Microfluidic studies of carbon dioxide-mediated extraction and phase separation in switchable solvents

该提案利用了加拿大发现的一类具有可转换特性的新型溶剂，以及在开发环境友好和成本、劳动力和能源效率高的液体混合物分离方面的专门知识。该项目对专门设计和操作具有可切换特性的定制溶剂的Switchable Solutions，Inc（SSI）具有直接的重要性。 该项目将专注于微流体战略的发展，用于可切换溶剂的基础和应用探索，用于分离水性和有机液体的混合物。分离过程的发生是由于液体性质的可逆变化，即离子强度和亲水性，通过化学捕获和释放二氧化碳。在拟议的项目中，液体混合物中的萃取和相分离过程的表征将通过使用液相成像以连续模式进行，并将得到理论建模的支持。 所提出的微流体平台将用于获得关于可切换溶剂的性质的基本知识，用于现有配方的快速，高通量优化，以及用于开发新产品，这将针对可切换溶剂的特定应用。

This proposal exploits a Canadian discovery of the new class of solvents with switchable properties and expertise in developing environmentally benign and cost-, labour- and energy-efficient separation of liquid mixtures. The proposed project is of immediate importance to Switchable Solutions, Inc (SSI) that specialize in the design and operation of customized solvents with switchable properties. The project will focus on the development of the microfluidic strategy for fundamental and applied exploration of switchable solvents that are used for the separation of mixtures of aqueous and organic liquids. The separation process occurs due to a reversible change in liquid properties, that is, ionic strength and hydrophilicity, by chemically capturing and releasing carbon dioxide. In the proposed project, the characterization of extraction and phase separation processes in liquid mixtures will be carried out in a continuous mode by using imaging of the liquid phases and will be supported by theoretical modeling. The proposed microfluidic platform will be used to gain fundamental knowldge about the properties of switchable solvents, for rapid, high-throughput optimization of existing formulations, and for the development of new products, which will target a particular application of switchable solvents.