Random forest models to predict the densities and surface tensions of deep eutectic solvents

The use of machine learning in physicochemical properties modeling has great potential to accelerate the application of emerging materials. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), an emerging class of solvents, are promising for applications as inexpensive “designer” solvents. Due to the unique structure of DESs, the hydrogen bond donor and hydrogen bond acceptor can be varied to create a mixture with specific physical properties. In this work, we proposed random forest (RF) models to predict the densities and the surface tensions of DESs, which are essential for the separation process. In the proposed models, the structural information and the calculated critical properties were used as two different types of features, respectively. The results demonstrate that the RF models predict the densities and surface tensions of DESs with high accuracy, with absolute average relative deviation (AARD%) less than 1% in the prediction of density and 3% in the prediction of surface tension.     

Group and group-interaction contribution method for estimating the melting temperatures of deep eutectic solvents

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are mixtures of two or more components that have lower melting temperatures compared to their constituting components. DESs possess many advantages, for example, low volatility, low flammability, and low toxicity, which make them promising alternatives to traditional organic solvents. The melting temperature, one of the important physical properties, is of essential importance for industrial applications. In this work, a group and group-interaction contribution method was proposed to estimate the melting temperatures of DESs using an extensive database (1528 DESs, 1541 data points). The average absolute relative deviation (%AARD) between the estimated and experimental values of the melting temperature was 5.67% for binary DESs. Subsequently, this method was also extended to estimate the melting temperature of ternary DESs, with the AARD of 6.13%. The results indicate the high accuracy and broad applicability of the method and pave the way for the rational design of task-specific DESs.     

油酚分离过程低共熔溶剂的筛选及萃取性能研究

低温煤焦油中酚类化合物的高效分离在工业上具有重要意义。采用COSMO-RS模型对40种用于间甲酚-异丙苯分离的低共熔溶剂进行筛选,结合σ-profile和σ-potential对筛选得到的低共熔溶剂的高萃取性能进行分析。并采用液液相平衡实验对筛选结果进行验证,优化了萃取工艺条件。结果表明,COSMO-RS模型筛选得到的氯化胆碱(ChCl)∶乙二醇(EG)(1∶2)、ChCl∶丙三醇(Gly)(1∶2)、ChCl∶乳酸(LA)(1∶2)三种低共熔溶剂与间甲酚之间存在较强的氢键相互作用,与异丙苯之间存在排斥作用。液液相平衡实验证实了COSMO-RS筛选结果的可靠性,其中ChCl∶EG(1∶2)具有最高的分配系数和选择性系数,且黏度最低,被选定为最佳的低共熔溶剂。在25℃、ChCl∶EG(1∶2)与模型油质量比为1∶1时,ChCl∶EG(1∶2)对间甲酚萃取率高达98.41%,同时异丙苯夹带量仅为8.41%,并且具有良好的循环使用性能。     

油酚分离过程低共熔溶剂的筛选及萃取性能研究

低温煤焦油中酚类化合物的高效分离在工业上具有重要意义。采用COSMO-RS模型对40种用于间甲酚-异丙苯分离的低共熔溶剂进行筛选,结合σ-profile和σ-potential对筛选得到的低共熔溶剂的高萃取性能进行分析。并采用液液相平衡实验对筛选结果进行验证,优化了萃取工艺条件。结果表明,COSMO-RS模型筛选得到的氯化胆碱(ChCl)∶乙二醇(EG)(1∶2)、ChCl∶丙三醇(Gly)(1∶2)、ChCl∶乳酸(LA)(1∶2)三种低共熔溶剂与间甲酚之间存在较强的氢键相互作用,与异丙苯之间存在排斥作用。液液相平衡实验证实了COSMO-RS筛选结果的可靠性,其中ChCl∶EG(1∶2)具有最高的分配系数和选择性系数,且黏度最低,被选定为最佳的低共熔溶剂。在25℃、ChCl∶EG(1∶2)与模型油质量比为1∶1时,ChCl∶EG(1∶2)对间甲酚萃取率高达98.41%,同时异丙苯夹带量仅为8.41%,并且具有良好的循环使用性能。     

