Solvent Capacity Research Articles

Machine learning approach for mapping the heat capacity of deep eutectic solvents for sustainable energy applications

This study introduces a breakthrough machine learning (ML) approach to predict the heat capacity of deep eutectic solvents (DESs), an emerging class of environmentally friendly solvents, for sustainable energy applications. Leveraging an extensive dataset of 2,696 data points across 55 DES mixtures with 389 unique compositions, the research significantly extends the scope of previous studies. The methodology employs group contribution-based critical properties to elucidate intricate molecular-level dynamics, enabling the models to decode complex interactions governing DES behavior. The multi-dimensional strategy encompasses conventional binary DESs, ternary DESs, and water + DES mixtures, providing a holistic understanding of these green solvents. The developed artificial neural network (ANN) exhibits exceptional performance, with an R2 value of 0.995 in training and 0.988 in testing, substantially surpassing existing models. Rigorous comparative analysis and applicability domain assessment confirm the robustness and superiority of this approach in predicting heat capacities for diverse DES compositions. Key findings include identifying the molecular factors influencing DES heat capacities, with critical volume, molecular weight, and critical temperature having the greatest impact. An open-source, user-friendly Excel tool based on the ANN model is developed to promote accessibility and practical application in energy and environmental sectors. This work revolutionizes the understanding and prediction of DES thermophysical properties, paving the way for their enhanced utilization in eco-friendly energy systems, thermal management, green materials development, and sustainable fuel processing.

Application of terpenoids for the remediation of environmental water polluted with bisphenol A and its analogs using an in silico approach

Nowadays, there is a global concern over water quality and the impact of contamination on both natural ecosystems and human well-being. Plastics, ubiquitous in modern life, may release harmful chemicals when they reach aquatic environments. Among them, bisphenol A (BPA) and its alternatives, such as bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and others, are of special concern because their presence in water systems can have detrimental effects on human health and aquatic organisms due to their endocrine-disrupting properties.This study explores the potential of terpenoids, sustainable and environmentally friendly solvents, for efficiently removing bisphenols from contaminated environmental water. Using an in silico approach based on the Conductor-like Screening Model for Realistic Solvents (COSMO-RS) theory, more than 30 terpenoids were screened, and carvone was found to be an excellent candidate due to its high solvent capacity and low toxicity. The impact of pH, temperature, stirring conditions, and sample:extractant phase ratios on the extraction efficiency were investigated. A design of experiments revealed optimal conditions for the extraction process and demonstrated that carvone can effectively extract bisphenols (nearly 100 % for most of them) under a wide range of conditions, showing the robustness and efficiency of the extraction method, even in environmental samples.The paper provides valuable insights into the potential of terpenoids, specifically carvone, as a sustainable and eco-friendly solvent for removing bisphenol contaminants from environmental water bodies. The findings of this study offer a promising solution to address water contamination issues, aligning with the principles of Green Chemistry and contributing to a more environmentally responsible approach to water remediation.

Comparative analysis of lead and cadmium extraction capacities of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents

In this study, a total of eight hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDESs) were prepared and evaluated for their efficacy in extracting lead and cadmium from aqueous solutions. The physical and thermal properties of these HDESs were characterized. Among the HDESs tested, the thymol:decanoic acid system, with a molar ratio of 1:1, exhibited the highest distribution ratios for lead and cadmium, with values of 0.79 and 0.55, respectively. The extraction performance of the thymol:decanoic acid system was further investigated by considering various factors such as contact time, pH, mass ratio of water to HDES, and HDES molar ratio. After optimization, the thymol:decanoic acid HDES demonstrated significantly improved extraction efficiency for lead (up to 93.49 %) and cadmium (up to 76.70 %) at initial concentrations of 1000 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively. The extraction mechanism was found to be primarily driven by the complexation and partitioning effects of thymol:decanoic acid with lead or cadmium, as confirmed by the noticeable changes in harmonic frequencies (730, 1337, and 1515 cm−1) observed in the IR spectra analysis before and after extraction. Additionally, the performance of the thymol:decanoic acid HDES was evaluated through solvent regeneration using a multi-stage extraction and reuse approach.

