Lanthanide-Based Organic Salts: Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity Studies.

The formulation of magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) or organic salts based on lanthanides as anions has been explored. In this work, a set of choline-family-based salts, and two other, different cation families, were combined with Gadolinium(III) and Terbium(III) anions. Synthetic methodologies were previously optimized, and all organic salts were obtained as solids with melting temperatures higher than 100 °C. The magnetic moments obtained for the Gd(III) salts were, as expected, smaller than those obtained for the Tb(III)-based compounds. The values for Gd(III) and Tb(III) magnetic salts are in the range of 6.55-7.30 MB and 8.22-9.34 MB, respectively. It is important to note a correlation between the magnetic moments obtained for lanthanides, and the structural features of the cation. The cytotoxicity of lanthanide-based salts was also evaluated using 3T3, 293T, Caco2, and HepG2 cells, and it was revealed that most of the prepared compounds are not toxic.

Tunning CO2 Separation Performance of Ionic Liquids through Asymmetric Anions.

This work aims to explore the gas permeation performance of two newly-designed ionic liquids, [C2mim][CF3BF3] and [C2mim][CF3SO2C(CN)2], in supported ionic liquid membranes (SILM) configuration, as another effort to provide an overall insight on the gas permeation performance of functionalized-ionic liquids with the [C2mim]+ cation. [C2mim][CF3BF3] and [C2mim][CF3SO2C(CN)2] single gas separation performance towards CO2, N2, and CH4 at T = 293 K and T = 308 K were measured using the time-lag method. Assessing the CO2 permeation results, [C2mim][CF3BF3] showed an undermined value of 710 Barrer at 293.15 K and 1 bar of feed pressure when compared to [C2mim][BF4], whereas for the [C2mim][CF3SO2C(CN)2] IL an unexpected CO2 permeability of 1095 Barrer was attained at the same experimental conditions, overcoming the results for the remaining ILs used for comparison. The prepared membranes exhibited diverse permselectivities, varying from 16.9 to 22.2 for CO2/CH4 and 37.0 to 44.4 for CO2/N2 gas pairs. The thermophysical properties of the [C2mim][CF3BF3] and [C2mim][CF3SO2C(CN)2] ILs were also determined in the range of T = 293.15 K up to T = 353.15 K at atmospheric pressure and compared with those for other ILs with the same cation and anion's with similar chemical moieties.

Tuning the miscibility of water in imide-based ionic liquids.

Liquid-liquid phase behavior measurements were performed for binary mixtures of water and ionic liquids (ILs) containing the same 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ([C2mim]+) cation and different imide-based anions, having symmetric (bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ([FSI]-)) or asymmetric structures (2,2,2-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-N-cyanoamide ([TFSAM]-) and 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)acetamide ([TSAC]-)). An inversion of phase behavior was observed: while below ∼298 K, the miscibility of water in the studied ILs increases according to the order [C2mim][TSAC] < [C2mim][FSI] < [C2mim][NTf2], for temperatures above ∼303 K, the reverse trend is observed [C2mim][NTf2] < [C2mim][FSI] < [C2mim][TSAC]. In turn, above ∼306 K the [C2mim][TFSAM] is completely miscible with H2O in all ranges of concentrations. The obtained results also revealed an unusual water solubility variation of 11% in [C2mim][FSI], and 20% in [C2mim][TSAC], when the system temperature was changed by less than 1 K, around 298 K and 301 K, respectively. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were used to understand the IL-water interactions and rationalize the experimental observations. These results suggested that the miscibility trends are mainly related to the ability of the water molecules to form water-anion and water-water aggregates in solution.

Neat ionic liquids versus ionic liquid mixtures: a combination of experimental data and molecular simulation.

Simple mixtures of ionic liquids (IL-IL mixtures) can become a promising approach for the substitution of task-specific ILs. Such a concept was explored in this article by comparison of the thermophysical properties of neat 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium 2,2,2-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-N-cyanoamide, [C2mim][TFSAM], and equimolar mixtures of two structurally similar ILs having more common ions. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were additionally used to further highlight structural aspects of these systems at a molecular level.

