Micellization behaviour of surface active N-alkyl pyridinium dodecylsulphate task-specific ionic liquids in aqueous solutions

Affordable CO2-derived alkyl carbamate ionic liquids boosting enzymatic production of renewable hydrocarbon fuels via Chlorella variabilis NC64A fatty acid photodecarboxylase (CVFAP)

The development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) presents a promising alternative to conventional jet fuel, with biofuels offering net-zero CO2 emissions. However, the conventional SAF production process typically involves expensive metal catalysts and extreme operating conditions. In contrast, the enzymatic approach offers a milder alternative; however, it is hindered by several limitations, including prolonged reaction times, reliance on cosolvents and low productivity. This study investigates the impact of CO2-based alkyl carbamate ionic liquids (ILs) on the enzymatic photodecarboxylation reaction catalyzed by Chlorella variabilis algal fatty acid photodecarboxylase (CvFAP). Notably, the study examines four ILs: N,N-dimethylammonium N',N'-dimethylcarbamate (DIMCARB), N,N-dipropylammonium N',N'-dipropylcarbamate (DPCARB), N,N-diallylammonium N',N'-diallylcarbamate (DACARB), and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-ammonium bis(2-ethylhexyl)carbamate (DBCARB). The results demonstrated that DACARB was the most optimal IL as it enhanced hydrocarbon conversion by 40 % and was able to reduce DMSO usage up to 86.7 % as compared to the absence of DACARB. This enhancement is attributed to DACARB's optimal balance of hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, which increased enzyme activity while serving as a viable DMSO replacement, as well as acting as an allosteric modulator, as shown by Michaelis-Menten model fitting. Overall, this study highlights the potential of DACARB to facilitate process intensification in enzymatic SAF production, contributing to sustainable aviation practices.

Synthesis, Aggregation Behavior and Drug-binding Interactions of Fatty acid-imidazolium-based Surface-active Ionic Liquids

The renewable fatty acid-based surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs) containing ethyl-substituted imidazolium head groups were prepared and structurally analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹HNMR and ¹³CNMR spectroscopy. The products were named as; 3-ethyl-1-(2-dodecanoyl oxy) ethylimidazolium bromide [C₁₂Eeim]Br, 3-ethyl-1-(2-tetradecanoyl oxy) ethylimidazolium bromide [C₁₄Eeim]Br and 3-ethyl-1-(2-hexadecanoyl oxy) ethylimidazolium bromide [C₁₆Eeim]Br. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) values of the three SAILs have been evaluated using conductivity measurements, probe-less UV-visible spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The obtained cmc values were compared with the earlier reported non-functionalized SAILs such as [C_nmim]Br and [C_neim]Br where n= 12, 14, 16. The values were found to be 3 to 9 times lower mainly due to the presence of ester chain and also ethyl substituted imidazole ring. Thermodynamic parameters were evaluated by conductivity data at three different temperatures. Further, the aggregation behavior of SAILs with anesthetic drug, lidocaine hydrochloride (LC) has been studied using fluorescence. The fluorescence and UV-visible studies showed strong synergistic interactions operating between SAILs and drug molecules involving H bonding and cation-π interactions. The interactions grew stronger with the elongation of SAIL-chain length (12C-16C). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements suggested the formation of vesicles in SAIL-LC mixtures. These studies may thus offer an effective candidate which would serve as vectors for drug molecules in terms of their enhanced solubilization, permeability and target-specific delivery.

Effects of ionic liquid [N4444] AOT on rice seedling growth cytomembrane damage and rhizobacteria resistance

Ionic liquids (ILs) are solvents composed of ions, containing a large asymmetric cation with an anion. With increasing and widespread applications, the toxic effects of ILs have been considerable in recent years. This study explained the effects of the new functional ionic liquids [N₄₄₄₄] bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfonyl succinate (AOT) on rice seedling and the growth of rhizobacteria. The rice seeds pretreated by [N₄₄₄₄] AOT revealed that it exhibited a significant negative impact on rice seedlings. The inhibition of rice growth increased with increasing concentration. When the concentration of [N₄₄₄₄] AOT increased to 0.25 and 0.5 mL L^-1, the germination potential decreased by 40.0% and 86.3%, respectively, compared with the control. The germination potential and germination rate of rice were reduced, and the stress effect of ionic liquid on the root parts was higher than the aerial parts. The biomass of rice seedlings was decreased by 34.8 to 91.2%. Iodinic propane staining showed that by increasing concentration, the root cell cytomembrane damage level was increased and also changed the cell shapes, especially under 0.25 mg L^-1 concentration stress. However, rhizobacteria of rice showed strong [N₄₄₄₄] AOT-resistant characteristics when the concentration was reached to 120 mg L^-1. The ILs even more promoted the growth of Enterobacter sp. NP1142 and Pantoea sp. BR23. It was indicated that IL [N₄₄₄₄] AOT can be degraded easily by rhizobacteria to eliminate the eco-risk of ILs.