LOW-TEMPERATURE CALORIMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS WITH ADDED WATER

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are combinations of hydrogen bonds donors and acceptors, characterized by significantly lower freezing temperatures than their components. NADES (with natural, biologically compatible components) are becoming popular for a wide applications variety, for their wide solvent capacities, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and inexpensive components. Applications include new means for bioactive compounds extraction and enzymatic reactions, polymer solubilizing and a variety of physicochemical processes, including those taking place at low temperature. Four DES (β-alanine and DL-malic or citric acid (plus water) and choline chloride and ethylene glycol or glycerol) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at low temperature. Pure DES behave completely reversibly, proof of physicochemical stability. Alanine-DES present glass transitions between -40 and -80°C. Meanwhile, choline-DES show no thermal events between 0° and -80°C. Increasing water produce glass transitions in all DES at decreasing temperatures, and devitrifications and freezing events. Choline-DES show no effects up to 20% water. However, alanine-DES show strong water effects, possibly phase separation into different water populations. Calcium alginate-sucrose beads were used as structural model for diffusion systems. Beads were incubated in DES (20 min/20 hours) and their low-temperature properties characterized. Short incubation periods were enough to radically alter their thermal behavior.

Controlled fabrication of flexible graphene aerogels via naturally dried and its photocatalysis-persulfate activation for ciprofloxacin degradation under sunlight

Materials for environmental purification should have not only the high purification efficiency, but also the character of mechanical strength, stabilized performance and no secondary pollution. Here, the flexible graphene aerogel (GA) was obtained via a controlled natural drying method combined with hydrothermal process. The effects of preparation conditions on GA, such as NH4•OH dose, H3BO3 dosage, ascorbic acid (VC) amount and GO concentration, were systematically explored. The prepared GA possessed outstanding adsorption property for organic liquid solvents (capacity achieved 307 times its own weight) and excellent physical features of flexible conductors, low density (3.4 mg/cm3), high porosity (95.4 %), mechanical stability (supports at least 1150 times its own weight), hydrophobicity (contact angle of 93°) and high energy density (0.477 mAh/cm2). Furthermore, the contribution of excellent light absorption, effective electron transfer, high surface area and CO bond made GA represent superior photocatalysis-persulfate activation performance for ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation (85.5 %) for 60 min under sunlight. The removal rate of CIP still remained at 78.4 % after 5 cycle tests, indicating that GA possessed excellent stability. The flexible GA exhibited tremendous potential in environmental purification and flexible conductive material.

Magnetic hollow fibers of covalent organic frameworks (COF) for pollutant degradation and adsorptive removal

The shaping of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) from non-processible powder forms into applicable architectures with additional functionality remains a challenge. Using pre-electrospun polymer fibers as a sacrificial template, herein, we report a green synthesis of an architecture in the form of COF hollow fibers with an inner layer of peroxidase-like iron oxide nanoparticles as a catalytic material. When compared to peroxidase-like pristine iron oxide nanoparticles, these COF hollow fibers demonstrate higher catalytic breakdown of crystal violet due to their peroxidase-like activity via advanced oxidation process. Furthermore, as a potential adsorbent, hollow COF fibers exhibit significantly effective adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of organic solvent and oil from water. Because of their magnetic nature, COF hollow fibers can be easily recovered and have exhibited high recycling stability for both catalytic dye degradation and organic solvent removal from water.

Green Synthesis of Carbon Aerogel from Rose Apple (Syzygium jambos) for Ciprofloxacin, Diesel Oil, Organic Solvents Adsorption, and Electrochemical Properties

AbstractThe ascribed work suggests a fabrication pathway of carbon aerogel material from the rose apple (Syzygium jambos) fruit (RACA), in which a hydrothermal step, followed by a calcination process under various temperatures from 600 to 900 °C was carried out. RACA were characterized via multiple methods to briefly determine the optimal calcination temperature for the application, revealing that the temperature of 700 °C provided an intermediate deconstruction effect to form the amorphous structure and amplified the surface area. Whence, the materials were assessed for the adsorption capacities towards diesel oil which provided a capacity of approximately 35 g/g, although the adsorption capacity decreased slightly after 5 cycles of recovery and reuse. Furthermore, RACA‐700 exhibits high adsorption capacity of organic solvents (toluene, cyclohexane, butanol, hexane, and chloroform) and the ciprofloxacin antibiotic. Besides, the utilization of the fabricated carbon aerogel in the supercapacitor was also investigated. The obtained results elucidate the highest specific capacitance of 61.20 F/g, corresponding with the lowest resistance of 195.6 Ω, which indicates the ability to maintain capacitance after 5000 cycles and still retain 60 % efficiency, thereby signifying the potential application of carbon aerogel in sustainable material construction.

