Developing greener, more efficient, and less energy-intensive processes will lead the chemical industry into a more sustainable future. Gas-expanded liquids (GXLs) form a unique class of environmentally benign and tunable solvents that can be used in a variety of applications. Through the series of studies presented in this thesis, we have investigated both the properties and applications of GXLs. We have developed a more complete understanding of the interactions between the gas, the organic liquid, and solutes at the molecular level through kinetic and solvatochromic experiments. We have examined a Diels-Alder reaction and an SN2 reaction and have described the kinetic results in terms of intermolecular interactions and local composition enhancement. We have also demonstrated the use of Organic-Aqueous Tunable Solvents, a special case of GXLs, to recycle homogeneous hydroformylation catalysts. The results of this research can be used to guide future applications of GXLs as green reaction solvents.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:GATECH/oai:smartech.gatech.edu:1853/19866 |
| Date | 14 November 2007 |
| Creators | Ford, Jackson Walker |
| Publisher | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Source Sets | Georgia Tech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
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