No description available.

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is an expanding chromatographic technique that is part of the evolving field of green chemistry due to its short run times and use of non-toxic solvents in combination with recycled CO2. The use of a suitable column is essential for separation science in general and there is a wide variety of SFC compatible columns available on the market. In collaboration with the AstraZeneca Gothenburg Separation Science Laboratory (SSL), an investigation of 25 stationary phases in combination with four different mobile phases was conducted in order to evaluate interactions between the mobile phase, stationary phase and analytes. The aim was to find a new column set, able to operate with a wide range of molecules at both analytical and preparative scale. The 36 compounds analysed were chosen to represent the chemical space suitable for current and foreseen compounds of interest within AstraZeneca. Furthermore, to mitigate the risk of degradation of sensitive compounds in basic conditions, different combinations of basic stationary phases and neutral mobile phases were investigated.The study was performed using a Waters Acquity UPC2 system equipped with a photodiode array (PDA) detector and a single quadrupole detector (SQD). The data was gathered by Empower 3 and analysed using statistical methods to evaluate corelations and orthogonality with the help of Python. Visualisations were produced using Pandas, XLstat and SIMCA.The results evaluated retention time, symmetry factor, distribution of retention times of compounds over the columns, and DMSO retention. The results showed that MeOH and the basic additive NH3 included in the mobile phase composition provided the shortest retention times, best peak symmetry and distribution of compounds. It was concluded that Kromasil 2EP, Kromasil Diol, DC Pak PBT, and Kromasil NH2 columns represent a diverse set for the intended chemical space. They all also operate with good results without additive, for the compounds used. / Superkritisk vätskekromatografi (SFC) är en växande kromatografisk teknik som tack vare sina snabba analyser, användandet av icke toxiska lösningsmedel, samt återvinningsbar CO2 utgör en del av den allt mer populära “gröna” kemin. Det finns en mängd kolonner utvecklade för SFC på marknaden, och att använda rätt sorts stationär fas är en viktig del för separationen av olika ämnen. I samarbete med Separation Science Laboratory på AstraZeneca i Göteborg, har 25 olika stationära faser i kombination med fyra mobila faser studerats för att analysera interaktionerna mellan faserna och analyterna. Målet är att hitta en uppsättning av kolonner som kan användas vid upprening av substanser med en stor variation av kemiska egenskaper/deskriptorer. För den här studien har 36 molekyler som representerar den kemiska rymd som AstraZeneca jobbar i använts. För att minimera risken av nedbrytning av känsliga molekyler i basiska miljöer, är även basiska kolonner med neutrala mobilfaser inkluderade. Under studien användes SFC systemet Acquity UPC2, utrustad med en Diode array detektor, en Single quadrapole detektor samt Empower 3 för insamling av data. Den statistiska analysen utfördes i Python och visualiseringen gjordes med hjälp av Pandas, Xlstat och Simca.Resultaten utvärderades med avseende på retentionstid, symmetrifaktorn, fördelningen av substanser över kolonnerna och retention av DMSO. Resultaten visade att MeOH med NH3 som additiv i mobilfasen gav kortast retentionstid, bäst symmetri och bredast fördelning av substanser. Slutsatserna var att kolonnerna Kromasil 2EP, Kromasil Diol, DC Pak PBT, and Kromasil NH2 tillsammans representerar den diversa uppsättning av kolonner som passar den kemiska rymnd som användes i studien. Samtliga kolonner kan även köras med goda resultat i neutrala mobila faser, med de betingelser som använts.

The interfacial structuring of three non-halogenated ionic liquids was examined at the air-liquid interface for both dry and humid condition by analysis of X-ray reflectometry data using a slab model approach. The aim was to investigate the effect of humidity on the air-liquid interface. Pure ionic liquids as well as solutions of 5% w/w and 20% w/w in propylene carbonate were examined. Three different cations were used, a phosphonium cation ([P6,6,6,14]+) and two dialkylimidazolium cations ([C6C1Im]+ and [C10C1Im]+). The anion was bis(mandelato)borate ([BMB]-), which is a non-commercial anion that has been shown to exhibit excellent tribological properties. The results reveal that the presence of ambient water has an impact on the interfacial structure and the layering of all pure ionic liquids, as well as most cases of ionic liquid solutions. Exposure to humidity had the largest response in the case of all pure and diluted solutions of [C6C1Im][BMB], for which a more pronounced layering was observed. The [P6,6,6,14][BMB] solutions did not exhibit any significant changes when exposed to ambient water, with the 20% w/w solution proving to be the most stable. / Gränsskiktsstrukturen hos tre olika icke-halogenerade jonvätskor undersöktes vid luft-vätskegränsskiktet för både torra och fuktiga förhållanden genom analys av data från en röntgen reflektometer med en “slab model approach”. Målet var att undersöka effekten av luftfuktighet på luft-vätskagränsskiktet. Rena jonvätskor såväl som lösningar av 5 och 20 vikt-% utspädda i propylenkarbonat undersöktes. Tre olika katjoner användes, en fosforkatjon ([P6,6,6,14]+) samt två dialkylimidazoliumkatjoner ([C6C1Im]+ och [C10C1Im]+). Anjonen var bis(madelato)borat ([BMB]-), vilket är en icke-kommersiell anjon som har visat bra tribologiska egenskaper. Resultatet visar att närvaron av omgivande vatten har en påverkan på gränsskiktsstrukturen samt skiktning hos alla rena jonvätskor och de flesta utspädda lösningar. Exponering för fuktighet hade den största inverkan på alla rena och utspädda lösningar av [C6C1Im][BMB], för vilka en mer distinkt skiktning kunde observeras. [P6,6,6,14][BMB] lösningar uppvisade inga signifikanta ändringar vid exponering till fuktig luft, där den lösning med 20 vikt-% visade sig vara mest stabil.

