Physicochemical properties of phytosterol ethoxylates (BPS-n, where n is the oxyethylene chain length of 5, 10, 20, and 30) in a room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BmimPF6), have been characterized on the basis of static surface tension, dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopic (cryo-TEM) data. The surface tension data clearly show that the BPS-n surfactants employed in this study exhibit the most excellent surface activity in BmimPF6 yet reported in the literature. The decreased chain length of the polyoxyethylene unit results in a greater surface activity (i.e., lower critical association concentration (cac) and lower surface tension measured above the cac), as is similarly reported for nonionic polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants in aqueous solution. This suggests that the hydrophobic phytosterol groups are normally oriented toward the air phase, and the polyoxyethylene chains are present in the ionic liquid. Just above the cac, the BPS-n surfactants spontaneously form molecular assemblies in BmimPF6, depending on their critical packing parameters: less-curved vesicular assemblies are seen for BPS-10, whereas greater-curved (spherical) micelles are formed for BPS-20 and BPS-30. Indeed, an increased surfactant concentration results in a structural transformation of the molecular assemblies from micelles to discontinuous cubic, hexagonal, and lamellar structures. The current article explores the best combination of surfactants with ionic liquids to see excellent surface activity and characterize molecular assemblies in bulk solution.

ABSTRACT:The separation of a phenol-water mixture using a polyurethane membrane by a pervaporation method was investigated. Polyurethane was selected as a membrane material because its affinity for phenol was considered to be high. Polyurethane was prepared by the polyaddition of 1,6-diisocyanatohexane and polytetramethyleneglycol. The polyurethane layer was sandwiched with a porous polypropylene membrane (Celgard 2500). Pervaporation measurement was carried out under vacuum on the permeate side, and the permeate vapor was collected with a liquid nitrogen trap. The phenol concentration in the permeate solution increased from 0 to 65 wt % with increasing feed concentration of phenol from 0 to 7 wt %. The total flux also increased up to 930 g m 02 h 01 with increasing phenol partial flux. In the sorption measurement at 60ЊC, the concentration of phenol in the membrane was 68 wt %, which was higher than that of the permeate solution. Therefore, it was considered that the phenol selectivity was based on high solubility in the polyurethane membranes.

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ABSTRACT:The influence of diisocyanate and diol compounds of polyurethane and crosslinking agent on the separation of phenol aqueous solution by pervaporation was investigated. Polyurethanes were prepared by polyaddition of diisocyanate and diol compounds and trimethylolpropane (TMP) using dibutyltindilaulate as a catalyst. The polyurethane membrane was prepared by a casting method and was sandwiched with a porous polypropylene membrane (Celgard 2500). Pervaporation measurement was carried out under vacuum on the permeate side, and the permeant was collected with a liquid nitrogen trap. Little influence of diisocyanate compounds on the phenol permselectivity through diisocyanate-polytetramethyleneglycol [PTMG(1000)] membranes was observed since the influence on the solubility and the diffusivity was small. The phenol permselectivity was increased with an increase in the molecular weight of PTMG and polycaprolactone diol (PCL) for the 1,6-diisocyanato hexane (HMDI)-PTMG and HMDI-PCL membranes. It was considered that the increase in phenol diffusivity can be attributed to an increase in phenol selectivity. The permeability and selectivity of HMDI-[PTMG(2900)-TMP] membrane was relatively constant below the 2% TMP content.

INTRODUCTIONRoom-temperature ionic liquids RT-ILs are a relatively new class of organic solvents. Their unique physicochemical properties such as excellent thermal stability up to 300 or more, negligible volatility, and non-flammability make them ideal green solvents for many reactions of industrial importance. In the field of colloid and interface chemistry, RT-ILs have also received much attention 1, 2 . For example, a wide range of research papers on RT-ILs were reviewed and categorized by Inoue from the perspective of surfactant chemistry 3 . These categories comprised the following: i RT-ILs as a new type of surfactant, ii the effects of RT-ILs on the aqueous solution properties of surfactants, iii the formation of microemulsions using RT-ILs as polar solvents, and iv the self-assembly of surfactants in RT-ILs. Our interest lies in the fourth category 4, 5 . One of the key fi ndings we reported in a previous paper 4 is that phytosterol ethoxylates BPS-n, where n is an oxyethylene chain length of 5, 10, 20, and 30 exhibit excellent surface activity in an aprotic, imidazolium-type RT-IL 1-butyl-

ABSTRACT:The separation of a chlorinated hydrocarbon from a dilute aqueous solution through a crosslinked acrylate copolymer-porous substrate composite membrane by pervaporation was investigated. Poly(n-butyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) and poly(n-butyl acrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) were synthesized and composite membranes were prepared, which were made from the crosslinked polymer and a porous substrate. Pervaporation measurement was carried out for a dilute aqueous solution of 1,1,2-trichloroethane at 25°C and under a vacuum on the permeate side (below 10 mmHg). The separation factor, overall flux, 1,1,2-trichloroethane concentration in the membrane, and the degree of swelling decreased with increase in the acrylic acid or 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate content of the acrylate copolymer. The influence of the crosslinking agent content on the pervaporation performance was small, and the separation factor and the overall flux showed a convex curve. The structure of the crosslinking agent had no effect on the separation. The influence of the pore size of the substrate and the thickness of the polymer layer on the separation of 1,1,2-trichloroethane was observed.

The separation of a phenol-water mixture using a polyurethane membrane by a pervaporation method was investigated. Polyurethane was selected as a membrane material because its affinity for phenol was considered to be high. Polyurethane was prepared by the polyaddition of 1,6-diisocyanatohexane and polytetramethyleneglycol. The polyurethane layer was sandwiched with a porous polypropylene membrane (Celgard 2500). Pervaporation measurement was carried out under vacuum on the permeate side, and the permeate vapor was collected with a liquid nitrogen trap. The phenol concentration in the permeate solution increased from 0 to 65 wt % with increasing feed concentration of phenol from 0 to 7 wt %. The total flux also increased up to 930 g m 02 h 01 with increasing phenol partial flux. In the sorption measurement at 60ЊC, the concentration of phenol in the membrane was 68 wt %, which was higher than that of the permeate solution. Therefore, it was considered that the phenol selectivity was based on high solubility in the polyurethane membranes.

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