Effect of Pyrrolidinium Formate Ionic Liquid on Micellization of Direct and Reverse Pluronics in Aqueous Solutions

The behavior of direct and reverse Pluronic, copolymer nonionic surfactants, poly(ethylene oxide) PEO, and poly(propylene oxide) PPO copolymers, in aqueous solution and in the pyrrolidinium formate ([pyrr][F]) ionic liquid, was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR spectroscopy). The study was performed for a fixed Pluronic concentration at room temperature. We showed that in aqueous solution, the spectra associated with the direct and reverse Pluronics are similar irrespective of the difference in length of the various PPO and PEO blocks, their positions and the PPO:PEO ratio. The study of those same Pluronics dissolved in a pure pyrrolidinium formate solution showed that the Pluronic types were soluble and that the micellization process can take place at room temperature. The interaction between the Pluronic 10R5 aqueous solutions and the [pyrr][F] for various ionic liquid volumes is reported.

Self-assembly of a short-chain ionic liquid within deep eutectic solvents

Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are receiving increased attention from both academic and industrial research due to their immense application potential. These designer solvents are environmentally friendly in nature with tunable physicochemical properties. In the present investigation, we have studied the aggregation behavior of a short-chain IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium octylsulphate [Bmim][OS] within aqueous DESs using fluorescence, UV-vis, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. We have prepared two DESs, ChCl-urea and ChCl-Gly, which are obtained by heating a mixture of an ammonium salt choline chloride with hydrogen bond donor urea or glycerol, respectively, in 1 : 2 molar ratios. The local microenvironment and size of the aggregates are obtained from steady state fluorescence (using pyrene and pyrene-1-carboxaldehyde as polarity probes) and DLS measurements, respectively. DLS results shows that IL [Bmim][OS] forms relatively larger micelles within the aqueous solution of DES ChCl-urea (avg. hydrodynamic radii = 209 nm) than compared to ChCl-Gly (avg. hydrodynamic radii = 135 nm). A significant decrease in the critical micelle concentration and increase in the aggregation number (N agg) are observed within DES solutions as compared to that in water, thus indicating that the micellization process of the IL [Bmim][OS] is much favored in the DES solutions. Molecular interactions of [Bmim][OS] in DESs are revealed from FT-IR spectroscopic investigation. Furthermore, these systems were applied to study the IL-drug binding of the antidepressant drug promazine hydrochloride (PH).

Self-assembly of a short-chain ionic liquid within deep eutectic solvents

Self-assembly of short-chain imidazolium-based ILs within DESs have been investigated by fluorescence, UV-Vis, DLS and FT-IR spectroscopy. Further, these micellar systems [Bmim][OS]-DESs are utilized to study the IL-drug binding of an antidepressant drug (PH).

Dependency of Anion and Chain Length of Imidazolium Based Ionic Liquid on Micellization of the Block Copolymer F127 in Aqueous Solution: An Experimental Deep Insight

The non-ionic triblock copolymer, Pluronic^® F127, has been selected to observe its interaction with ionic liquids (ILs) in aqueous solutions by using DLS, surface tension, and viscosity measurements. The Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of F127 increased with the addition of ILs, which appeared logical since it increases the solubility of PPO (and PEO) moiety, making it behaves more like a hydrophilic block copolymer that is micellized at a higher copolymer concentration. The results from DLS data showed good agreement with those obtained from the surface tension measurements. Upon the addition of ILs, the tendency in micellar size reduction was demonstrated by viscosity results, and therefore, intrinsic viscosity decreased compared to pure F127 in aqueous solution. The results were discussed as a function of alkyl chain length and anions of imidazolium based ILs.