胆碱类低共融溶剂在CO2捕集与分离中的应用

胆碱类低共融溶剂是一种新型的离子液体。它不仅具有传统离子液体的优点,还具有价格低廉、低毒、生物可降解等优势。对胆碱类低共融溶剂在CO₂捕集与分离中所涉及的物理性质,如气体的溶解度、CO₂的吸收-解吸、密度、稳定性、黏度和表面张力等进行考察,并分析了胆碱类低共融溶剂的结构对各物性的影响。通过与传统离子液体的对比,胆碱类低共融溶剂在CO₂捕集与分离中的应用具有一定的优势,如CO₂溶解度高,黏度低。然而,胆碱类低共融溶剂在气体的选择性分离、表面张力等的研究还不足,且热稳定性方面还存在瓶颈,因此,其在CO₂捕集和分离中的应用还有待进一步探讨。     

新型酚基深共熔溶剂的物性表征及NH3捕集性能研究

NH₃污染问题一直是化工、环保等领域关注的重点问题,对工业尾气中的NH₃进行捕集和回收具有十分重要的意义。以氯化1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑 （［Emim］Cl） 为氢键受体,苯酚、间苯二酚和间苯三酚为氢键供体,构建了一类新型酚基深共熔溶剂。详细测定了酚基深共熔溶剂在不同温度下的密度和黏度,并采用经验方程对密度和黏度数据进行了关联。此外,系统考察了酚基深共熔溶剂对NH₃的吸收-解吸性能和吸收选择性,发现其具有较高的NH₃吸收容量,被吸收的NH₃可在加热和减压的条件下释放出来,经过多次循环NH₃吸收容量基本保持不变。而酚基深共熔溶剂的CO₂吸收容量则较低,因而具有优异的NH₃/CO₂吸收选择性。最后,借助光谱表征和量子化学计算,深入探究了NH₃在酚基深共熔溶剂中吸收的相互作用机制。     

Computer Simulations of Deep Eutectic Solvents: Challenges,Solutions, and Perspectives

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are one of the most rapidly evolving types of solvents, appearing in a broad range of applications, such as nanotechnology, electrochemistry, biomass transformation, pharmaceuticals, membrane technology, biocomposite development, modern 3D-printing, and many others. The range of their applicability continues to expand, which demands the development of new DESs with improved properties. To do so requires an understanding of the fundamental relationship between the structure and properties of DESs. Computer simulation and machine learning techniques provide a fruitful approach as they can predict and reveal physical mechanisms and readily be linked to experiments. This review is devoted to the computational research of DESs and describes technical features of DES simulations and the corresponding perspectives on various DES applications. The aim is to demonstrate the current frontiers of computational research of DESs and discuss future perspectives.     

Designing a biocatalytic process involving deep eutectic solvents

During the last decade, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional organic solvents, from both environmental and technological perspectives. The number of structural combinations encompassed by DESs is tremendous; thus, it is possible to design an optimal DES for each specific enzymatic reaction system. In (bio)catalytic processes, a DES can serve as solvent/co‐solvent, as an extractive reagent for an enzymatic product, and as a pretreatment solvent of enzymatic biomass. To date, hydrolases are the most studied enzymes in DESs, which is not surprising given that lipases are the most important industrial enzymes. At the same time, there are a limited number of papers dealing with synthetic reactions in DESs involving other hydrolytic enzymes (epoxide hydrolases, phospholipase, proteases and haloalkane dehalogenases), lyases, and dehydrogenases (as a part of the whole Saccharomyces cerevisae and Escherichia coli cell biocatalysis). When designing efficient biocatalytic processes involving DESs, independent of the reaction type and enzyme used, the following steps should be included: (i) preparation and characterisation of the DES, (ii) screening of the DES for optimal enzyme performance, (iii) selection and optimisation of the biocatalytic protocol, and (iv) recovery of the product/DES and DES recycling with possible scale‐up. In this paper, we will present some practical aspects that we experienced while working with these solvents, together with some major observations that are available in the literature. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Deep eutectic solvents for efficient capture of cyclohexane in volatile organic compounds: Thermodynamic and molecular mechanism

