Enhanced partitioning of tryptophan in aqueous biphasic systems formed by benzyltrialkylammonium based ionic liquids: Evaluation of thermophysical and phase behavior

Ionic liquid-based aqueous biphasic system as an alternative tool for enhanced bacterial DNA extraction

BACKGROUND

Developing an alternative and benign method for DNA extraction is imperative due to the high cost and potential harms associated with conventional techniques. Investigation of Ionic liquid (IL) as a solvent for DNA storage and stability revealed the ability of IL to assist DNA processes. IL-based aqueous biphasic system emerges as a comprehensive extraction platform capitalizing on the task-specificity of ILs and the wide applicability of ABS for biomolecule extractions. Therefore, it is beneficial to optimize an IL-based ABS specifically for DNA extraction, taking into account the fundamental interactions between the IL and DNA.

RESULTS

The primary objective was to design ABS consisting of Ammonium based ILs, and Potassium phosphate buffer as the salting-out agent for the partitioning of salmon sperm DNA. The analysis focused on optimizing biocompatible anions for the extraction. Moreover, the stability of the DNA in the IL rich phases was analysed to validate the method. The proposed process was then employed for extracting plasmid DNA from bacteria, demonstrating results comparable to those obtained with a commercially available kit. Further validation using agarose gel electrophoresis and transformation of the extracted DNA into E.coli were conducted, producing promising outcomes. Although there is room for improvement in terms of recovery of DNA and reusability of ABS, the described approach is comparable with the conventional one while being cost-effective, and showcases a noticeable and convincing link to eco-friendly processes.

SIGNIFICANCE

There is limited literature on IL-based ABS for DNA extraction, and the existing studies predominantly concentrate on systems derived from Cholinium ILs. However, their high hydrophilicity limits the choice of the second-phase forming component to polymers for the formation of ABS. Ammonium ILs efficiently form biphasic systems with various available salting-out agents, and biocompatible anions are introduced to mitigate the toxicity of the ILs.

Aqueous biphasic systems developed with deep eutectic solvents and polymer for the efficient extraction of pigments from beverages

Novel aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) developed with benzyl-based quaternary ammonium salts-deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) were herein proposed. The liquid-liquid equilibrium and the partitioning behavior of pigments in the systems were addressed. The results suggested that the shorter the carbon chain length of the DES, the easier to form two phases. The analysis of mixed samples showed that the selective separation was achieved in the ABSs, including 99.47% of tartrazine in the DES-rich phase and 98.47% of sudan III in the PPG-rich phase. Additionally, the systems were successfully applied to the extraction of pigments from the actual beverage samples with recoveries ranging from 93.43% to 102.15%. Furthermore, the study on the separation mechanism indicated that the hydrogen bonding played a significant role in the separation process. All the above results highlight the proposed DES/polymer-based ABSs have great advantages in selective and high-performance separation of pigments from beverages.

Ionic liquids as alternative solvents for energy conservation and environmental engineering

Because of industrialization and modernization, phenomenal changes have taken place in almost all spheres of life. Consequently, the consumption of energy resources and the cases of environmental hazards have risen to an unprecedentedly high level. A development model with due consideration to nature and an efficient utilization of energy sources has become the need of the hour, in order to ensure a sustainable balance between the environmental and technological needs. Recent studies have identified the suitability of ionic liquids (ILs), often labeled as ‘green solvents’, in the efficient utilization of energy resources and activities such as bio-extraction, pollution control, CO2 capture, waste management etc. in an environmentally friendly manner. The advent of magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have opened possibilities for a circular economic approach in this filed. This review intends to analyze the environmental and energy wise consumption of a wide variety of ionic liquids and their potential towards future.

Recovery of astaxanthin from shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) waste by ultrasonic-assisted extraction using ionic liquid-in-water microemulsions

In this study, an ultrasonic-assisted extraction using microemulsions was developed for the recovery of natural astaxanthin from shrimp waste. To select applicable solvent systems, the phase equilibrium, microstructure, and physical properties of the microemulsions were investigated. Then the effect of ultrasonic power, ultrasonic time, and microemulsion composition on the extraction efficiency (EEAst) and extraction yield (EAst) of astaxanthin were determined. Compared with organic solvents (ethanol, acetone, and dimethyl sulfoxide), the microemulsion contained tributyloctylphosphonium bromide ([P4448]Br), tributyloctylphosphonium trifluoroacetate ([P4448]CF3COO), or tetrabutylphosphonium trifluoroacetate ([P4444]CF3COO) resulted in significantly enhanced extraction of astaxanthin due to the stronger electrostatic interactions and hydrogen-bonding interactions. When ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions were 50 W and 60 min, the highest EEAst and EAst reached 32.47 µg·g-1 and 99% by using the IL-in-water microemulsion of [P4448]Br/(TX-100 + n-butanol)/water (0.13:0.25:0.62, w/w), respectively. The IL-based microemulsion is an adequate alternative to conventional methods in the extraction and recovery of astaxanthin from natural bioresources.

Aqueous biphasic systems formed in (zwitterionic salt+inorganic salt) mixtures

The manuscript reports on a new class of aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) formed in mixtures of inorganic salts (ISs) and zwitterionic salts (ZWSs). Aqueous ternary phase diagrams characterized by a binodal curve were determined for systems consisting of four ISs, K3PO4, K2HPO4, K2HPO4/KH2PO4, and K2CO3, and three structurally similar ZWSs differing in hydrophobicity. Comparison of phase behaviour of ABSs composed of ZWSs, ionic liquids (ILs) and zwitterions was provided. Potential of ZWSs based systems for extraction of aromatic molecules and amino acids, such as glycine, L-tryptophan, DL-phenylalanine, eugenol, and phenol was examined. Feasibility and limitations of isolation of products after partition and recovery of ZWS were discussed.

Zwitterions as novel phase forming components of aqueous biphasic systems

A novel class of aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) formed by zwitterions (ZI) has been investigated in the present work. A series of water soluble ZIs have been synthesized using triethylamine, N-Methylimidazole, N-Vinylimidazole, pyridine, N-Methylpyrrolidine, N-Ethylpiperidine and 1,4 butane sultone. The synthesized ZIs were explored for their ability to form biphasic systems in combination with aqueous inorganic salt solutions of K3PO4, K2HPO4 and K2CO3. The phase diagrams for all systems have been constructed through cloud point titration method at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. The phase behavior of ZI based ABS have been analyzed to understand the structural effects of ZIs as well as the effect of nature of salt used on the overall phase formation. Further the temperature dependence of the ZI based ABS was also explored by studying the phase behavior at variable temperatures of 298.15, 308.15 and 318.15 K. In order to estimate the applicability of proposed ZI based ABS, extraction experiments have been performed for an alkaloid i.e. caffeine for all synthesized ZIs with K3PO4 and at 298.15 K. ZI based ABS have been found to be capable of single step extraction of caffeine similar to IL based ABS thus providing the possibilities to explore these ZI based ABS as efficient extraction and separation systems.