Exploring ionic liquids for the extraction separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from diesel via multiple interaction analyses coupled with experimental evaluation

The separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum fractions is of great significance for both the quality upgrading of products and value-added utilization of aromatic compounds. However, the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives from diesel remains challenging because of their lower solubility and selectivity as compared to the monocyclic aromatic compounds. In this work, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][TF2N]) was screened from 320 ionic liquid (IL) candidates through solvent capacity predication using COSMO-RS method. Liquid-liquid equilibrium experiments were carried out using a series of tetralin/n-decane mixtures with different tetralin concentrations to evaluate the extraction performance of several solvents. The results indicate that [EMIM][TF2N] has high selectivity up to 95.73 for tetralin over n-decane, which is 4.5 and 3.9 times higher than that of dimethyl sulfoxide and sulfolane. During five regeneration cycles, the [EMIM][TF2N] exhibits consistent extraction performance and nearly complete recovery. Molecular polarity index (MPI) analysis indicates that tetralin has larger dissolving affinity to solvents as compared to n-decane. Combined analyses of interaction energy, energy decomposition, and visualization of weak interaction reveal that the crucial role of weak hydrogen bond in dominating the complex solvent–solute interactions. Compared to n-decane, tetralin shows a stronger interaction with the solvents due to the existence of C-H···π and hydrogen bond interactions. The great difference in interaction energy between {[EMIM]+ + tetralin} and {[EMIM]+ + n-decane}, therefore, endows [EMIM][TF2N] with high selectivity for tetralin. Given the dominant role of cation, a IL, [CN1 = C2SCCS2(CC = C)C1][TF2N] having both high selectivity and high solvent capacity was subsequently explored using the cation generation method based on the SeqVAE model. Furthermore, present study proposes a strategy for the design of ILs for separation and other specific application circumstances.

Effective parameters on fabrication and performance of superhydrophobic/superoleophilic polyurethane sponge: Design of experiment approach

Referring to importance of the oil/water separation as one of the main challenges in the environmental conditions, numerous researches in the superhydrophobic/superoleophilic materials especially in the industrial oily wastewater treatment have been focused. In this study, the commercial polyurethane (PU) sponge was dip-coated by zinc stearate (Zn(St)2) particles and a novel adhesive of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) cured phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFR). For this purpose, a design of experiment (DOE) was applied to statistically specify the effect of important process variables on the final product properties. The second-order central composite design (CCD) approach based on the response surface methodology (RSM) analysis was conducted by changing namely the Zn(St)2 suspension concentration (2–4 wt%), PFR concentration (10–30 wt%), HMTA/PFR weight ratio (10–20 wt%), and sponge density (12, 15 and 17 kg∙m−3) on the key response output variables including oil and water absorption capacity of the Zn(St)2/HMTA cured PFR-coated PU. The optimal predicted results were experimentally verified and matched well to achieve the modified superhydrophobic PU sponge for the oil/water separation. The characterizations of the modified PU sponge by SEM, EDX mapping, FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis, BET, and TGA results confirmed that the Zn(St)2 uniformly covered the entire PU sponge. In addition, it showed a high demulsification capacity, the absorption capacity of various oil and solvents, and a water contact angle as high as 165° which was further approved to be oil wet in less than <10 millisecond. More importantly, the prepared modified superhydrophobic PU sponge presented an excellent reusability performance and chemical, thermal and mechanical stability in harsh conditions. This stable superhydrophobic PU sponge with the aforementioned outstanding properties is expected to be widely used for the practical oil/water separation.

