screw extruder, this blend was melted and extruded using an annular slit nozzle where PEG functioned as a plasticizer, i.e., decreased processing temperatures, while PVP aided in retaining the hollow fiber geometry. These hollow fibers were comprised of uniformly closed pores, occurring due to the expansion and formation of bubbles of evaporating PEG nucleated by PVP during extrusion. By immersing these fibers into an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), PEG and PVP were removed, which led to an open porous structure with pore sizes between 100 nm and 1 μm throughout the membrane. The outer surfaces of the hollow fibers were found to contain a higher PVP content than the inner surface. As PVP and PESU are miscible, i.e., blended in a single phase, treatment with NaOCl led to the creation of open pores on the outer surface with pore sizes between 10 and 150 nm, thus deeming the outer surface functional as a separation layer. The effect of blend composition, extrusion settings, and post-treatment parameters on membrane morphology, water flux, thermal characteristics, and tensile strength was studied, while after the modification, near-pristine PESU membranes were pursued. A water-flux of 28 L/h m2 bar and a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 90%, 75%, and 40% for poly(ethylene oxide) of an average of 1000 kDa, 400 kDa, and 100 kDa molecular weight, respectively, proved that via extrusion it is possible to produce hollow fiber membranes for ultrafiltration without the use of organic solvents.

Effect of the Peptization Process and Thermal Treatment on the Sol-Gel Preparation of Mesoporous α-Alumina Membranes.

Compared to traditional membrane materials, alumina membranes are particularly beneficial for industrial wastewater treatment. However, the development of mesoporous α-alumina membranes for ultrafiltration applications is still a challenge due to uncontrolled pore size. In this study, we optimized the sol-gel method for the fabrication of a high-performance mesoporous α-alumina membrane. The peptization conditions (pH and peptization time) and phase transformation of boehmite were investigated to achieve better properties of the α-alumina membrane. The surface properties of the membrane were observed to be improved by reducing the system pH to 3.5 and increasing the peptization time to 24 h. The effect of sintering temperature on the phase transformation behavior, microstructures and performance of the membranes was also elucidated. An α-alumina ultrafiltration membrane with an average thickness of 2 μm was obtained after sintering at 1100 °C. The molecular weight cut-off of the α-alumina membrane, as obtained by the filtration of aqueous PEG solution, was approximately 163 kDa (12.5 nm). This is the smallest pore size ever reported for pure α-alumina membranes.

Studies of intrinsic volumes of ethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol–300 molecules in aqueous solutions at 298.15 K: Application of Tammann–Tait–Gibson (TTG) equation of state

Systemic density (ρ) measurements have been carried–out for aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycols (PEG's) with the molar mass 200, 300, 400 and 600 D at (288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15 and 308.15) K and at ambient pressure of 0.1 MPa in dilute solute concentration region (0.0119–0.4941 mol⋅kg−1). The ρ data are used to obtain the apparent molar volume (Vϕ) and partial molar volume (V¯2) of studied PEG's in aqueous solutions at finite concentration as well as at infinitely dilute solutions (Vϕ0) at studied temperatures. The coefficient of thermal expansion (α) for solutions, apparent molar expansivity (Eϕ) and limiting apparent molar expansivity (Eϕ0) for solutes are calculated at 293.15, 298.15 and 303.15 K. The densities of studied PEG's in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) medium are also measured at 298.15 K. The transfer volume (ΔtrVϕ0) for PEG from pure liquid state to CCl4 and to water as solvent are estimated. The literature data of sound velocity (u), coefficient of thermal expansion (α) and specific heat capacity (CP) for solutions have been utilized to obtain thermodynamic properties like adiabatic compressibility (βad) and isothermal compressibility (βT) in case of aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol (EG) and PEG–300 at 298.15 K. The data are further utilized to obtain apparent molar adiabatic compressibility (KϕS) and apparent molar isothermal compressibility (KϕT) for EG and PEG–300 solute molecules at finite and at infinitely dilute solute concentration (KϕS0 and KϕT0, respectively). Further, the data of KϕT, α and CP data have been utilized to estimate internal pressure Pi (=∂U∂VT) of solutions containing EG and PEG–300 molecules as a function of concentration. The intrinsic volumes (Vint.) of these molecules have been calculated by applying Tammann–Tait–Gibson (TTG) equation of state. It is being observed that intrinsic volume differs appreciably from the value based upon EG and PEG–300 in a liquid state as a standard state. The excess volume change (V¯20E=V¯20-V¯int.0) values are found to be −16.1 and −63.8⋅10–6 m3⋅mol−1 for EG and PEG–300, respectively. Similar calculations made for PEG–300 in CCl4 medium also yield excess volume change of −60⋅10–6 m3⋅mol−1 magnitude. These results are explained on the basis of three dimensional hydrogen bonded structure of EG and the linkage ▪ interaction with solvent water having a presence of helical segments. The inferences drawn will be of help to understand the weak denaturing interactions of glycols in protein denaturation studies.

