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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 34267

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Dr. Marcin Smiglak

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Poznan Science and Technology Park (PPNT), Rubiez 46, 61-612 Poznan, Poland
Interests: ionic liquids; catalysis and biocatalysis; polymers; composites and biocomposites; organic synthesis; plant protection; heterocyclic chemistry; thermodynamics; green chemistry; physical properties; sustainability; agricultural plant science; bioactive compounds chemistry; systemic acquired resistance (SAR); optical materials; chemical technology and processes; microreactors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Green chemistry is incessantly changing and evolving, and the importance of its findings is becoming crucial in the aspects of global discussions on sustainability.

Green chemistry involves many fields. Some of the most important, both from a scientific and industrial point of view, are materials, electrochemistry, catalysis, agrochemistry, and ionic liquids. Considering the environmental pollution of, for example, many types of plastics, design and research towards new environmentally friendly materials are crucial to avoid further water and soil devastation. Another environmental problem is out-of-date energy storage devices, which can cause severe environmental damage through heavy metals pollution. Development in electrochemistry can bring convenient solutions for this problem through the design of modern sustainable devices. Another significant environmental problem is industrial waste production, which can be stopped or significantly reduced by using proper catalytic processes, especially with the utilization of natural resources and/or reusable catalysts. Agrochemistry is not less important since designing modern solutions in this area provides a higher yield of crops with simultaneous sustainability. Often, ionic liquids are sought as a common denominator in research to solve the problems mentioned above. Ionic liquids are mostly known for their unique and specific tuneable properties that allow them to solve industrial problems while complying with Green Chemistry rules.

This Special Issue aims to present the most recent advances and trends in research based on green chemistry and is directly related to the Third Advances in Green Chemistry conference, which will be held in Poznan, Poland (26–30.09.2022). It is mainly intended for conference participants, but I encourage everyone to contribute their research to this Special Issue.

Dr. Marcin Smiglak
Guest Editor

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Keywords

ionic liquids
catalysis and biocatalysis
polymers
composites and biocomposites
organic synthesis
plant protection
heterocyclic chemistry
thermodynamics
green chemistry
physical properties
sustainability
agricultural plant science
bioactive compounds chemistry
systemic acquired resistance (SAR)
optical materials
chemical technology and processes
microreactors

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optical Fiber Grating-Prism Fabrication by Imprint Patterning of Ionic-Liquid-Based Resist

by Natalia Turek, Piotr Pala, Andrea Szpecht, Adrian Zając, Teresa Sembratowicz, Tadeusz Martynkien, Marcin Śmiglak and Katarzyna Komorowska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1370; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021370 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2065

Abstract

We present a method of microstructure fabrication on the tip of the optical fiber using a UV soft-imprint process of polymerizable ionic liquid-based optical resist. Ionic liquid with two UV-sensitive vinylbenzyl groups in the structure was diluted in non-hazardous propylene glycol (PG) to obtain liquid material for imprinting. No additional organic solvent was required. The impact of propylene glycol amount and exposure dose on optical and mechanical properties was investigated. The final procedure of the UV imprint on the optical fiber tip was developed, including the mold preparation, setup building, UV exposure and post-laser cure. As the IL-containing vinylbenzyl groups can also be polymerized by the radical rearrangement of double bonds through thermal heating, the influence of the addition of 1–2% BHT polymerization inhibitor was verified. As a result, we present the fabricated diffraction gratings and the optical fiber spectrometer component—grism (grating-prism), which allows obtaining a dispersion spectrum at the output of an optical in line with the optical fiber long axis, as the main component in an optical fiber spectrometer. The process is very simple due to the fact that its optimization already starts in the process of molecule design, which is part of the trend of sustainable technologies. The final material can be designed by the tailoring of the anion and/or cation molecule, which in turn can lead to a more efficient fabrication procedure and additional functionalities of the final structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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16 pages, 2630 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adjustment of the Structure of the Simplest Amino Acid Present in Nature—Glycine, toward More Environmentally Friendly Ionic Forms of Phenoxypropionate-Based Herbicides

by Adriana Olejniczak, Witold Stachowiak, Tomasz Rzemieniecki and Michał Niemczak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1360; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021360 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2413