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as promising green absorbents were first proposed to capture the condensable cyclohexane gas. Choline chloride–ethylene glycol (EG) (Ethaline) and choline chloride–urea (Reline) were prepared using choline chloride as the hydrogen-bond acceptor (HBA) and urea or EG as the hydrogen-bond donor (HBD). To explore the potential application of DESs in condensable gas capture, the COSMO-RS model was used to predict the solubility of cyclohexane in Ethaline and Reline. The thermodynamic properties, that is, Henry's constant and excess enthalpy, were estimated by correlating solubility data with Henry's law equation. Quantum chemical (QC) calculation was applied to understand the absorption mechanism at the molecular level. The results showed that the absorption performance of cyclohexane in Ethaline and Reline was dependent on the weak interaction between O of EG (or N of urea) and H of cyclohexane as well as the free volume effect of DESs.     

New Carvone-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents for Siloxanes Capture from Biogas

During biogas combustion, siloxanes form deposits of SiO₂ on engine components, thus shortening the lifespan of the installation. Therefore, the development of new methods for the purification of biogas is receiving increasing attention. One of the most effective methods is physical absorption with the use of appropriate solvents. According to the principles of green engineering, solvents should be biodegradable, non-toxic, and have a high absorption capacity. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) possess such characteristics. In the literature, due to the very large number of DES combinations, conductor-like screening models for real solvents (COSMO-RS), based on the comparison of siloxane activity coefficient of 90 DESs of various types, were studied. DESs, which have the highest affinity to siloxanes, were synthesized. The most important physicochemical properties of DESs were carefully studied. In order to explain of the mechanism of DES formation, and the interaction between DES and siloxanes, the theoretical studies based on σ-profiles, and experimental studies including the ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and FT-IR spectra, were applied. The obtained results indicated that the new DESs, which were composed of carvone and carboxylic acids, were characterized by the highest affinity to siloxanes. It was shown that the hydrogen bonds between the active ketone group (=O) and the carboxyl group (-COOH) determined the formation of stable DESs with a melting point much lower than those of the individual components. On the other hand, non-bonded interactions mainly determined the effective capture of siloxanes with DES.     

Optimization of the chromatographic behaviors of quercetin using choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents as HPLC mobile-phase additives

Nine types of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were used as mobile-phase additives to improve the chromatographic behaviors of quercetin. Three variables (temperature, molar ratio and concentration) were studied. According to the ion interaction theory and the hydrogen bond, DESs components can work as ions and play an ion-pairing role with quercetin at the same time. Under the optimum condition, the number of theoretical plates was 6690.8 and the tailing factor was 1.71. Compared with acetic acid (HAc), DESs as mobile-phase additives would not damage the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system. The excellent properties of DESs showed their potential as additives for the determination of quercetin.     

深共融溶剂在燃油脱除有机硫化物中的应用

深共融溶剂（deep eutectic solvents,DESs）萃取脱硫技术具有操作简易、条件温和、成本低、脱硫效果好等优点,为燃油中有机硫化物的绿色深度脱除开辟了一条新的途径。本文综述了近5年DESs在燃油脱除有机硫化物中的最新研究成果,主要从直接萃取脱硫和氧化/萃取脱硫两方面对DESs脱硫进行综述。首先对不同DESs的脱硫效果进行了归纳总结,如以四丁基溴化铵/聚乙二醇直接萃取脱硫,3次萃取后,二苯并噻吩的脱除率可达100%;以氯化胆碱/乙酸为萃取剂氧化萃取脱硫,对二苯并噻吩模拟油的氧化萃取脱硫率也可达100%,可满足超低硫要求。同时对影响DESs脱硫效果的因素,如DESs的结构、脱硫的温度、时间、剂油比、硫化物的种类及浓度、氧化剂等进行了分析。然后对DESs的回收方法进行了总结,指出了回收过程中面临的问题并讨论了不同DESs的萃取脱硫机理。最后指出DESs脱硫面临的问题并展望了DESs在燃油脱硫中未来的发展前景。     