Maximizing methyl red dye removal efficiency: a targeted parameter approach

AbstractBACKGROUNDLiquid–liquid extraction plays a crucial role in the chemical industry for obtaining valuable products. This research focuses on optimizing key parameters, namely dye removal percentage, solvent capacity and distribution coefficient, in the liquid–liquid extraction of methyl red dye from its aqueous solution using benzene as the extractant. The study investigates the influence of key variables, including feed dye concentration (20–100) ppm, extraction time (10–30) min and dye solution‐to‐solvent ratio (1–3) mL mL−1. The experiments are conducted at a constant pH of 3 and controlled temperatures of 27 ± 2 °C.RESULTSBy strategically controlling various parameters, this investigation aims to achieve superior outcomes, surpassing prior achievements in similar experimental conditions. Utilizing the Box–Behnken design for optimization, the research attains a remarkable recovery efficiency of 84.61%. The achieved optimal values for dye removal, distribution coefficient and solvent capacity are (84.61 ± 5.07)%, 5.22 ± 0.31 and (5.17 ± 0.94) ppm, respectively, at a feed dye concentration of 20 ppm, an extraction time of 27.994 min and a dye solution‐to‐solvent ratio of 3 mL mL−1.CONCLUSIONThese findings underscore the potential for maximizing methyl red dye extraction efficiency and surpass previously reported efficiency levels using the presented parameters with the same input data. The study contributes to advancements in liquid–liquid extraction technology and provides a deeper understanding of the optimization process with technical precision. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Synthesis, optical properties, DNA, β-cyclodextrin interaction, hydrogen isotope sensor and computational study of new enantiopure isoxazolidine derivative (ISoXD)

A novel isoxazolidine derivative (ISoXD) dye was successfully synthesized and comprehensively characterized. In this study, we conducted a thorough examination of its various properties, including optical characteristics, interactions with DNA and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our investigation encompassed a systematic analysis of the absorption and emission spectra of ISoXD in diverse solvents. The observed variations in the spectroscopic data were attributed to the specific solvent's capacity to engage in hydrogen bonding interactions. Remarkably, the most pronounced intensities were observed in glycol, which can establish many hydrogen bonds with ISoXD.Furthermore, our study revealed a significant distinction in the fluorescence behavior of ISoXD when subjected to different solvents, particularly between CHCl3 and CDCl3. Moreover, we explored the fluorescence intensity of the ISoXD complex in the presence of various metals, both in ethanol and water. The ISoXD complex exhibited a substantial increase of fluorescence upon interaction with different metal ions. The utilization of DFT calculations allowed us to propose an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism as a plausible explanation for this quenching phenomenon. The interaction of ISoXD with DNA and β-CD was studied using absorption spectra. The binding constant (K) and the standard Gibbs free energy change (ΔGo) for the interaction between DNA and β-CD with ISoXD were determined. In docking study, ISoXD exhibited significant docking scores (−6.511) and MM-GBSA binding free energies (−66.27 kcal/mol) within the PARP-1 binding cavity. Its binding pattern closely resembles to the co-crystal ligand veliparib, and during a 100ns MD simulation, ISoXD displayed strong stability and formed robust hydrogen bonds with key amino acids. These findings suggest ISoXD's potential as a PARP-1 inhibitor for further investigation in therapeutic development.

Separation of n-propanol - n-propyl acetate azeotropic system by extractive distillation with ionic liquids: COSMO-RS prediction, experimental investigation and quantum chemical calculation

