Irregular solution thermodynamics of wood pulp in the superbase ionic liquid [m-TBDH][AcO].

Knowledge of solution thermodynamics is fundamental for solution control and solvent selection processes. Herein, experimentally determined thermodynamic quantities for solutions of wood pulp (hardwood dissolving pulp, i.e. cellulose) in [m-TBDH][AcO] are presented. Model-free activities (a i,j) and associated mass fraction (w i,j) activity coefficients (Ω i,j), are determined to quantify inherent solution non-ideality. Access to the Gibbs energy of mixing, G mix, in combination with associated partial molar thermodynamic quantities, reveal strong enthalpically favourable (exothermic) interactions due to solvent-j and solute-i contact-encounters. Onset of an entropy driven phase instability appears at increased temperatures as excess entropic contributions dominate solvation character of the irregular solutions formed.

Bifluoride ([HF2](-)) formation at the fluoridated aluminium hydroxide/water interface.

This study uncovers bifluoride-type (difluorohydrogenate(i); [HF2](-)) species formed at mineral/water interfaces. Bifluoride forms at [triple bond, length as m-dash]Al-F surface sites resulting from the partial fluoridation of gibbsite (γ-Al(OH3)) and bayerite (α-Al(OH3)) particles exposed to aqueous solutions of 50 mM NaF. Fluoride removal from these solutions is proton-promoted and results in a strongly self-buffered suspensions at circumneutral pH, proceeds at a F : H consumption ratio of 2 : 1, and with recorded losses of up to 17 mM fluoride (58 F nm(-2)). These loadings exceed crystallographic site densities by a factor of 3-4, yet the reactions have no resolvable impact on particle size, shape and mineralogy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of frozen (-155 °C) wet mineral pastes revealed coexisting surface F(-) and HF(0) species. Electron energy loss features pointed to multilayer distribution of these species at the mineral/water interface. XPS also uncovered a distinct form of Na(+) involved in binding fluoride-bearing species. XPS and solid state magic angle spinning (19)F nuclear magnetic resonance measurements showed that these fluoride species were highly comparable to a sodium-bifluoride (NaHF2) reference. First layer surface species are represented as [triple bond, length as m-dash]Al-F-H-F-Al[triple bond, length as m-dash] and [triple bond, length as m-dash]Al-F-Na-F-Al[triple bond, length as m-dash], and may form multi-layered species into the mineral/water interface. These results consequently point to a potentially overlooked inorganic fluorine species in a technologically relevant mineral/water interfacial systems.

Aqueous Brønsted-Lowry Chemistry of Ionic Liquid Ions.

Ionic liquids have become commonplace materials found in research laboratories the world over, and are increasingly utilised in studies featuring water as co-solvent. It is reported herein that proton activities, aH (+) , originating from auto-protolysis of H2O molecules, are significantly altered in mixtures with common ionic liquids comprised of Cl(-), [HSO4 ](-), [CH3SO4 ](-), [CH3COO](-), [BF4](-), relative to pure water. paH (+) values, recorded in partially aqueous media as -log(aH (+)), are observed over a wide range (∼0-13) as a result of hydrolysis (or acid dissociation) of liquid salt ions to their associated parent molecules (or conjugate bases). Brønsted-Lowry acid-base character of ionic liquid ions observed is rooted in equilibria known to govern the highly developed aqueous chemistry of classical organic and inorganic salts, as their well-known aqueous pKs dictate. Classical salt behaviour observed for both protic and aprotic ions in the presence of water suggests appropriate attention need be given to relevant chemical systems in order to exploit, or avoid, the nature of the medium formed.

A quantitative ionicity scale for liquid chloride salts.

Knowledge of ionicity is requisite for successful identification of those salt qualities required to design and couple the most appropriate fluid for performance of an intended chemical function. We report on utilisation of (35)Cl(-) quadrupolar coupling constants (C(Q)) to quantitatively assess the ionicities of given chloride salts, by exploiting the electronic response of the quadrupolar chlorine atom as a function of its immediate chemical environment. We find that protic salts in particular, like their aprotic analogues, are highly ionised, while at the same time being highly associated, in stark contrast to literature reports claiming in general that they are of sub-ionic origin.

Brønsted acidity and the medium: fundamentals with a focus on ionic liquids.

Fundamental aspects of Brønsted acidity in ionic liquid systems, in relation to those of simple protic molecules in the gas phase, pure protic molecules in the condensed phase and solutions of protic molecules in molecular systems, are presented. The variety of acidities possible, beyond those observed in aqueous systems, is emphasised and discussed in terms of differences of solvent levelling, ionisation, dissociation, homo-/hetero-conjugate ion speciation and the stabilisation of proton-transfer products from solvent to solvent. It is argued that data regarding aqueous systems do not necessarily explain acid/base behaviour in other liquids satisfactorily. Methods of measuring acidity are reviewed, particularly by spectrophotometry and electrochemistry and recommendations proffered for estimating speciation and acidity of ionic liquids of various complexities.

The complex story of a simple Brønsted acid: unusual speciation of HBr in an ionic liquid medium.

Crystalline solids, co-existing in equilibrium with the 3-methyl-1H-imidazolium bromohydrogenates(I) ionic liquid, have been characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis. The Brønsted acidic, homo-conjugate [H(2)Br(3)](-) anions presented are discussed in terms of their structure and reactivity, in efforts to advance the understanding of Brønsted acidity in ionic liquid media.

Co-adsorption and separation of CO2-CH4 mixtures in the highly flexible MIL-53(Cr) MOF.

The present study attempts to understand the use of the flexible porous chromium terephthalate Cr(OH)(O(2)C-C(6)H(4)-CO(2)) denoted MIL-53(Cr) (MIL = Material from Institut Lavoisier) for the separation of mixtures of CO(2) and CH(4) at ambient temperature. The coadsorption of CO(2) and CH(4) was studied by a variety of different techniques. In situ synchrotron X-ray Powder Diffraction allowed study of the breathing of the solid upon adsorption of the gas mixtures and simultaneously measured Raman spectra yielded an estimation of the adsorbed quantities of CO(2) and CH(4), as well as a quantification of the fraction of the narrow pore (NP) and the large pore (LP) form of MIL-53. Quantitative coadsorption data were then measured by gravimetry and by breakthrough curves. In addition, computer simulation was performed to calculate the composition of the adsorbed phase in comparison with experimental equilibrium isotherms and breakthrough results. The body of results shows that the coadsorption of CO(2) and CH(4) leads to a similar breathing of MIL-53(Cr) as with pure CO(2). The breathing is mainly controlled by the partial pressure of CO(2), but increasing the CH(4) content progressively decreases the transformation of LP to NP. CH(4) seems to be excluded from the NP form, which is filled exclusively by CO(2) molecules. The consequences in terms of CO(2)/CH(4) selectivity and the possible use of MIL-53(Cr) in a PSA process are discussed.