Modeling vapor–liquid equilibrium and liquid–liquid extraction of deep eutectic solvents and ionic liquids using perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory equation of state. Part II

This study aims to use perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) to describe the phase behavior of systems containing deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and ionic liquids (ILs). The DESs are based on tetrabutylammonium chloride and tetrabutylammonium bromide as hydrogen bond acceptors, and levulinic acid and diethylene glycol as hydrogen bond donors in the mole ratio of 1:2 and 1:4, respectively. Predictions of phase equilibria by PC-SAFT were compared with the results of COnductor like Screening MOdel for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS) and non-random two-liquid (NRTL). In this work, low viscosity ether- and pyridinium-based ILs [E_nPy][NTf₂] and [C_mPy][NTf₂] were used for vapor–liquid equilibrium systems, while 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-amide and 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bis{trifluoromethylsulfonyl}imide with n-heptane + thiophene and n-hexane + ethylbenzene were used in the liquid–liquid extraction, respectively. In the last part, the phase behavior of the mixtures of perfluoroalkylalkanes with their linear alkane counterparts was studied and compared with the SAFT-Mie pair potential.     

低共熔溶剂的分子结构及物性估算的研究进展

低共熔溶剂具有熔点低、不挥发、不易燃、溶解性良好、易合成、廉价、低毒、腐蚀性低、生物降解性好等特点,常被作为"绿色"溶剂应用于金属加工和合成反应中。然而,目前对低共熔溶剂的结构和性质的研究只限于少部分具体的低共熔溶剂,没有形成系统全面的理论体系。简述了低共熔溶剂的合成与分类、分子结构和形成机理的研究进展,归纳了低共熔溶剂的物性估算方法,并指出了一些关于低共熔溶剂研究中存在的问题,提出了可能的解决方案。     

Aromatic volatile organic compounds absorption with phenyl-based deep eutectic solvents: A molecular thermodynamics and dynamics study

The suitability of phenyl-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as absorbents for toluene absorption was investigated by means of thermodynamic modeling and molecular dynamics (MD). The thermodynamic models perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) and conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) were used to predict the vapor–liquid equilibrium of DES–toluene systems. PC-SAFT yielded quantitative results even without using any binary fitting parameters. Among the five DESs studied in this work, [TEBAC][PhOH] consisting of triethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (TEBAC) and phenol (PhOH), was considered as the most suitable absorbent. Systems with [TEBAC][PhOH] had lowest equilibrium pressures of the considered DES–toluene mixtures, the best thermodynamic characteristics (i.e., Henry's law constant, excess enthalpy, Gibbs free energy of solvation of toluene), and the highest self-diffusion coefficient of toluene. The molecular-level mechanism was explored by MD simulations, indicating that [TEBAC][PhOH] has the strongest interaction of DES–toluene compared to the other DESs under study. This work provides guidance to rationally design novel DESs for efficient aromatic volatile organic compounds absorption.     

低共熔溶剂在电池和电催化中的应用

绿色且高效的电池和电催化反应是可持续发展的基本要求,其关键因素之一在于选择能提高效率的绿色电解质和合成高效电极材料的绿色溶剂。低共熔溶剂（DESs）是一种新型环境友好的电解质和溶剂。与传统的溶剂和电解质（如离子液体、水、超临界二氧化碳）相比,DESs具有合成简便、价格低廉、可设计等优点,在电池和电催化领域有着广阔的应用前景。这方面的研究还处于起步阶段,未见有综述系统介绍。本综述内容包括以下几个部分。（1）DESs作为电池和电催化反应的电解质,其中电池包括太阳能电池、锂离子电池、钠电池、锌电池、铝电池、液流电池、超级电容器,电催化反应包括析氧反应、析氢反应、氧还原反应、全解水反应、氮气电催化反应、二氧化碳电还原反应;（2）DESs作为制备电池和电催化反应电极材料的溶剂;（3）DESs作为回收电极材料的溶剂;（4）结论和展望。     