Abstract

The use of chemicals for various purposes in agriculture has numerous consequences, such as the contamination of ecosystems. Thus, nowadays it is perceived that their development should adhere to the principles of green chemistry elaborated by Paul Anastas. Consequently, to create more environment-friendly herbicides, we elaborated a ‘green’ synthesis method of a series of ionic liquids (ILs) containing cations derived from glycine. The appropriately modified cations were combined with an anion from the group of phenoxy acids, commonly known as 2,4-DP. The products were obtained with high yields, and subsequently, their properties, such as density, viscosity and solubility, were thoroughly examined to elucidate existing structure–property relationships. All ILs were liquids at room temperature, which enabled the elimination of some serious issues associated with solid active forms, such as the polymorphism or precipitation of an active ingredient from spray solution. Additionally, the synthesized compounds were tested under greenhouse conditions, which allowed an assessment of their effectiveness in regulating the growth of oilseed rape, selected as a model dicotyledonous plant. The product comprising a dodecyl chain exhibited the greatest reduction in the fresh weight of plants, significantly surpassing not only a commercially used reference herbicide but also the potassium salt of 2,4-DP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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32 pages, 15521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Catalytic Performance and Sulfur Dioxide Resistance of One-Pot Synthesized Fe-MCM-22 in Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides with Ammonia (NH₃-SCR)—The Effect of Iron Content

by Agnieszka Szymaszek-Wawryca, Urbano Díaz, Dorota Duraczyńska, Konrad Świerczek, Bogdan Samojeden and Monika Motak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10754; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810754 - 15 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2560

Abstract

The catalytic performance of Fe-catalysts in selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia (NH₃-SCR) strongly depends on the nature of iron sites. Therefore, we aimed to prepare and investigate the catalytic potential of Fe-MCM-22 with various Si/Fe molar ratios in NH₃-SCR. The samples were prepared by the one-pot synthesis method to provide high dispersion of iron and reduce the number of synthesis steps. We have found that the sample with the lowest concentration of Fe exhibited the highest catalytic activity of ca. 100% at 175 °C, due to the abundance of well-dispersed isolated iron species. The decrease of Si/Fe limited the formation of microporous structure and resulted in partial amorphization, formation of iron oxide clusters, and emission of N₂O during the catalytic reaction. However, an optimal concentration of Fe_xO_y oligomers contributed to the decomposition of nitrous oxide within 250–400 °C. Moreover, the acidic character of the catalysts was not a key factor determining the high conversion of NO. Additionally, we conducted NH₃-SCR catalytic tests over the samples after poisoning with sulfur dioxide (SO₂). We observed that SO₂ affected the catalytic performance mainly in the low-temperature region, due to the deposition of thermally unstable ammonium sulfates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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17 pages, 2104 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Immobilized Sulfuric Acid on Silica Gel as Highly Efficient and Heterogeneous Catalyst for the One-Pot Synthesis of Novel α-Acyloxycarboxamides in Aqueous Media

by Sodeeq Aderotimi Salami, Meloddy Manyeruke, Xavier Siwe-Noundou and Rui Werner Maçedo Krause

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9529; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179529 - 23 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2430

Abstract

The application of immobilized sulfuric acid on silica gel (H₂SO₄-SiO₂) as an efficient and easily reusable solid catalyst was explored in the synthesis of novel α-acyloxycarboxamide derivatives via a Passerini reaction of benzoic acid, aldehyde/ketone, and isocyanides. The Passerini adducts were obtained in high to excellent yields within 10 min in aqueous media under catalytic conditions. The key advantages of the process include a short reaction time, high yields, the catalyst’s low cost, and the catalyst’s reusability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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26 pages, 5773 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Potential Application of Starch and Walnut Shells as Biofillers for Natural Rubber (NR) Composites

by Anna Sowińska-Baranowska, Magdalena Maciejewska and Paulina Duda

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(14), 7968; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23147968 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 3634