Study of extractants selectivity for extraction of organosulfur compounds from model solutions

Extraction of sulfur compounds from oil and petroleum products is a high priority task associated with tightening of the criteria of fuel quality control, negative impact of sulfur on the processing and storage of crude oil, environmental safety, as well as widespread use of organosulfur substances in different industries. The selectivity of several organic and inorganic extractants (methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, 15% NaOH, PEG 4000, PEG 200, diethylene glycol, monoethanolamine, dimethylacetamide, n -methylpyrrolidone) in relation to thiophene, dibenzothiophene, thiophenol, dodecanethiol and metilsulfide was studied for model solutions of organic sulfur compounds in n -heptane and n -octane. Extraction was carried out under static conditions. Sulfur content in the initial sample and in the sample after extraction was determined using an x-ray fluorescence analyzer SPECTROSCAN S. Chromatographic analysis of the samples was performed on an Agilent gas chromatograph with a mass-selective quadrupole detector. The selectivity of the studied extractants in relation to the studied groups of sulfur compounds was assessed through recovering (%) of a particular sulfur compound. It is shown that acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide and n -methylpyrrolidone are the most effective extractants for thiophene extraction. Methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, PEG200, diethylene glycol, monoethanolamine, dimethylacetamide and n -methylpyrrolidone are capable of extracting a wide range of organosulfur compounds from model solutions. Aqueous solutions of PEG 200 and PEG 4000 provide extraction less than 11% of organosulfur compounds, whereas 15% NaOH solution and a mixture of 50% NaOH:ethanol (1:2) are selective extractants for aliphatic mercaptans and provide up to 99% extraction of thiophenol and dodecanthiol, respectively. It was found that n -methylpyrrolidone, dimethylacetamide and N,N-dimethylformamide have the highest extraction capacity among the studied extractants. A series of studies gives ground to propose a possible extraction scheme for recovery of mercaptans from a mixture of organosulfur compounds.

In Russian

Hydrophobic spin-labeled carboline and a number of spin-labeled steroids dissolve well in both pure PEG and aqueous PEG solutions, demonstrating the presence of a triplet in the EPR spectrum. It was shown that the introduction of 20% aqueous solutions of PEG mol. m. from PEG-200 to PEG-40,000, the hydrophobic spin of labeled progesterone or carboline from the hydrophobic cavity of SAB is effectively displaced into the solution of bovine serum albumin (SAB) by competing with the hydrophobic cavity of SAB. Polyethylene glycols demonstrate full biocompatibility even with hydrophobic biological structures and, as biocompatibility enhancers, are universal. Analysis of the curve of the dependence of PEG microviscosity on mol. m. shows the presence of an inflection point on the curve in the area of the pier. m. 300-400, which indicates the compaction of the structure of PEG and corresponds to published data on the partial helixing of a polyethylene glycol molecule, starting with PEG-400 and above, in which the main role is played by hydrogen bonds of the PEG molecule. Methylene hydrophobic PEG residues appear inside the polyethylene glycol helix, and the polar groups providing the PEG molecules with osmotically active properties and causing dehydration of cell membranes appear outside the PEG helix. Therefore, with the growth of mol. m. PEG ability to dehydrate cells increases. Apparently, the mechanism of increasing PEG biocompatibility is the ability of PEG molecules to compact, spiralize, or expand molecules to accept the optimal conformation of the structure, providing their hydrophobic or polar groups for optimal binding on the one hand to nanoparticles and, on the other, to a bioobject. The introduction of conjugates of PEG nanoparticles into cells, which oppositely affects the microviscosity of membranes and compensates for the negative effect of nanoparticles on membranes, is the second mechanism for increasing the biocompatibility of nanoparticles. The possibility of the interaction of PEG with nanochorns with the orientation of PEG units along the cone needles (nanotubes) of nanochorns has been shown to increase the biocompatibility of nanochorns.