During the preparation of n-propyl acetate (NPAC), an azeotropic mixture of NPAC and n-propanol (NPA) will form inevitably, which is difficult to separate by ordinary distillation. In this work, COSMO-RS model was applied to screen appropriate ionic liquids (ILs) to separate the binary azeotrope of NPAC - NPA. 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([DMIM][Ac]), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([OMIM][Ac]), and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([HMIM][Ac]) were selected as entrainers based on solvent capacity and selectivity. The vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) data of the binary system (NPA - NPAC) and the ternary system (NPA - NPAC - IL) were measured at atmospheric pressure. The thermodynamic consistency of VLE data was verified by van Ness test and Wisniak's L-W test. The NRTL (non-random two liquids) model was used to correlate the VLE experimental data and obtained good applicability. The experimental results demonstrated that all three ionic liquids can improve the relative volatility of NPAC to NPA, and the separation effect is more obvious with the increase of ionic liquid content. The separation performance order of three ionic liquids follows: [HMIM][Ac] > [OMIM][Ac] > [DMIM][Ac]. Finally, ESP analysis, mutual penetration analysis, and IGMH analysis plus QTAIM topological analysis were used to explore the mechanism of separation. The analysis results indicate that the interaction between ionic liquids and NPA is stronger than that between ionic liquids and NPAC. In addition, the stronger interaction between [DMIM][Ac] and NPA is due to their strong hydrogen bond (HB) interactions.

LC–MS/MS phytochemical profiling, antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibitory of Potentilla reptans L. root: Computational studies and experimental validation

This study attends to evaluate the phytochemical, antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibition effects of different solvent of Potentilla reptans L. (P. reptans) root extracts (ethyl acetate fraction and methanolic extract) from Iran. The extracts were probed for the total phenolic and flavonoid content. The phytochemical profile was determined using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (LC)–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) technique. The DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC, ABTS, metal chelating, and phosphomolybdenum assays were used to evaluate antioxidant activity. Furthermore, in silico molecular docking and ADMET analysis were carried out on their identified compounds to predict the compounds’ pharmacokinetic indicators and toxicity. The results exhibited that the ethyl acetate fraction has higher levels of total phenolics (120.87 ± 0.63 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (2.47 ± 0.02 mg RE/g) contents compared to the methanol extract (120.87 ± 0.63 mg GAE/g and 1.33 ± 0.07 mg RE/g, respectively). Moreover, antioxidant assays revealed that ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated higher radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS) and reducing abilities (FRAP and CUPRAC) than the methanol extract. While, the methanol extract exhibited a stronger chelating ability (22.29 mg EDTAE/g) compared to the ethyl acetate fraction (19.34 mg EDTAE/g). LC/MS analysis exerted 18 compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction and 20 compounds in the methanol extract, including phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins and their derivatives. However, the most of compounds were similar in the both of them. In AChE, BChE, and amylase enzyme inhibition assays, the methanolic extract exhibited higher activity compared with the ethyl acetate fraction. While, the both of them showed similar inhibitory abilities in the tyrosinase inhibition test, but, no significant activity against glucosidase. Based on the results of phytochemical, biological, and computational studies, P. reptans root can be regarded as a potential source of ingredients for the innovative pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

Exploring the use of CO2-expanded ionic liquids as solvents in microextraction of 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl from aqueous solutions

This paper explores the effect of adding supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) to Ionic Liquids (ILs) for the microextraction of very diluted pollutants from aqueous matrices. The proposed system uses an IL, trihexyl-tetradecyl-phosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([P6,6,6,14][Tf2N]) and 1-hexyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([hmim][FAP]), as extractant, and scCO2 as diluent that may change the solvent capacity by changing the solvent polarity. The study was first carried out for the extraction of 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-77) from aqueous solutions using a designed microextraction cell. Different ILs, sample volumes and kinetics of extraction were investigated. Results show that within 15 min the maximum extraction percentage was achieved employing a scCO2 partial pressure of 80 bar. To investigate the influence of the polarity change by the presence of carbon dioxide more broadly, other pollutants with different water solubilities were used. It was observed that scCO2 (partial pressure) reduced the recoveries for benzophenone and PCB-77 but increased the extraction of triclosan. This is due to the change on solvent's polarity and viscosity of the mixture. This was corroborated through a ternary system simulation including IL-pollutant-scCO2. All these results establish that the combination of CO2 and IL can in some cases enhance the extraction, but the affinity between the pollutant and scCO2 is a key parameter that discerns whether expanding the IL with scCO2 is beneficial for the extraction.