Abstract

The goal of this study was application of corn starch and ground walnut shells in various amounts by weight as biofillers of natural rubber (NR) biocomposites. Additionally, ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BmiCl) and (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane (APTES) were used to increase the activity of biofillers and to improve the curing characteristics of NR composites. The effect of biofillers used and their modification with aminosilane or ionic liquid on the curing characteristics of NR composites and their functional properties, including crosslink density, mechanical properties in static and dynamic conditions, hardness, thermal stability and resistance to thermo-oxidative aging were investigated. Starch and ground walnut shells were classified as inactive fillers, which can be used alternatively to commercial inactive fillers, e.g., chalk. BmiCl and APTES were successfully used to support the vulcanization and to improve the dispersion of biofillers in NR elastomer matrix. Vulcanizates with starch, especially those containing APTES and BmiCl, exhibited improved tensile properties due to the higher crosslink density and homogenous dispersion of starch, which resulted from BmiCl addition. NR filled with ground walnut shells demonstrated improved resistance to thermo-oxidative aging. It resulted from lignin present in walnut shells, the components of which belong to polyphenols, that have an antioxidant activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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25 pages, 5748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantification of Caffeine Interactions in Choline Chloride Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents: Solubility Measurements and COSMO-RS-DARE Interpretation

by Tomasz Jeliński and Piotr Cysewski

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(14), 7832; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23147832 - 15 Jul 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4288

Abstract

Solubility of active pharmaceutical ingredients is an important aspect of drug processing and formulation. Although caffeine was a subject of many studies aiming to quantify saturated solutions, many applied solvents suffer from not being environmentally friendly. This work fills this gap by presenting the results of solubility measurements in choline chloride natural deep eutectic solvents, ccNADES, comprising one of seven of the following polyalcohols: glycerol, sorbitol, xylitol, glucose, sucrose, maltose and fructose. The ratio of ccNADES components was optimized for maximizing caffeine solubility at room temperature. Additionally, temperature dependent solubility was measured for the first four systems exhibiting the highest solubility potential, both in their neat forms and in mixtures with water. Results were used for intermolecular interactions assessments using the COSMO-RS-DARE approach, which led to a perfect match between experimental and computed solubility values. An important methodological discussion was provided for an appropriate definition of the systems. Surprising linear trends were observed between the values of fitting parameters and water-ccNADES composition. In addition, comments on selection of the values of the fusion thermodynamic parameters were provided, which led to the conclusion that COSMO-RS-DARE solubility computations can effectively compensate for the inaccuracies of these important physicochemical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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9 pages, 1481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Peek Inside the Water Mixtures of Ionic Liquids at Molecular Level: Microscopic Properties Probed by EPR Spectroscopy

by Mikhail Yu. Ivanov, Yuliya F. Polienko, Igor A. Kirilyuk, Sergey A. Prikhod’ko, Nicolay Yu. Adonin and Matvey V. Fedin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 11900; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111900 - 2 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2477

Abstract

Many ionic liquids (ILs) can be mixed with water, forming either true solutions or emulsions. This favors their applications in many respects, but at the same time might strongly alter their physicochemical properties. A number of methods exist for studying the macroscopic properties of such mixtures, whereas understanding their characteristics at micro/nanoscale is rather challenging. In this work we investigate microscopic properties, such as viscosity and local structuring, in binary water mixtures of IL [Bmim]BF₄ in liquid and glassy states. For this sake, we use continuous wave and pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy with dedicated spin probes, located preferably in IL-rich domains or distributed in IL- and water-rich domains. We demonstrate that the glassy-state nanostructuring of IL-rich domains is very similar to that in neat ILs. At the same time, in liquid state the residual water makes local viscosity in IL-rich domains noticeably different compared to neat ILs, even though the overwhelming amount of water is contained in water-rich domains. These results have to be taken into account in various applications of IL-water mixtures, especially in those cases demanding the combinations of optimum micro- and macroscopic characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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Review