Vanillin as an Antifouling and Hydrophilicity Promoter Agent in Surface Modification of Polyethersulfone Membrane.

Fouling as an intricate process is considered as the main obstacle in membrane technologies, and its control is one of the main areas of attention in membrane processes. In this study, a commercial polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane (MWCO: 4000 g/mol) was surface modified with different concentrations of vanillin as an antifouling and hydrophilicity promoter to improve its performance. The presence of vanillin and its increasing adsorption potential trends in higher vanillin concentrations were clearly confirmed by observable changes in FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectra after modification. Membranes with better hydrophilicity (almost 30% lower contact angle in the best case) and higher polyethylene glycol solution (PEG) permeability were achieved after modification, where a 35–38% increase in permeability of aqueous solution of PEG was perceived when the membrane was modified at the highest exposure concentration of vanillin (2.8 g/L). After filtration of wood extract, surface modified membrane (2.8 g/L vanillin) showed better antifouling characteristics compared to unmodified membrane, as indicated by approximately 22% lower pure water flux reduction, which in turn improved the separation of lignin from the other organic compounds present in wood extract.

Viscoelasticity of poly(ethylene glycol) in aqueous solutions of potassium sulfate: a comparison of quartz crystal microbalance with conventional methods

The viscoelasticity of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in aqueous solutions with different concentrations of potassium sulfate (K2SO4) was studied by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), after coating a rigid supported lipid bilayer of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine on the silicon oxide substrate. The obtained viscoelastic properties of PEG in K2SO4 solutions agree well with the Zimm model predictions for linear polymer chains. With increasing K2SO4 concentration, the excluded volume exponent ν of PEG decreased from 0.565 in water to 0.55 in 0.19 mol/L K2SO4, and 0.50 in 0.43 mol/L K2SO4. The solvent quality gradually worsened for PEG with increasing K2SO4 concentration, which was verified by decreases in the polymer intrinsic viscosity and the corresponding Mark–Houwink exponent. The high-frequency characteristic of QCM-D makes it possible to directly study the viscoelasticity of polymer solutions in a low-viscosity solvent, which is complementary to conventional rheometers working at low frequency. Viscoelasticity of PEG in aqueous solutions containing different concentrations of K2SO4 was studied by QCM-D, after coating a rigid supported lipid bilayer on the silicon oxide substrate. The obtained viscoelastic properties of PEG in K2SO4 solutions agree well with the Zimm model predictions for linear polymer chains. The gradual worsening of solvent quality by adding K2SO4 to aqueous PEG solutions is demonstrated by the obtained excluded volume exponents via QCM-D and the conventional intrinsic viscosity measurements.

Phase separations, liquid crystal ordering and molecular partitioning in mixtures of PEG and DNA oligomers