Exploring the effect of fluorinated anions on the CO2/N2 separation of supported ionic liquid membranes.

The CO2 and N2 permeation properties of ionic liquids (ILs) based on the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cation ([C2mim]+) and different fluorinated anions, namely 2,2,2-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-N-cyanoamide ([TFSAM]-), bis(fluorosulfonyl) imide ([FSI]-), nonafluorobutanesulfonate ([C4F9SO3]-), tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([FAP]-), and bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide ([BETI]-) anions, were measured using supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs). The results show that pure ILs containing [TFSAM]- and [FSI]- anions present the highest CO2 permeabilities, 753 and 843 Barrer, as well as the greatest CO2/N2 permselectivities of 43.9 and 46.1, respectively, with CO2/N2 separation performances on top of or above the Robeson 2008 upper bound. The re-design of the [TFSAM]- anion by structural unfolding was investigated through the use of IL mixtures. The gas transport and CO2/N2 separation properties through a pure [C2mim][TFSAM] SILM are compared to those of two different binary IL mixtures containing fluorinated and cyano-functionalized groups in the anions. Although the use of IL mixtures is a promising strategy to tailor gas permeation through SILMs, the pure [C2mim][TFSAM] SILM displays higher CO2 permeability, diffusivity and solubility than the selected IL mixtures. Nevertheless, both the prepared mixtures present CO2 separation performances that are on top of or above the Robeson plot.

Ionic liquids with anions based on fluorosulfonyl derivatives: from asymmetrical substitutions to a consistent force field model.

Herein, seven anions including four imide-based, namely bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (TFSI), bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI), bis[(pentafluoroethyl)sulfonyl]imide (BETI), 2,2,2-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-N-cyanoamide (TFSAM) and 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) acetamide (TSAC), and two sulfonate anions, trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate, TF) and nonafluorobutanesulfonate (NF), are considered and compared. The volumetric mass density and dynamic viscosity of five ionic liquids containing these anions combined with the commonly used 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cation (C2C1im), [C2C1im][FSI], [C2C1im][BETI], [C2C1im][TFSAM], [C2C1im][TSAC] and [C2C1im][NF] are measured in the temperature range of 293.15 ≤ T/K ≤ 353.15 and at atmospheric pressure. The results show that [C2mim][FSI] and [C2mim][TFSAM] exhibit the lowest densities and viscosities among all the studied ionic liquids. The experimental volumetric data is used to validate a more consistent re-parameterization of the CL&P force field for use in MD simulations of ionic liquids containing the ubiquitous bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide and trifluoromethanesulfonate anions and to extend the application of the model to other molten salts with similar ions.

Ionic liquid-based materials: a platform to design engineered CO2 separation membranes.

During the past decade, significant advances in ionic liquid-based materials for the development of CO2 separation membranes have been accomplished. This review presents a perspective on different strategies that use ionic liquid-based materials as a unique tuneable platform to design task-specific advanced materials for CO2 separation membranes. Based on compilation and analysis of the data hitherto reported, we provide a judicious assessment of the CO2 separation efficiency of different membranes, and highlight breakthroughs and key challenges in this field. In particular, configurations such as supported ionic liquid membranes, polymer/ionic liquid composite membranes, gelled ionic liquid membranes and poly(ionic liquid)-based membranes are detailed, discussed and evaluated in terms of their efficiency, which is attributed to their chemical and structural features. Finally, an integrated perspective on technology, economy and sustainability is provided.

Mixtures of the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ionic liquid with different inorganic salts: insights into their interactions.

In this work, we explore the interactions between the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolim acetate and different inorganic salts belonging to two different cation families, those based on ammonium and others based on sodium. NMR and Raman spectroscopy are used to screen for changes in the molecular environment of the ions in the ionic liquid + inorganic salt mixtures as compared to pure ionic liquid. The ion self-diffusion coefficients are determined from NMR data, allowing the discussion of the ionicity values of the ionic liquid + inorganic salt mixtures calculated using different methods. Our data reveal that preferential interactions are established between the ionic liquid and ammonium-based salts, as opposed to sodium-based salts. Computational calculations show the formation of aggregates between the ionic liquid and the inorganic salt, which is consistent with the spectroscopic data, and indicate that the acetate anion of the ionic liquid establishes preferential interactions with the ammonium cation of the inorganic salts, leaving the imidazolium cation less engaged in the media.

