Switchable Hydrophilicity Solvents and Methods of Use Thereof
AssigneesQueen's University at Kingston, GreenCentre Canada
InventorsPhilip G. Jessop, Lam N. Phan, Andrew J. Carrier, Rui Resendes, Dominik Wechsler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solvent that reversibly converts from a hydrophobic liquid form to hydrophilic liquid form upon contact with water and a selected trigger, e.g., contact with CO2, is described. The hydrophilic liquid form is readily converted back to the hydrophobic liquid form and water. The hydrophobic liquid is an amidine or amine. The hydrophilic liquid form comprises an amidinium salt or an ammonium salt.
Claims54
A system, comprising:
- means for providing a switchable hydrophilicity solvent (SHS) that is a water-immiscible liquid;
- means for adding to the SHS an aqueous liquid to form a two-layer liquid mixture;
- means for exposing the two-layer liquid mixture to CO2 in the presence of water thereby protonating the SHS to form protonated-SHS, which is water-miscible or water-soluble, so that the two-layer liquid mixture forms a single-layer liquid mixture;
- and
- means for exposing the single-layer liquid mixture to (i) heat, (ii) a flushing gas, or (iii) heat and a flushing gas, thereby expelling CO2 from the single-layer liquid mixture which leads to deprotonation of the protonated-SHS to form SHS so that the single-layer liquid mixture forms a two-layer liquid mixture;
- and
- optionally, means for separating a selected compound from the protonated-SHS prior to reformation of SHS.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A system for removing a hydrophobic contaminant from a solid material, comprising:
- means for contacting a mixture of solid material and hydrophobic contaminant with a liquid comprising a liquid switchable hydrophilicity solvent (SHS) so that at least a portion of the hydrophobic contaminant becomes associated with the liquid to form contaminated liquid;
- optionally, means for separating the contaminated liquid from residual solid material;
- means for contacting the contaminated liquid with CO2 in the presence of water to convert a substantial amount of the switchable hydrophilicity solvent from its unprotonated form to its protonated form, resulting in a two-phase liquid mixture having a hydrophobic liquid phase comprising the hydrophobic contaminant, and an aqueous liquid phase;
- and
- means for separating the hydrophobic liquid phase from the aqueous liquid phase.
10-12. (canceled)
17-27. (canceled)
32-40. (canceled)
A system for obtaining dissolved polymeric foam, comprising:
- means for contacting polymeric foam with a switchable hydrophilicity solvent (SHS) so that the polymeric foam dissolves to form a liquid mixture;
- optionally, means for mixing the liquid mixture;
- and
- means for transporting the liquid mixture into a separate vessel.
(canceled)
49-85. (canceled)
89-91. (canceled)
(canceled)
A method of removing gas from polymeric foam, comprising:
- dissolving a polymeric foam in a switchable hydrophilicity solvent to form a solution;
- combining in any order the solution, water, and CO2 to form a suspension comprising solid polymer and an aqueous liquid comprising a protonated switchable hydrophilicity solvent;
- and
- separating the suspension to obtain the solid polymer.
A method of obtaining substantially pure polymer from polymeric foam, comprising:
- dissolving a polymeric foam in a switchable hydrophilicity solvent (SHS) to form a solution;
- combining in any order the solution, water, and CO2 to form a suspension comprising solid polymer and an aqueous liquid comprising a protonated form of the SHS;
- and
- separating the suspension to obtain the solid polymer.
110-124. (canceled)
A kit comprising a switchable hydrophilicity solvent (SHS), and optionally instructions for use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.