离子液体和低共熔溶剂催化二氧化碳合成有机碳酸酯的研究进展

离子液体和低共熔溶剂因其良好的溶解与催化能力,可催化CO₂转化为高附加值化学品。本文综述了离子液体和低共熔溶剂催化CO₂转化为有机碳酸酯的研究进展,分析了CO₂与醇生成直链碳酸酯以及与环氧化物生成环状碳酸酯的反应机理;介绍了传统型、质子型、功能化离子液体以及由氯化胆碱、季铵盐与季膦盐、有机碱等作为氢键受体组成的低共熔溶剂,及其在CO₂转化为直链和环状碳酸酯反应中的催化性能;总结了此两类反应中离子液体和低共熔溶剂设计的基本规律;指出了CO₂转化反应中离子液体与低共熔溶剂存在的催化效率低、稳定性不高、后续分离困难等问题,后续研究可结合计算机辅助设计方法,探索更合适的阴阳离子/氢键供受体组合,获得更高效的催化体系。     

Thermodynamic and molecular insights into natural gas dehydration using choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as promising green drying agents were first proposed to natural gas (NG) dehydration. In this work, choline chloride (ChCl)-based DESs were prepared using ChCl as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and triethylene glycol (TEG), ethylene glycol (EG) or Urea as hydrogen bond donors (HBDs). To explore the potential application, methane (CH₄) dehydration experiment was conducted to verify the dehydration performance using prepared DESs. The thermodynamic properties were predicted by COSMO-RS model (Conductor-like screening model for real solvents). The quantum chemistry calculation was applied to understand the separation mechanism at the molecular level. The absorption performance of H₂O in DESs depends on the weak interaction between Cl atom (or N and O atom) of ChCl and H atom of H₂O as well as the free volume of DESs. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation discloses the intermolecular interaction between HBA and HBD. This work makes the first multi-scale analysis on NG dehydration using DESs.     

Deep eutectic solvents: designer fluids for chemical processes

The increasing demand for multi‐task green solvents has spurred the development of next‐generation liquid media such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs), which have recently attracted increased attention. DESs are mixtures of salts and complexing agents, having freezing points lower than those of starting individual components. Similarly to ionic liquids, DESs exhibit distinctive properties such as chemical and thermal stability, biodegradability, non‐flammability, and cost effectiveness. These features account for their wide range of applications, e.g. as extractants, reactants, catalysts, reaction media, additives, and lubricants. This review summarizes the recent research efforts directed at exploring the potential applications of DESs in various chemical processes. With the rapid publication of reports on this new generation of solvents, other roles also are expected to be seen sooner or later. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

EMIES/nC9H10O2基低共熔溶剂的制备及其氧化脱硫活性的研究

通过简单加热1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑硫酸乙酯（EMIES）离子液体和3-苯丙酸（C₉H₁₀O₂）的混合物，制备了一系列酸性低共熔溶剂EMIES/nC₉H₁₀O₂（n=0.25,0.5,1,2,4）。通过FTIR，¹H NMR和TGA的表征，确定EMIES/nC₉H₁₀O₂的结构。以该低共熔溶剂为催化剂和萃取剂，H₂O₂为氧化剂，组成氧化-萃取脱硫体系，用于脱除模拟油中的硫化物。考察了原料配比、反应温度、氧硫比（O/S）、低共熔溶剂加入量和不同硫化物对脱硫性能的影响。结果表明，在EMIES和C₉H₁₀O₂摩尔比为1∶1，反应温度为50℃，O/S比为8，低共熔溶剂加入量为1.5 g和模拟油5 ml的反应条件下，二苯并噻吩、4,6-二甲基二苯并噻吩和苯并噻吩的脱除率分别为94.8%、91.6%和46.4%。低共熔溶剂可循环使用6次，活性无明显下降。此外，对该氧化-萃取脱硫体系的脱硫机理进行了探讨。