ABSTRACTLiquid crystals (LCs) ordering of DNA and RNA oligomers relies on the presence of inter-duplex end-to-end attraction, driving the formation of linear aggregates. Such interactions are gauged, at a macroscopic level, by the osmotic pressure at the isotropic-nematic and nematic-columnar phase transitions. We studied aqueous solutions of PEG and DNA duplex-forming oligomers, finding that there is a wide range of concentrations in which these mixtures phase separate into coexisting PEG-rich and DNA-rich phases, the latter being either in the isotropic state or ordered as a nematic or columnar LC. We determined the phase diagram in mixtures of PEG and DNA duplexes with different terminal motifs – blunt ends, sticky overhangs, aggregation-preventing overhangs – and measured the partitioning of the species in the coexisting phases. On this basis, we determined the osmotic pressure as a function of the DNA concentration across the phase diagram. We compared the equation of state obtained in this way with both the Carnahan–Starling equation of state for hard spheres and with the pressure predicted by computer simulations of a system of aggregating cylinders. We obtain a good agreement between experiments and simulations, and end-to-end attraction energies of the order of 6 kcal/mol, a bit larger than expected, but still in agreement with the current models for DNA-DNA interactions.

Apparent and Transfer Molar Volumes for Aqueous Solution Containing Polyethylene Glycols and Amino Acid Ionic Liquids at 298.15 K

The densities of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([Bmim]) based amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) prepared from glycine [Gly], alanine [Ala], and valine [Val], namely [Bmim][Gly], [Bmim][Ala] and [Bmim][Val], in aqueous ~ 0.2 mol·kg−1 polyethylene glycol (PEG400, PEG600 or PEG1000) and PEG400 solutions containing ~ (0.0946, 0.1891 and 0.3820) mol·kg−1 of [Bmim][Gly], have been determined at 298.15 K. The experimental densities were used to evaluate the apparent molar volumes in the mixed solvent system and further used to obtain transfer molar volumes of AAILs for their transfer from water to aqueous PEG solutions and of PEG400 for its transfer from water to aqueous solutions containing (0.0946, 0.1891 and 0.3820) mol·kg−1 of [Bmim][Gly]. The transfer molar volumes of AAILs and of PEG400 are found to be negative. The effects of alkyl chain-length variation on the anion of AAILs as well as the chain-length of PEG on transfer molar volumes are investigated and discussed in terms of hydrophobic–hydrophilic, hydrophobic–hydrophobic, and ion–hydrophobic interactions.

Suitability of Different Variants of Polyethylene Glycol Impregnation for the Dimensional Stabilization of Oak Wood.

The common method to impregnate wood with polyethylene glycol (PEG) is to store the samples for several weeks in aqueous PEG-solution, allowing for diffusion of PEG into the wood. As this method is poorly suited for industrial application, an alternative approach based on vacuum-pressure treatment is evaluated in the present study. Using European oak wood and three variants of PEG, including silane-functionalized PEG, impregnation experiments at different PEG concentrations were performed. Significant uptake of PEG resulted in clearly altered wood-water relations and improved dimensional stability of oak wood. These results are discussed in terms of stability in humid and aqueous environments, and in terms of effects of the anatomy of oak wood on differences in dimensional stabilization observed along the radial and tangential anatomical directions, respectively. While both of the PEG variants perform better with an anti-shrinkage efficiency of up to 80%, the PEG-silane variant performs less effectively in this respect; however PEG-silane is clearly predominant in case of water extraction.

Dissociation Behavior of l(+)-Lactic Acid in Aqueous Solutions of (1-Alkyl-4-methylpyridinium bromide + Poly (ethyleneglycol)) at T = (288.15–318.15) K

The effect of 1-alkyl-4-methylpyridinium based ionic liquids on the conductivity behavior of l(+)-lactic acid (LaH) was studied in Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) aqueous solutions. The molar conductivities of LaH in the aqueous solutions of PEG, (PEG + 1-hexyl-4-methylpyridinium bromide) and (PEG + 1-octyl-4-methylpyridinium bromide) were measured over the temperature ranges of 288.15–318.15 K. The molar conductivity data were analyzed by applying the Quint–Viallard (QV) conductivity equation to determine the limiting molar conductivities (Λ 0) and dissociation constants ( $$ K_{\text{D}} $$ ). The results show that the values of limiting molar conductivity increased as the temperature increased, which indicates that the dissociation process is endothermic. The $$ K_{\text{D}} $$ values were also used to calculate the dissociation standard thermodynamic functions ( $$ \Delta G_{\text{D}}^{0} $$ , $$ \Delta S_{\text{D}}^{0} $$ and $$ \Delta H_{\text{D}}^{0} $$ ). The results revealed that the dissociation process of LaH is controlled by entropy at all temperatures.