Aggregation behavior and total miscibility of fluorinated ionic liquids in water.

In this work, novel and nontoxic fluorinated ionic liquids (FILs) that are totally miscible in water and could be used in biological applications, where fluorocarbon compounds present a handicap because their aqueous solubility (water and biological fluids) is in most cases too low, have been investigated. The self-aggregation behavior of perfluorosulfonate-functionalized ionic liquids in aqueous solutions has been characterized using conductometric titration, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), surface tension measurements, dynamic light scattering (DLS), viscosity and density measurements, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Aggregation and interfacial parameters have been computed by conductimetry, calorimetry, and surface tension measurements in order to study various thermodynamic and surface properties that demonstrate that the aggregation process is entropy-driven and that the aggregation process is less spontaneous than the adsorption process. The novel perfluorosulfonate-functionalized ILs studied in this work show improved surface activity and aggregation behavior, forming distinct self-assembled structures.

Poly(ionic liquid)s as phase splitting promoters in aqueous biphasic systems.

Aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) provide a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional liquid-liquid extraction techniques with volatile organic solvents, and can be used for the extraction, recovery, and purification of diverse solutes. In this work, and for the first time, ABSs composed of poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) and inorganic salts were measured at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure. New PILs having pyrrolidinium polycations combined with different counter-anions, namely acetate [Ac](-), trifluoroacetate [TFAc](-), hexanoate [Hex](-), adipate [Adi](-), and citrate [Cit](-) were synthesized, by a simple and environmentally-friendly procedure, and characterized. The effect of the PIL features, namely molecular weight and anionic character, and other experimental variables, such as temperature, on the phase splitting ability was researched. The aptitude of the studied ABS to be implemented as separation technologies was also evaluated through the use of a model biomolecule, tryptophan.

Playing with ionic liquid mixtures to design engineered CO2 separation membranes.

Ionic liquids have been explored as attractive alternative media for CO2 separation not only due to their low volatility but also due to their highly tuneable nature. Aiming at designing highly efficient liquid phases for flue gas separation and natural gas purification, this work focuses on the use of binary ionic liquid mixtures containing sulfate and/or cyano-functionalized anions. Several mixtures were prepared and their gas transport properties through supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) were investigated. The thermophysical properties of these mixtures, namely viscosity and density (data presented and discussed in ESI), were also measured so that trends between transport properties and thermophysical properties could be evaluated. The results obtained indicate that depending on the anions mixed, membranes with fine-tuned gas permeabilities, diffusivities and solubilities can be obtained. Additionally, SILMs prepared with these ionic liquid mixtures are on the upper bound of the CO2/N2 separation, or even may surpass it, indicating their potential for separating CO2 in low-pressure post-combustion processes. Overall, the use of ionic liquid mixtures combining the most selective anions with the least viscous anions is a highly promising strategy to design advanced engineered liquid phases for CO2 separation membranes.

The impact of ionic liquid fluorinated moieties on their thermophysical properties and aqueous phase behaviour.

In this work, we demonstrate that the presence of fluorinated alkyl chains in Ionic Liquids (ILs) is highly relevant in terms of their thermophysical properties and aqueous phase behaviour. We have measured and compared the density and viscosity of pure 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, [C2C1im][FAP], with that of pure 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C2C1im][PF6], at atmospheric pressure and in the (288.15 to 363.15) K temperature range. The results show that the density of [C2C1im][PF6] is lower than that of [C2C1im][FAP], while the viscosity data reveal the opposite trend. The fluid phase behaviour of aqueous solutions of the two ILs was also evaluated under the same conditions and it was found that the mutual solubilities of [C2C1im][FAP] and water are substantially lower than those verified with [C2C1im][PF6]. The experimental data were lastly interpreted at a molecular level using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation results revealing that the interactions between the IL ions and the water molecules are mainly achieved via the six fluorine atoms of [PF6](-) and the three analogues in [FAP](-). The loss of three interaction centres when replacing [PF6](-) by [FAP](-), coupled with the bulkiness and relative inertness of the three perfluoroethyl groups, reduces its mutual solubility with water and also contributes to a lower viscosity displayed by the pure [FAP]-based IL as compared to that of the [PF6]-based compound.

