RAPID: Sugar-based Recyclable Phase-Selective Gelators for Oil Spill Remediation

1046099约翰墨西哥湾一口油井的井喷将覆盖120英里的海岸线，从而极大地影响生态系统。这些灾害的规模突出表明，需要有效和生态友好的材料来控制石油泄漏。在这里，研究人员提出了基于糖的环境友好的相选择性凝胶剂，用于有效地遏制石油泄漏和石油回收。相选择性油胶凝剂（PSG）在添加到油/水混合物中时，选择性地分配到油相中并将其转化为凝胶。该提案建立在最近的初步结果基础上，其中一类来自甘露醇（一种开链糖）的糖两亲物已显示出能够选择性地凝胶几种油。如图所示，所获得的油凝胶（柴油凝胶）可以足够坚固，不仅可以保持其重量，还可以保持倒置小瓶顶部的水的重量。实验表明，该方法可以选择性地从柴油-水混合物中胶凝柴油，同时回收柴油，效率达80%。因此，它们可以成为目前溢油补救技术的潜在替代品。因此，我们建议a）进行全面的（基础和应用）研究与开链糖两亲物有关的相选择性分子凝胶化现象和B）获得设计参数（基本原理）优化两亲结构，以获得更好的选择性胶凝能力和有效的溢油清理。研究人员专注于与石油泄漏应用有关的相选择性凝胶化现象背后的基础科学。目标是构建生成生物基PTh的基本原理。 PI假设开链糖头基团和氢键相互作用对于油的选择性凝胶化可能是重要的。因此，两亲性结构将相应地变化以获得设计参数。相选择性凝胶的纳米结构（通过TEM、SEM和cryo-TEM表征）和凝胶中的分子间相互作用（通过光谱技术探测）将系统地与两亲性结构相关。更广泛的影响：更广泛的科学影响将是本项目中合成的廉价和生态友好的相选择性凝胶剂所提供的应用。从油和水的混合物的相选择性凝胶化油可能是一种可行的方法，用于遏制和补救海洋上的石油泄漏。此外，相选择性胶凝剂的可用性可能允许工程师和科学家设计这些分子的巧妙用途。PI还将把他们的研究与教育和指导活动相结合。

1046099JohnThe blowout of an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico is set to cover 120 miles of coastline and hence tremendously affect the ecosystem. The scale of such disasters has highlighted the need for effective and eco-friendly materials to contain oil spills. Here in, the investigators propose the sugar based environmentally benign phase-selective gelation agents for efficient containment of oil spills and recovery of oil as well. Phase selective oil gelators (PSGs), when added to an oil/water mixture, selectively partition into the oil phase and convert it into a gel. The proposal builds on recent preliminary results where a class of sugar amphiphiles derived from mannitol (an open chain sugar) has shown to be capable of selectively gel several oils. As shown in the image, the obtained oil gel (diesel gel) can be strong enough to hold not just its weight but also that of the water on top in the inverted vial. Selective gelation of diesel from bulk diesel water mixture and simultaneous recovery of diesel, with 80% efficiency, was demonstrated. Hence, they can be potential alternatives to the current oil spill remediation techniques. Therefore, we propose a) to conduct a comprehensive (fundamental and applied) study into the phenomenon of phase selective molecular gelation in relation to open chain sugar amphiphiles and b) to obtain design parameters (rationale) for optimizing the amphiphilic structure for better selective gelation ability and efficient oil spill clean up.Intellectual Merit: The investigators focus on the fundamental science behind the phenomenon of phase selective gelation pertaining to oil spill applications. The goal is to construct rationale for generating bio-based PTh. The PIs hypothesize that open chain sugar head groups and hydrogen bonding interactions are likely to be important for selective gelation of oils. Hence, amphiphilic structure will be accordingly varied to obtain design parameters. The nanostructure of phase selective gels (characterized by TEM, SEM, and cryo-TEM) and intermolecular interactions in the gel (probed by spectroscopic techniques) will be systematically related to amphiphilic structure.Broader Impact: The broader scientific impact will be the applications afforded by the inexpensive and eco-friendly phase selective gelators to be synthesized in this project. The phase selective gelation of oil from a mixture of oil and water could be a viable approach for the containment and remediation of oil spills on the ocean. In addition, the availability of phase selective gelators may allow engineers and scientists to devise ingenious uses for these molecules. The PI will also integrate their research with educational and mentoring activities.