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19 pages, 1399 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cold-Adapted Proteases: An Efficient and Energy-Saving Biocatalyst

by Zhengfeng Yang, Zhendi Huang, Qian Wu, Xianghua Tang and Zunxi Huang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(10), 8532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108532 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2955

Abstract

The modern biotechnology industry has a demand for macromolecules that can function in extreme environments. One example is cold-adapted proteases, possessing advantages such as maintaining high catalytic efficiency at low temperature and low energy input during production and inactivation. Meanwhile, cold-adapted proteases are characterised by sustainability, environmental protection, and energy conservation; therefore, they hold significant economic and ecological value regarding resource utilisation and the global biogeochemical cycle. Recently, the development and application of cold-adapted proteases have gained gaining increasing attention; however, their applications potential has not yet been fully developed, which has seriously restricted the promotion and application of cold-adapted proteases in the industry. This article introduces the source, related enzymology characteristics, cold resistance mechanism, and the structure-function relationship of cold-adapted proteases in detail. This is in addition to discussing related biotechnologies to improve stability, emphasise application potential in clinical medical research, and the constraints of the further developing of cold-adapted proteases. This article provides a reference for future research and the development of cold-adapted proteases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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20 pages, 2625 KiB

Open AccessReview

Tuning Functionalized Ionic Liquids for CO₂ Capture

by Ruina Zhang, Quanli Ke, Zekai Zhang, Bing Zhou, Guokai Cui and Hanfeng Lu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11401; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911401 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 5264

Abstract

The increasing concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is related to global climate change. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is an important technology to reduce CO₂ emissions and to deal with global climate change. The development of new materials and technologies for efficient CO₂ capture has received increasing attention among global researchers. Ionic liquids (ILs), especially functionalized ILs, with such unique properties as almost no vapor pressure, thermal- and chemical-stability, non-flammability, and tunable properties, have been used in CCUS with great interest. This paper focuses on the development of functionalized ILs for CO₂ capture in the past decade (2012~2022). Functionalized ILs, or task-specific ILs, are ILs with active sites on cations or/and anions. The main contents include three parts: cation-functionalized ILs, anion-functionalized ILs, and cation-anion dual-functionalized ILs for CO₂ capture. In addition, classification, structures, and synthesis of functionalized ILs are also summarized. Finally, future directions, concerns, and prospects for functionalized ILs in CCUS are discussed. This review is beneficial for researchers to obtain an overall understanding of CO₂-philic ILs. This work will open a door to develop novel IL-based solvents and materials for the capture and separation of other gases, such as SO₂, H₂S, NOx, NH₃, and so on. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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23 pages, 3263 KiB

Open AccessReview

Carbon-Based Electrocatalyst Design with Phytic Acid—A Versatile Biomass-Derived Modifier of Functional Materials

by Magdalena Gwóźdź and Alina Brzęczek-Szafran

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(19), 11282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231911282 - 24 Sep 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4119

Abstract

Increasing energy demands exacerbated by energy shortages have highlighted the urgency of research on renewable energy technologies. Carbon materials that can be employed as advanced electrodes and catalysts can increase the accessibility of efficient and economical energy conversion and storage solutions based on electrocatalysis. In particular, carbon materials derived from biomass are promising candidates to replace precious-metal-based catalysts, owing to their low cost, anti-corrosion properties, electrochemical durability, and sustainability. For catalytic applications, the rational design and engineering of functional carbon materials in terms of their structure, morphology, and heteroatom doping are crucial. Phytic acid derived from natural, abundant, and renewable resources represents a versatile carbon precursor and modifier that can be introduced to tune the aforementioned properties. This review discusses synthetic strategies for preparing functional carbon materials using phytic acid and explores the influence of this precursor on the resulting materials’ physicochemical characteristics. We also summarize recent strategies that have been applied to improve the oxygen reduction performance of porous carbon materials using phytic acid, thereby offering guidance for the future design of functional, sustainable carbon materials with enhanced catalytic properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Green Chemistry)

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