High ionicity ionic liquids (HIILs): comparing the effect of ethylsulfonate and ethylsulfate anions.

The subject of ionicity has been extensively discussed in the last decade, due to the importance of understanding the thermodynamic and thermophysical behaviour of ionic liquids. In our previous work, we established that ionic liquids' ionicity could be improved by the dissolution of simple inorganic salts in their milieu. In this work, a comparison between the thermophysical properties of two binary systems of ionic liquid + inorganic salt is presented. The effect of the ammonium thiocyanate salt on the ionicity of two similar ionic liquids, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfonate and ethylsulfate, is investigated in terms of the related thermophysical properties, such as density, viscosity and ionic conductivity in the temperature range 298.15-323.15 K. In addition, spectroscopic (NMR and Raman) and molecular dynamic studies were conducted in order to better understand the interactions that occur at a molecular level. The obtained results reveal that although the two anions of the ionic liquid exhibit similar chemical structures, the presence of one additional oxygen in the ethylsulfate anion has a major impact on the thermophysical properties of the studied systems.

Aqueous biphasic systems: a boost brought about by using ionic liquids.

During the past decade, ionic-liquid-based Aqueous Biphasic Systems (ABS) have been the focus of a significant amount of research. Based on a compilation and analysis of the data hitherto reported, this critical review provides a judicious assessment of the available literature on the subject. We evaluate the quality of the data and establish the main drawbacks found in the literature. We discuss the main issues which govern the phase behaviour of ionic-liquid-based ABS, and we highlight future challenges to the field. In particular, the effect of the ionic liquid structure and the various types of salting-out agents (inorganic or organic salts, amino acids and carbohydrates) on the phase equilibria of ABS is discussed, as well as the influence of secondary parameters such as temperature and pH. More recent approaches using ionic liquids as additives or as replacements for common salts in polymer-based ABS are also presented and discussed to emphasize the expanding number of aqueous two-phase systems that can actually be obtained. Finally, we address two of the main applications of ionic liquid-based ABS: extraction of biomolecules and other added-value compounds, and their use as alternative approaches for removing and recovering ionic liquids from aqueous media.

Remediation of soils contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons through soil washing with surfactant solutions.

Soil fulfils vital functions for life on Earth and so, just like water and air, its protection from all sources of contamination is a major concern. However, the extensive use of petroleum derived products, either as energy sources or as commodities, leads to important environmental liabilities. Ex situ soil washing is a technology to concentrate contaminants, allowing soil cleaning and the reuse of extracted petroleum derived products. This work focuses on the optimization of ex situ soil washing process using surfactants, introducing an evaluation of the washing solution recycling and its after use safe disposal, promoting the reduction of raw materials, energy and water resources costs. Two surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), were tested in the decontamination of an artificially contaminated soil with engine lubricant oil waste. The optimization of the washing conditions, such as stirring speed, liquid-solid ratio, number of washing stages, and surfactant concentration, was carried out using a design of experiments (DOE) software, so that the maximum extraction efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) was achieved. A TPH removal efficiency of (80.7 ± 3.2)% was obtained with Tween 80 after 5 h of washing and (90.7 ± 2.8)% with SDS after 2 h at 200 rpm on an orbital shaker with a liquid to solid ratio (L/S) of 15. The potential for reuse of the washing solutions was evaluated. Finally, the discharge of the washing solution was considered using activated carbon to remove the surfactants and ensure its safe disposal.