Facile Fabrication of High-Performance Superhydrophobic Reusable Oil-Absorbing Sponges

Wastewater treatment from oil, oil products and organic mixtures is a very relevant topic that can be successfully utilized to solve problems of severe environmental pollution, such as oil spills, industrial oily wastewater discharges and water treatment in the water treatment process. In this work, we have developed new superhydrophobic magnetic polyurethane (PU) sponges, functionalized with reduced graphene oxide (RGO), MgFe2O4 nanoparticles, and silicone oil AS 100 (SO), as a selective and reusable sorbent for the purification and separation of wastewater from oil and organic solvents. The surface morphology and wettability of the sponge surface were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a contact angle analysis system, respectively. The results showed that the obtained PU sponge PU/RGO/MgFe2O4/SO had excellent mechanical and water-repellent properties, good reusability (lasted more than 20 cycles), as well as fast (immersion time 20 s) and excellent absorption capacity (16.61–44.86 g/g), and additional good magnetic properties, which made it easy to separate the sponge from the water with a magnet. The presence of RGO in the composition of the nanomaterial improves the separating and cleaning properties of the materials and also leads to an increase in the absorption capacity of oil and various organic solvents. The synthesized PU sponge has great potential for practical applications due to its facile fabrication and excellent oil–water separation properties.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of carotenoids from phytoene-accumulating Chlorella sorokiniana microalgae: Effect of milling and performance of the green biosolvents 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and ethyl lactate

This study aimed at optimizing the accumulation of phytoene in Chlorella sorokiniana by using norflurazon and investigating the capacity of green and traditional solvents to extract carotenoids by ultrasound-assisted extraction with and without previous milling.Phytoene-rich first described C. sorokiniana biomass was used, both fresh, freeze-dried, and encapsulated. The ideal dose of norflurazon (1 µg/mL) was selected to block the carotenoid pathway at the level of phytoene desaturase and induce the accumulation of phytoene in C. sorokiniana. A mill pre-treatment allowed a higher recovery of carotenoids compared to non-milled samples, in both the freeze-dried and encapsulated matrices. 2-Methyloxolane provided a higher total carotenoid content (4.75–5546.96 µg/g) compared to the other solvents tested in all the matrices, proving a promising bio-based solvent to replace traditional organic ones for the extraction of microalgal carotenoids.

Extraction of Functional Compounds from Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) by Deep Eutectic Solvents at Different Properties.

In this study, it was aimed to examine the capacity of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) with different contents to extract bioactive compounds from tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) plant. For this reason, the total phenolic-flavonoid substance, total proanthocyanidin content and antioxidant/antimicrobial activities of the prepared DES extracts were investigated, as well as the individual phenolic contents and individual amino acid contents. According to the results, DES10 had the highest efficiency in terms of its capacity to extract individual phenolics (approximately 59 mg/100g) and individual amino acids (approximately 2500 mg/kg), and also gave a higher yield compared to ethanol (approximately 44 mg/100g for individual phenolics and about 19810 mg/kg for individual amino acids) and methanol (approximately 58 mg/100g for individual phenolics and approximately 21430 mg/kg for individual amino acids). However, the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity values of DES extracts were determined between 59.09-77.50 mg GAE/100g, 28.68-45.55 mg GAE/100g and 42.96 mg TE/100g-146.86 mg TE/100g, respectively. Therefore, it can be recommended to use these green solvents, which are known as environmentally friendly, as an alternative to organic solvents in the process of preparing extracts of this important medicinal plant in different areas.

Durable LBL microcapsule-based sponges with superhydrophobic/super-oleophilic and photothermal behaviors for oil–water separation

Spills of marine oily pollutants and illegal discharges of industrial organic solvents have severely undermined the natural resources and ecological sustainability. Herein, a versatile and durable modified melamine sponge (MS) was fabricated by integrating with multilayered microcapsules (MCs) and chemical vapor deposition of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES), namely PFDTES@MCs@MS. The combination of giant microcapsules on the sponge structure imparts the rough surface micro-construction, accompanied by the hydrophobic modification, which enabled PFDTES@MCs@MS to exhibit superhydrophobic/super-oleophilic and self-cleaning capabilities. PFDTES@MCs@MS displayed outstanding oil–water mixtures or emulsions separation capabilities with the separation efficiencies more than 99%. Impressively, PFDTES@MCs@MS preserved mechanical and chemical durability in 100 recycle tests or chronic processes under harsh conditions. In addition, PFDTES@MCs@MS exhibited the remarkable uptake capacity of organic solvents or oils, and the adsorption amount of light or heavy oil was barely impacted with squeezing after the 50 times of circulation. Furthermore, the PFDTES@MCs@MS displayed antibacterial performance. Significantly, the PFDTES@MCs@MS showed superior photothermal conversion capability, the temperature of it increased dramatically to approximately 80 °C within 180 s under simulated sunlight from room temperature (about 25 ℃), and the flux of separating high-viscosity oils was significantly increased. This study presents a novel oil sorption and separation materials with excellent durability and repeatability, which establishes the foundation for the judicious design of innovative weapons to combat the challenging oil spills.