Sustainability and environmental responsibility is increasingly growing in importance. Solving the environmental problems of the planet will one day become the responsibility of future scientists. For this reason, and with the introduction of new chemical legislation (REACH) driving change it is essential that current students are given a broad introduction to sustainability and environmental responsibility in order to equip them as graduates for future practice in the chemical sciences. At the University of Bradford the aim is to teach sustainability and environmental responsibility by embedding it throughout the entire chemistry curriculum rather than teaching it in standalone lectures. Once this has been established within chemistry it is expected that this will potentially provide a template for other areas of laboratory science within the university. In order to achieve the aim of this project, students, staff and potential employers tookpart in surveys with a view to inform curriculum development. Examples of best practice were sought and used as guidance for the development of directed learning activities for use as post lab questions and utilisation of the twelve principles of green chemistry. Green chemistry metrics were applied to undergraduate experiments to test how well they would work in terms of ease of use, applicability and judging ¿greenness¿. It was found that these were not very effective for use within an undergraduate laboratory due to applicability and judging ¿greenness¿, however this work highlighted other areas for improvement. As a result of this work an environmental assessment metric system was developed for use within an undergraduate setting. / Ecoversity at the University of Bradford

A thermo-chemical treatment method was used to produce biogenic amorphous silica from South African sugarcane and maize residues. Different fractions of South African sugarcane (leaves, pith, and fiber) were processed for silica production. The biomass samples were leached with either 7 wt% citric acid or 7 wt% sulfuric acid at 353 K for 2 h prior to being rinsed, dried and combusted using a four-step program ranging from room temperature to 873 K in a furnace. The characterization of the pre-treated biomass samples was conducted using thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) and elemental analysis (CHN), while the final products were characterized by XRF, X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, nitrogen physisorption and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Citric acid pre-treatment proved to be an attractive alternative to mineral acids. Amorphous biogenic silica was produced from sugarcane leaves in good quality (0.1 wt% residual carbon and up to 99.3 wt% silica content). The produced biogenic silica also had great textural properties such as a surface area of up to 323 m2 g−1, average pore diameter of 5.0 nm, and a pore volume of 0.41 cm3 g−1.

This work introduces a cost and time efficient procedure to specifically increase mesopore volume and specific surface area of biogenic silica (specific surface area: 147 m2 g−1 and mesopore volume: 0.23 cm3 g−1) to make it suitable for applications in adsorption or as catalyst support. The target values were a specific surface area of ∼500 m2 g−1 and a mesopore volume of ∼0.40–0.50 cm3 g−1 as these values are industrially relevant and are reached by potential concurring products such as precipitated silica, silica gel, and fumed silica. The applied process of partial pseudomorphic transformation was carried out as a single reaction step in a microwave reactor instead of commonly used convective heating. In addition, the conventionally used surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) was substituted by the low-cost surfactant (Arquad® 16-29, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl) aqueous solution). The influence of microwave heating, type of surfactant as well as the concentration of NaOH and CTACl on the textural and structural properties of the modified biogenic silica was investigated using nitrogen adsorption as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the textural parameters of the modified biogenic silica can be exactly controlled by the amount of NaOH in the reaction solution. By variation of the NaOH concentration, specific surface areas in the range of 215–1,001m2 g−1 andmesopore volumes of 0.25–0.56 cm3 g−1 were achieved after reaction at 393 K for 10min. The presented microwave route using the low-cost surfactant solution decreases the reaction time by 99% and as shown in an example for German prices, lowers the costs for the surfactant by 76–99%.

No description available.