Density, thermal expansion and viscosity of cholinium-derived ionic liquids.

Density and viscosity data of the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids homologous series [N(1 1 n 2(OH))][Ntf(2)] with n=1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 have been measured at atmospheric pressure in the 283

Protein stability in an ionic liquid milieu: on the use of differential scanning fluorimetry.

Protein stability is a major bottleneck in the biotechnological application of ionic liquid-containing solvents, either in the frame of biocatalysis or protein storage. Herein, differential scanning fluorimetry was successfully implemented as a high throughput method to fast scan the impact of a number of cholinium-based ionic liquids on the stability of proteins.

Beneficial and detrimental effects of choline chloride-oxalic acid deep eutectic solvent on biogas production.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES), a new class of alternative solvents, have recently been used in the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass. Due to the ability to dissolve phenolic compounds, they have been efficiently applied as delignification agents. However, to extend DES application to bioprocesses, such as Anaerobic Digestion (AD), their toxicity to microbial consortia must be evaluated. In this work, an effective delignifying DES, composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and oxalic acid (OA) (1:1) was prepared and its effect evaluated, for the first time, in biogas production. Results show that the presence of DES had both beneficial and detrimental effects on the anaerobic consortium, depending on its concentration. In the concentration range of 0.3-12.5 g/L, the presence of DES led to a lag-phase of 1 to 8 d as the DES concentration increased. However, after the lag-phase has been surpassed, DES up to a concentration of 12.5 g/L improved the biogas production, reaching an accumulated biogas volume three times higher than the control assay for the concentration of 12.5 g/L. For the highest DES concentrations (19.8-78.1 g/L), the biogas production was inhibited. The assays performed with DES components alone have indicated that OA at 3.2 g/L was the main responsible for the inhibition of biogas production (50% less biogas produced than the control). ChCl at 4.9 g/L has not presented a lag-phase and produced an accumulated biogas volume like the control assay (1200 mL for 30 d incubation). This work points out that ChCl:OA DES may be used in the delignification of biomass further submitted to AD, provided the inhibitory concentrations of OA are not achieved.

Recovery of ß-carotene from pumpkin using switchable natural deep eutectic solvents.

The aim of the present research was to develop green and sustainable extraction procedure for ß-carotene recovery from pumpkin. A series of hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) based onfatty acids were prepared to establish high extraction efficiency of ß-carotene and to increase stability of extracted carotenoids from the pumpkin. To intensify extraction process, NADES composed of C8 and C10 fatty acids (3:1) was selected and coupled with ultrasound assisted extraction. Response surface methodology and artificial neural network model (ANN) model was adopted to analyze significance of extraction parameters demonstrating high prediction levels of the ß-carotene yield, experimentally confirming the maximum ß-carotene content of 151.41 µg/mL at the optimal process condition. Extracted carotenoids in the optimal NADES extract have shown high stability during the storing period of 180 days. A switchable-hydrophilicity eutectic solvent system has been introduced as a successful way to recover extracted carotenoids from the NADES solvent. It was capable of precipitating 90% of carotenoids present in the extract. The proposed procedure is simple, easily scalable and has minimal impact on operators and the environment.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with manganese and lanthanide salts: synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity studies.

Several organic salts based on the combination of two different choline derivative cations and MnCl3-, GdCl4- and TbCl4- as anions were immobilized in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) by a two-step synthetic method. Firstly, MSNs were functionalized with choline derivative cations with chloride anions and then the metals were incorporated by the reaction of the chloride with the respective metal chloride salts. These nanomaterials were fully characterized by different characterization techniques such as 1H-NMR, FT-IR, elemental analysis, TEM, TGA, N2 adsorption, XRD and DLS. These characterization data were important to confirm the successful functionalization of the nanomaterials and to access their textural properties and colloidal stability. The final materials were also characterized by ICP-MS that indicated the metal contents. The cytotoxicity profile was evaluated in four different cell lines (3T3, 293T, HepG2 and Caco-2), which shows some relevant differences between the metal organic salts and their immobilized analogues.