Chemical Adsorption Strategy for DMC-MeOH Mixture Separation

The effective separation of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from its methanol mixture through simple, inexpensive and low energy-input method is a promising and challenging field in the process of organic synthesis. Herein, a reversible adsorption strategy through the assistance of superbase and CO2 for DMC/methanol separation at ambient condition was described. The process was demonstrated effectively via the excellent CO2 adsorption efficiency. Notably, the protocol was also suitable to other alcohol (i.e., monohydric alcohol, dihydric alcohol, trihydric alcohol) mixtures. The study provided guidance for potential separation of DMC/alcohol mixture in the scale-up production.

Aluminium nanorings: configuration deformation and structural transformation

Present herein is the first time that a fatty acid is employed in the assembly of aluminium wheels. Interestingly, a structural transformation between the diol modified and monohydric alcohol is discovered.

Catalytic conversion of biomass-derived levulinic acid into alcohols over nanoporous Ru catalyst

1,4-pentanediol or monohydric alcohol were achieved with high selectivity from levulinic acid under relatively mild conditions using nanoporous Ru.

Modification of polyurethane with novel blocking agent

Purpose – Fluorinated polyurethane combines some virtues of polyurethane and fluorinated polymer, such as low water absorption, attractive surface properties, good wearability and high weatherability. Fluorocarbon chains have been incorporated into polyurethanes by fluorinated diisocyanates, chain extenders, polyether glycols, polyester glycols and end-cappers. However, the fluorinated polyurethane, which is prepared with monohydric fluorocarbon alcohol, is seldom reported. The purpose of this research is to prepare and apply the novel fluorocarbon alcohols with side chain to modify polyurethane as the blocking agent. Design/methodology/approach – The novel fluorocarbon alcohol with side chain 2-methoxy-3-nonene perfluorinated oxygen propanol (MNPOP) can be prepared via alcoholysis reaction of methanol and 2,3-epoxypropyl perfluorinated nonene ether (EPPNE), which was prepared with etherification of hexafluoropropene trimer (HFPT) and 2,3-glycidol. Structures of EPPNE and MNPOP are confirmed with FTIR and NMR. The polyurethane can be modified when MNPOP is used as blocking agent. Findings – In comparison with the conventional polyurethane, the hydrophobic property of fluorinated polyurethane is improved. However, the increase of tensile strength of modified polyurethane is not obvious because MNPOP belongs to monohydric alcohol. And the function of MNPOP in the modified polyurethane is the blocking agent. The thermal stability of conventional and modified polyurethane is almost the same because MNPOP is de-blocked and fluorocarbon chains have not been incorporated into polyurethanes when the temperature is more than 150°C. Originality/value – The polyurethane is modified with the novel fluorocarbon alcohols with side chain, which functions as the blocking agent. The hydrophobic property of fluorinated polyurethane is improved.

Diffusion Studies of Phenylenediamine Isomers in Water-Monohydric-Alcohol Systems

The study of isomer diffusion provides useful information regarding solvent effects for mixture analysis. Isomers, particularly those with similar hydrodynamic radii, provide a mechanism for probing solute–solvent interactions. Here nuclear magnetic resonance was used to measure the self-diffusion of phenylenediamine isomers in various water–monohydric-alcohol (i.e. methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and tert-butanol) solvents. These systems allowed the effect of solvent modulation on isomer diffusion to be examined. It was found that the resonances of phenylenediamine isomers in a mixture were separable via diffusion, with the separation becoming greater at higher concentration of monohydric-alcohols. Unlike previously shown for dihydroxybenzene isomers, all three phenylenediamine isomers were differentiable via diffusion.