Effect of some imidazolium based ionic liquids on the electrical conductivity of L(+)‒lactic acid in aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene glycol)

In this research, influence of some ionic liquids on the electrical conductivity of L(+)‒lactic acid (LaH) have been investigated in aqueous polyethylene glycol 20000 (PEG) solutions. The molar conductivities of LaH in water, aqueous solutions of PEG and (PEG + ionic liquid,1‒hexyl‒3‒methylimidazoliumbromide[C6mim]Br/1‒octyl‒3‒methylimidazolium bromide[C8mim]Br) were measured at T = (288.15–318.15) K. These data have been analyzed by Quint‒Viallard (QV) conductivity equation and the limiting molar conductivities (Λ0) and dissociation constants (KD) were calculated by this equation. The results demonstrate that the values of Λ0 decrease with increasing concentration and longer alkyl chain length of the ionic liquids. The KDvalues were also used to calculate the dissociation standard thermodynamic functions (ΔGD0,ΔSD0, and ΔHD0). The values of ΔGD0 are positive and become more positive at higher temperatures. This implies that the dissociation of the acid is a non spontaneous process in standard state.

Temperature and Concentration Dependence of Viscosity of Binary Mixtures of PEG-1000 + water

Abstract Viscosities of binary mixtures of polyethylene glycol-1000 (PEG-1000) and water were measured precisely in the temperature range 293.15–343.15 K at atmospheric pressure using a high precision viscometer. Viscosity data were used to calculate the activation energy of viscous flow. The activation energy was observed to increase with increase in the concentration of aqueous solutions of PEG which indicated that more energy is required to move the molecule inside the structure with increase in concentration. The measured data provided better understanding to explain the behaviour of macromolecules with respect to change in concentration and temperature. The results were discussed in the light of polymer-solvent interactions. At lower concentration range, the molecules exhibit weak interaction due to dominant repulsive force and at higher concentration the entanglement of polymer chain increases. In view of greater force of interaction between solute and solvent molecules forming hydrogen bonding, there will be an increase in interaction with temperature and concentration.

Versatile Microfluidic Approach to Crystallization

We present a simple and easy-to-use microfluidic setup for the crystallization of mineral, organic, and biological materials. After briefly presenting the hydrodynamic properties of the setup, we test and validate it with viscous media by crystallizing a protein in an aqueous solution of PEG. We obtain nucleation data in nanocrystallizers using a droplet-based method and precisely controlling input flows to test different crystallization conditions.

Preparation of high-flux γ-alumina nanofiltration membranes by using a modified sol–gel method

Membrane technology has become a low-cost and high-efficiency separation technology for industrial processes over the past decennia. The colloidal route is an environmentally benign process for the preparation of ceramic membranes by using water as solvent. A stable, colloidal boehmite sol with an average particle size of 16 nm was prepared from aluminum tri-sec-butoxide using water as a solvent in the pH range of 3–4. Acetic acid was used as the peptizing agent instead of nitric acid. The stable sol was used to fabricate γ-alumina nanofiltration membranes on α-alumina microfiltration substrates by a dip-coating approach. The effects of the peptizing agents on the properties of the sols and the membranes were investigated. γ-alumina nanofiltration membranes with an average membrane thickness of 1.8 μm were obtained after sintered at 600 °C for 2 h. The molecular weight cut-off of the γ-alumina nanofiltration membranes, as obtained by filtration of an aqueous PEG solution, was approximately 1 kDa. This membrane also showed a typical retention for monovalent ions and divalent ions. Additionally, the nanofiltration membranes exhibited a relatively high pure-water flux (>20 L/(m2 h bar)), which is four times higher than that of the γ-alumina nanofiltration membranes reported in the literature. The contribution ratios of different microstructure factors on pure-water flux were calculated. The change in tortuosity with a contribution ratio of 75.6% was the main factor for the improvement of pure-water flux.