Enantioseparation processes and mechanisms in functionalized graphene membranes: Facilitated or retarded transport?

Maltodextrin-modified graphene oxide composite membrane applied to the enantioseparation of amino acids

The separation of enantiomers using chiral membranes has garnered much research interest. In this study, the enantioseparation of amino acids using chiral membranes, namely graphene oxide-ethylenediamine-maltodextrin (GO-EDA-MD) and GO-EDA-hydroxypropyl-MD (GO-EDA-HP-MD), was evaluated. HP-MD and MD were investigated as chiral selectors due to their inherent chirality. Various characterization techniques, including atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle analysis, tensile properties, and thermal gravimetric analysis were employed to analyze the membrane structures. The evaluation of enantioseparation performance was conducted by employing tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine enantiomers. Optimal conditions for enantiomer separation were achived using a GO-EDA-HP-MD chiral composite (1.75 wt%), a feed concentration of 10 mg/L for each enantiomer, a separation time of 15 min, and a membrane effective surface area of 1.0 cm2. Also, the bovine serum albumin rejection was 90.0 %, and the water flux reached 37.1 L m-2 h-1. The highest enantiomeric excess (ee.%) values were 46.33 %, 76.97 %, and 73.04 % for tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine, respectively. The impact of voltage on ee.% and substance flux was also explored. This membrane was able to separate enantiomers successfully.

Enantioseparation Membranes: Research Status, Challenges, and Trends

The purity of enantiomers plays a critical role in human health and safety. Enantioseparation is an effective way and necessary process to obtain pure chiral compounds. Enantiomer membrane separation is a new chiral resolution technique, which has the potential for industrialization. This paper mainly summarizes the research status of enantioseparation membranes including membrane materials, preparation methods, factors affecting membrane properties, and separation mechanisms. In addition, the key problems and challenges to be solved in the research of enantioseparation membranes are analyzed. Last but not least, the future development trend of the chiral membrane is expected.

Investigation of Taniaphos as a chiral selector in chiral extraction of amino acid enantiomers

Finding chiral selector with high stereoselectivity to a variety of amino acid enantiomers remains a challenge and warrants further research. In this work, Taniaphos, a chiral ligand with rotatable spatial configuration, was employed as a chiral extractant to enantioseparate various amino acid enantiomers. Phenylalanine (Phe), homophenylalanine (Hphe), 4-nitrophenylalanine (Nphe), and 3-chloro-phenylglycine (Cpheg) were used as substrates to evaluate the extraction efficiency. The results revealed that Taniaphos-Cu exhibited good abilities to enantioseparate Phe, Hphe, Nphe, and Cpheg with the highest separation factors (α) of 3.13, 2.10, 2.32, and 2.14, respectively. Taniaphos-Cu is more conducive to combine with D-amino acid in extraction. The influences of pH, Taniaphos-Cu, and concentration and extraction temperature on extraction were comprehensively evaluated. The highest performance factors (pf) for Phe, Hphe, Nphe, and Cpheg at optimal extraction conditions were 0.08892, 0.1250, 0.09621, and 0.08021, respectively. The recognition mechanism between Taniaphos-Cu and amino acid enantiomers was discussed. The coordination interaction between Taniaphos-Cu and COO- , π-π interaction between Taniaphos-Cu and amino acid enantiomers are important acting forces in chiral extraction. The steric-hindrance between NH2 and OH lead to Taniaphos-Cu-D-Phe is more stable than Taniaphos-Cu-L-Phe. This work provided a chiral extractant that has good abilities to enantioseparate various amino acid enantiomers.

Enantioselective Mixed Matrix Membranes for Chiral Resolution

Most pharmaceuticals are stereoisomers that each enantiomer shows dramatically different biological activity. Therefore, the production of optically pure chemicals through sustainable and energy-efficient technology is one of the main objectives in the pharmaceutical industry. Membrane-based separation is a continuous process performed on a large scale that uses far less energy than the conventional thermal separation process. Enantioselective polymer membranes have been developed for chiral resolution of pharmaceuticals; however, it is difficult to generate sufficient enantiomeric excess (ee) with conventional polymers. This article describes a chiral resolution strategy using a composite structure of mixed matrix membrane that employs chiral fillers. We discuss several enantioselective fillers, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), zeolites, porous organic cages (POCs), and their potential use as chiral fillers in mixed matrix membranes. State-of-the-art enantioselective mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) and the future design consideration for highly efficient enantioselective MMMs are discussed.

Chiral Graphene Hybrid Materials: Structures, Properties, and Chiral Applications

Chirality has become an important research subject. The research areas associated with chirality are under substantial development. Meanwhile, graphene is a rapidly growing star material and has hard-wired into diverse disciplines. Rational combination of graphene and chirality undoubtedly creates unprecedented functional materials and may also lead to great findings. This hypothesis has been clearly justified by the sizable number of studies. Unfortunately, there has not been any previous review paper summarizing the scattered studies and advancements on this topic so far. This overview paper attempts to review the progress made in chiral materials developed from graphene and their derivatives, with the hope of providing a systemic knowledge about the construction of chiral graphenes and chiral applications thereof. Recently emerging directions, existing challenges, and future perspectives are also presented. It is hoped this paper will arouse more interest and promote further faster progress in these significant research areas.

Advances of enantioselective solid membranes

Rosy prospects of chiral membranes are proposed with novel and robust materials.