Anisotropic reversed micelles with fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon hybrid surfactants in supercritical CO.

Previous work (M. Sagisaka, et al. Langmuir 31 (2015) 7479-7487), showed the most effective fluorocarbon (FC) and hydrocarbon (HC) chain lengths in the hybrid surfactants FCm-HCn (sodium 1-oxo-1-[4-(perfluoroalkyl)phenyl]alkane-2-sulfonates, where m = FC length and n = HC length) were m and n = 6 and 4 for water solubilization, whereas m 6 and n 6, or m 6 and n 5, were optimal chain lengths for reversed micelle elongation in supercritical CO.

Effect of isomeric structures of branched cyclic hydrocarbons on densities and equation of state predictions at elevated temperatures and pressures.

The cis and trans conformation of a branched cyclic hydrocarbon affects the packing and, hence, the density, exhibited by that compound. Reported here are density data for branched cyclohexane (C6) compounds including methylcyclohexane, ethylcyclohexane (ethylcC6), cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane (cis-1,2), cis-1,4-dimethylcyclohexane (cis-1,4), and trans-1,4-dimethylcyclohexane (trans-1,4) determined at temperatures up to 525 K and pressures up to 275 MPa. Of the four branched C6 isomers, cis-1,2 exhibits the largest densities and the smallest densities are exhibited by trans-1,4.

Aminosilicone solvents for CO(2) capture.

This work describes the first report of the use of an aminosilicone solvent mix for the capture of CO(2). To maintain a liquid state, a hydroxyether co-solvent was employed which allowed enhanced physisorption of CO(2) in the solvent mixture. Regeneration of the capture solvent system was demonstrated over 6 cycles and absorption isotherms indicate a 25-50 % increase in dynamic CO(2) capacity over 30 % MEA.

Design and evaluation of nonfluorous CO2-soluble oligomers and polymers.

Ab initio molecular modeling is used to design nonfluorous polymers that are potentially soluble in liquid CO2. We have used calculations to design three nonfluorous compounds meant to model the monomeric repeat units of polymers that exhibit multiple favorable binding sites for CO2. These compounds are methoxy isopropyl acetate, 2-methoxy ethoxy-propane, and 2-methoxy methoxy-propane.

Synthesis and steric stabilization of silver nanoparticles in neat carbon dioxide solvent using fluorine-free compounds.

The adjustable solvent properties, vanishingly low surface tensions, and environmentally green characteristics of supercritical carbon dioxide present certain advantages in nanoparticles synthesis and processing. Unfortunately, most current techniques employed to synthesize and disperse nanoparticles in carbon dioxide use environmentally persistent fluorinated compounds as metal precursors and/or stabilizing ligands. This paper illustrates a one-step process for synthesis and stabilization of silver nanoparticles in carbon dioxide using only fluorine-free compounds.

Stable dispersions of silver nanoparticles in carbon dioxide with fluorine-free ligands.

Iso-stearic acid, a short, stubby compound with branched, methylated tails has been shown to have high solubility in carbon dioxide. Tail solvation by carbon dioxide makes iso-stearic acid a good choice for use as a ligand to sterically stabilize metallic nanoparticles. Iso-stearic acid coated silver nanoparticles have been stably dispersed in carbon dioxide with hexane cosolvent.

Oxygenated hydrocarbon ionic surfactants exhibit CO2 solubility.

Several oxygenated hydrocarbons, including acetylated sugars, poly(propylene glycol), and oligo(vinyl acetate), have been used to generate CO2-soluble ionic surfactants. Surfactants with vinyl acetate tails yielded the most promising results, exhibiting levels of CO2 solubility comparable to those associated with fluorinated ionic surfactants. For example, a sodium sulfate with single, oligomeric vinyl acetate (VAc) tails consisting of 10 VAc repeat units was 7 wt % soluble in CO2 at 25 degrees C and 48 MPa.