Sammanfattning på svenska: Målet med projektet var att utveckla ett system av disperserade bindemedel för non-wovenindustrin som inte förutsätter omfattande förändringar i befintliga processer. Bindemedlet ska vara biobaserat, bionedbrytbart och endast bestå av byggstenar som är matkontaktsgodkända av FDA och BFR. Ett disperserat system möjliggör en hög torrhalt tillsammans med en låg viskositet som i kombination med stor anpassningsbarhet kan konkurrera med fossila bindemedel på marknaden. Denna studie behandlar användande och modifiering av vattenlösliga biopolymerer för utveckling av ett disperserat system med förmågan att binda samman fibrer i ett non-wovenmaterial. Flertal analytiska metoder och observationer används, som Fourier transform infraröd spektroskopi (FTIR), laddningsdensitet, viskositet och optisk mikroskopi, för att mäta framgången av konceptet. Olika modifieringar och ympningsstrategier användes under projektet och deras inverkan på biopolymerer diskuteras. / The aim of the project was to develop a dispersed binder as a drop-in solution for non-woven industry. The binder should be bio-based, biodegradable and consist only of FDA and BFR food contact approved components. A dispersed system enables the binder to have a high solid content while having a low viscosity. This feature, in combination with a binder with tunable properties, can be a competitive alternative for the fossil-based binders in the market.  This study focuses on the use and modification of biopolymers with binding capacity to form a dispersed system from water-soluble biopolymers. The success of the reaction was evaluated by using a multitude of analytical methods and observation, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), charge distribution and viscosity measurements. Several modification strategies and grafting agents were used and their impact on the biopolymer is discussed.

Several ligands derived from D-glucosamine, designed for different catalytic reactions havebeen synthesized. The ligands for homogeneous catalysis based on 1,2-glucodiamine wereprepared, and used in reactions of allylic alkylation, hydrogenation and Michael addition.Supported Aqueous Phase Catalyst (SAPC) system was prepared from D-glucosamine anduse with very good results in Suzuki Miyaura cross coupling reactions. Catalyst was alsorecycled. Attempt to prepare ligands grafted on SBA-silica matrix were made as well asligands containing poly(ethylene) glycol moiety.

Les matériaux utilisés pour les applications biomédicales doivent être biocompatibles, et idéalement biodégradables. Les acides biliaires proviennent de sources naturelles et sont présents dans le corps humain. De plus, les polyetsers composés en partie de ces molécules possèdent des liens hydrolysables, une mémoire de forme thermique, et leur flexibilité peut être variée. Jusqu’à présent, la synthèse de ces matériaux exigeait l’utilisation de catalyseurs contenant des métaux de transition lourds pour l’étape de macrocyclisation. Puisque la polymérisation par ouverture de cycle nécessite des précurseurs cycliques, l’étape de lactonisation fut réalisée par voie enzymatique, au lieu d’utiliser des catalyseurs à plus grande toxicité. De plus, une seule étape enzymatique a pu remplacer deux étapes de synthèse organique, avec un rendement de 58 % et l’obtention d’un matériel transparent. Ces macrocycles nouvellement obtenus ont par la suite été polymérisés par ouverture de cycle, de façon similaire à la technique élaborée par notre groupe en 2013, tout en optimisant la durée de réaction. En 15 heures, une masse molaire relativement grande de 40 000 g/mol fut obtenue, tout en maintenant la dispersité sous 1.4 et la température de transition vitreuse à 12 °C. Pour valider le principe de cyclisation et de polymérisation enzymatique, les conditions optimales pour combiner l’acide thapsique et le 1,10-decanediol furent préalablement déterminées. Entre autres, la durée de réaction et la quantité d’enzyme nécessaire furent analysées. Les polymères semi-crystallins obtenus possèdent aussi de grandes masses molaires et de basses dispersités. Or, il est possible d’utiliser un enzyme à la fois pour la fermeture et pour l’ouverture de cycle de molécules rigides à cœur stéroïdal, telles que les acides biliaires. Cette synthèse permet la production de matériaux plus biocompatibles, tout en favorisant plusieurs principes de chimie verte. / Materials used in biomedical applications need to be biocompatible and ideally biodegradable. Bile acids are natural occurring compounds found in humans, and their polyesters possess hydrolyzable bonds, thermal shape memory and tunable flexibility. Until now, the synthetic pathway to obtain such materials required transition metal catalysts for the macrocyclization step, which is necessary to perform ring-opening polymerization (ROP). To circumvent the need for such catalysts, enzymatic ring closing was performed using lipases. Conveniently, two synthetic steps were replaced with a single step, using a renewable and reusable catalyst, with 58 % yield and a colorless product. The bile acid-containing macrocycles were then enzymatically polymerized as described in our previous work, while optimizing the reaction time. In 15 hours, relatively high Mw of 40 000 g/mol were obtained, while maintaining the dispersity ≤ 1.4 and a glass transition temperature of about 12 °C. As a proof-of-concept, conditions for the enzymatic ring closure of thapsic acid with 1,10-decanediol were determined beforehand. While optimizing for enzyme amount and reaction time, enzymatic ROP conditions to obtain di- and tetralactones from these monomers were established. The resulting semi-crystalline polymers also possess relatively high molecular weight and low dispersity. Hence, the use of lipases for both ring-closing and ring-opening reactions now shows potential for large, rigid moieties in addition to more mobile structures, using the same enzyme. This is a step towards the production of more biocompatible polymers, with a synthetic pathway that follows many green chemistry principles.