Ionic liquids for highly efficient methyl chloride capture and dehydration

AbstractA new methyl chloride (CH3Cl) capture and dehydration process using two ionic liquids (ILs) was designed and systematically studied. ILs [EMIM][Ac] and [EMIM][BF4] were screened out as CH3Cl capture and drying absorbents through the COSMO‐RS model. The result of solubility experiment suggests [EMIM][Ac] has an excellent solvent capacity for CH3Cl at mild operation conditions. The bench‐scale CH3Cl absorption experiments further confirmed the outstanding CH3Cl capture ability of [EMIM][Ac]. Besides, the water content of outlet gas can be decreased to 452 ppm (mass fraction) using [EMIM][BF4] in the dehydration experiment. The industrial‐scale CH3Cl capture and dehydration process was simulated and optimized. Compared to the benchmarked triethylene glycol process, IL process has higher product purity (99.99 wt%), and lower energy consumption. The quantum chemical calculations clearly revealed the relationship between hydrogen bond and separation performance. This study provides a decision‐making basis for designing green process associated with volatile organic compounds.

Solvent racing crystallization: Low-solvation dispersion cosolvents for high-quality halide perovskites in photovoltaics

•Designing dispersion cosolvents with reduced solvation capacity •Utilizing solvent polarity and hydrogen-bonding property to their advantage •Promoting the growth of perovskite films with preferred orientation •Attaining solar module (18 cm2 active area) with an efficiency exceeding 22% The solvation capacity of dispersion solvents plays a crucial role in the solution processing of metal halide perovskites. For instance, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), a widely used dispersion solvent, possesses high solvation capacity but often generates suboptimal film quality due to slow crystallization kinetics. We propose using low-solvation binary cosolvents (nitrile- and ether-type solvents) to achieve a balance between solvation (i.e., sufficient solubility of precursors) and desolvation (i.e., rapid crystallization of films) processes during perovskite synthesis. The polarity and hydrogen-bonding property of these cosolvents synergistically enhance their solvation capacity, facilitating perovskite precursor dissolution. Moreover, the low-solvation cosolvents accelerate the crystallization of well-defined intermediate films, yielding higher-quality perovskites than those synthesized with DMF. The optimized modules achieved an active-area efficiency of 22.27%, with a certified aperture-area efficiency of 16.10% and corresponding active-area efficiency of 20.75%. This research on solvation regulation provides universal guidelines for innovatively preparing high-quality halide perovskites. The solvation capacity of dispersion solvents plays a crucial role in the solution processing of metal halide perovskites. For instance, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), a widely used dispersion solvent, possesses high solvation capacity but often generates suboptimal film quality due to slow crystallization kinetics. We propose using low-solvation binary cosolvents (nitrile- and ether-type solvents) to achieve a balance between solvation (i.e., sufficient solubility of precursors) and desolvation (i.e., rapid crystallization of films) processes during perovskite synthesis. The polarity and hydrogen-bonding property of these cosolvents synergistically enhance their solvation capacity, facilitating perovskite precursor dissolution. Moreover, the low-solvation cosolvents accelerate the crystallization of well-defined intermediate films, yielding higher-quality perovskites than those synthesized with DMF. The optimized modules achieved an active-area efficiency of 22.27%, with a certified aperture-area efficiency of 16.10% and corresponding active-area efficiency of 20.75%. This research on solvation regulation provides universal guidelines for innovatively preparing high-quality halide perovskites.