Capacity of Aqueous Solutions of the Ionic Liquid 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Acetate to Partially Depolymerize Lignin at Ambient Temperature and Pressure.

Lignin is a very attractive and abundant biopolymer with the potential to be a biorenewable source of a large number of value-added organic chemicals. The current state-of-the-art methods fail to provide efficient valorization of lignin in this regard without the involvement of harsh conditions and auxiliary substances that compromise the overall sustainability of the proposed processes. Making an original approach from the set of mildest temperature and pressure conditions, this work identifies and explores the capacity of an aqueous solution of the nonvolatile ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Cmim][OAc]) to partially depolymerize technical lignin (Indulin AT) by means of a treatment consisting in the simple contact at ambient temperature and pressure.

Nanoparticles in Chemical EOR: A Review on Flooding Tests.

The use of nanofluids is showing promise as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method. Several reviews have been published focusing on the main mechanisms involved in the process. This new study, unlike previous works, aims to collect information about the most promising nano-EOR methods according to their performance in core-flooding tests.

Nanomaterial Synthesis in Ionic Liquids and Their Use on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Pollutants.

The unique properties of ionic liquids make them suitable candidates to prepare nanoscale materials. A simple method that uses exclusively a corresponding bulk material and an ionic liquid-in this case, [P]Cl-was used to prepare AgCl nanoparticles and AgCl@FeO or TiO@FeO magnetic nanocomposites. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange, methylene blue and rhodamine B with AgCl nanocatalyst synthesised from its bulk material in the ionic liquid [P]Cl.

The photocatalytic degradation of wastewater containing three industrial dyes belonging to different families, methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB), was studied under UV-Vis irradiation using synthesised silver chloride nanoparticles. The nanocatalyst was prepared by a dissolution/reprecipitation method starting from the bulk powder and the ionic liquid trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium chloride, [P]Cl, without addition of other solvents. The obtained catalyst was characterised by UV-Vis absorbance, X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Preparation of AgX (X = Cl, I) nanoparticles using ionic liquids.

Nanoparticles of silver halides have been prepared by mixing silver halide powder with a single liquid phase consisting of an ionic liquid, isooctane, n-decanol and water. Much higher nanoparticle concentrations may be formed with ionic liquids using this new simple method than are found with conventionally applied surfactants. This method also emphasizes the applicability of ionic liquids as versatile components in microemulsions and as solvents for the synthesis of nanomaterials.

A novel approach for the preparation of AgBr nanoparticles from their bulk solid precursor using CTAB microemulsions.

Microemulsions are suitable reaction media to prepare a wide variety of nanoparticles and provide control over their sizes. However, as typically used, microemulsions limit rates of rapid reactions and suffer from low reactant solubilization capacity. This work presents a new application of a novel approach aimed at minimizing these limitations.

A novel method for the preparation of silver chloride nanoparticles starting from their solid powder using microemulsions.

A novel method of preparing AgCl nanoparticles by mixing AgCl powder and a microemulsion consisting of dioctyldimethylammonium chloride/n-decanol/water/isooctane is introduced. This new method was discovered during the preparation of AgCl nanoparticles in single microemulsions by direct reaction with the dioctyldimethylammonium chloride surfactant counterion. The effect of the following variables on the concentration of the colloidal AgCl nanoparticles (the nanoparticle uptake) and the particle size were studied: (1) operating variables, including mixing and temperature; and (2) microemulsion variables, including surfactant and cosurfactant concentration, and water to surfactant mole ratio.

Formation of silver bromide precipitate of nanoparticles in a single microemulsion utilizing the surfactant counterion.

Silver bromide precipitate of nanoparticles was prepared by addition of silver nitrate aqueous solution to a single microemulsion system consisting of dioctyldimethylammonium bromide, n-decanol, and water in isooctane. The silver ion reacted readily with the surfactant counterion, bromide, to form the precipitate of nanoparticles, which was stabilized in the water pools. The use of the surfactant counterion as a reactant is a new approach to nanoparticle preparation in microemulsions.

Selective removal of gallium (III) from aqueous solutions containing zinc or aluminum using sodium di-(n-octyl) phosphinate.

Gallium was removed selectively from aqueous solutions containing zinc or aluminum using sodium di-(n-octyl) phosphinate as a ligand (NaL). At low pH or low mole ratios, the gallium was removed by complexation with the ligand as GaL(3(S)), while the zinc or the aluminum remained in the solution. Nearly complete separation of gallium was obtained.