Anion Effects on Gas Solubility in Ionic Liquids

This work presents the results of solubility measurements for a series of gases in 1-n-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-n-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide. The gases considered include benzene, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ethylene, ethane, oxygen, and carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide and oxygen solubilities are also reported in methyl-tributylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, butyl-methyl pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, and tri-isobutyl-methyl phosphonium p-toluenesulfonate. We report the associated Henry's constants and enthalpies and entropies of absorption. In general, benzene, followed by carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, have the highest solubilities and strongest interactions with the ionic liquids, followed by ethylene and ethane. Oxygen had very low solubilities and weak interactions. Carbon monoxide had a solubility below the detection limit of our apparatus. Ionic liquids with the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide anion had the largest affinity for CO_2, regardless of whether the cation was imidazolium, pyrrolidinium, or tetraalkylammonium. These results suggest that the nature of the anion has the most significant influence on the gas solubilities

A March of Moral Panic?: An Examination Of Reaction To Crime in Ireland in March 2006

Moral Panic is a concept that examines disproportionate reaction towards an event or persons. In March of 2006, several events occurred which provoked strong reactions from the media and from politicians. This thesis explores and examines those reactions, and will try to determine if a moral panic could be said to have occurred. This is accomplished through a qualitative reading of the reactions, by identifying themes running through the discourse on crime of the time in question, and by applying indicators of moral panic to the data. The study finds that though the reactions may not necessarily indicate moral panic, coverage of the event in both the political and media spheres proved unsatisfactory, and a recommendation of a need for moderation in future discourse on crime is suggested

Feminismos posfranquistas: Interrogando la subjetividad femenina desde Fernández-Cubas hasta Etxebarria

Contemporary Spanish women writers have simultaneously excited and disturbed feminist scholars and cultural critics for their uncompromising refusal to conform to any particular notion of feminism.  At the same time, they have created new narrative worlds populated with provocative and transgressive female characters who range from modern-day warriors to “Generation X” drug addicts and workaholics, bearing nothing in common with one another aside from the desire to know and “to be woman”. Taking as a point of departure theories of the fantastic along with a feminist re-reading of Deleuze and Guattari’s post-structural psychoanalysis, with its emphasis on the politics of desire, this paper will examine through narratives of Cristina Fernández-Cubas and Lucía Etxebarria the “becoming woman” of the contemporary Spanish female subject, situating her as an anti-Oedipal force. The agency of the female subjects in Fernández-Cubas’  “Los altillos de Brumal” and Etxebarria’s Amor, curiosidad, prozac y dudas, is acquired not through the discovery of truth but in the search for knowledge and the interrogation of the very construction of female identity and subjectivity. Las escritoras españolas contemporáneas han provocado zozobra en la crítica cultural y feminista por su rotunda negación a suscribirse a cualquier noción de feminismo.  Asimismo, han creado nuevos mundos narrativos en los que vemos como protagonista una impresionante serie de personajes femeninos: mujeres irresistiblemente atractivas y provocadoras todas ellas, pero también desasosegadas e inquietantes.  La gama de personajes se extiende desde las mujeres más inseguras, trastornadas y enajenadas en mundos fantásticos, hasta las más fuertes, las guerreras contemporáneas, pasando por las alcohólicas, las toxicómanas y las adictas al sexo de la llamada “generación X”.  Más pronunciadas son las diferencias entre ellas que las semejanzas. No obstante, lo que sí tienen en común estos personajes es el mismo deseo activo de saber y de ser, y específicamente, de ser mujer

Ionic Liquids: Breakthrough Absorption Technology for Post-Combustion CO{sub 2} Capture

This is the final report for DE-FC26-07NT43091 âIonic Liquids: Breakthrough Absorption Technology for Post-Combustion CO{sub 2} Captureâ. A detailed summary is provided of the ionic liquid (IL) discovery process, synthesis and testing results, process / systems modeling, lab-scale operational testing, corrosion testing and commercialization possibilities. The work resulted in the discovery of a new class of ionic liquids (ILs) that efficiently react with CO{sub 2} in a 1:1 stoichiometry with no water present and no increase in viscosity. The enthalpy of reaction was tuned to optimize process economics. The IL was found to have excellent corrosion behavior with and without CO{sub 2} present. In lab-scale tests, the IL was able to effectively remove CO{sub 2} from a simulated flue gas stream, although mass transfer was slower than with aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) due to higher viscosities. The non-volatile nature of the solvent and its high thermal stability, however, make it an intriguing option. An independent systems analysis indicates that the economics of using the best IL discovered to date (NDIL0157), are at least comparable to â and potentially slightly better than -â the Fluor Econamine FG PlusTM process (DOE Case 12). Further work should be directed at improving mass transfer / lowering viscosity and developing commercial synthesis routes to make these ILs at scale in an inexpensive manner. Demonstration of the process at larger scales is also warranted, as is the exploration of other process configurations that leverage the anhydrous nature of the solvent and its extremely low volatility

Expectations for Gender Equality in Middle Eastern Context: Insights based on the Possible Selves and Future Selves

While the world strives for greater gender equality, disparities and stereotypes persist between men and women in terms of labour force participation, wages, and domestic roles. Research evidence suggests that young women still expect to serve as the primary caregiver to their future families and to perform most of the housework. This research aims to: (a) investigate differences in the gender role expectations of male and female Emiratis and (b) identify some of the factors that influence these expectations. The research contributes to the literature on gender equality in an under-researched context, the Middle East, where research on gender issues is still very scarce. It also contributes to extant literature on goal congruity and future gender expectations by examining how the life goals of males and females are influenced by gender role self-concepts and how these life goals in turn influence their expectations for their future lives. The study adopts a ‘possible selves’ and ‘future selves’ framework and draws on a student sample (N=435) of male and female Emiratis. A number of mediation path models for each outcome of interest are tested. The analysis tests for both direct and indirect effects of gender on future expectations via life goals (achievement, work satisfaction, and work life balance/family relationships). The results reveal that traditional roles are still prevalent in the UAE, where women see themselves as primarily responsible for family, even if they expect to engage in the workforce. The findings also suggest that support from males for labour force participation among females does not extend to an expectation for a more equal distribution of domestic labour and childcare support. The implications of these findings for both future research and for the future of the equality agenda in this context are considered

Design and Evaluation of Ionic Liquids as Novel CO2 Absorbents

This is the final report for project DE-FG26-04NT42122 'Design and Evaluation of Ionic Liquids as Novel CO{sub 2} Absorbents'. The objective of this 'breakthrough concepts' project was to investigate the feasibility of using ionic liquids for post-combustion CO{sub 2} capture and obtain a fundamental understanding of the solubility of CO{sub 2} and other components present in flue gas in ionic liquids. Our plan was to obtain information on how composition and structure of ionic liquid molecules affected solubility and other important physical properties via two major efforts: synthesis and experimental measurements and molecular simulation. We also planned to perform preliminary systems modeling study to assess the economic viability of a process based on ionic liquids. We accomplished all the milestones and tasks specified in the original proposal. Specifically, we carried out extensive quantum and classical atomistic-level simulations of a range of ionic liquids. These calculations provided detailed information on how the chemical composition of ionic liquids affects physical properties. We also learned important factors that govern CO{sub 2} solubility. Using this information, we synthesized or acquired 33 new ionic liquids. Many of these had never been made before. We carried out preliminary tests on all of these compounds, and more extensive tests on those that looked most promising for CO{sub 2} capture. We measured CO{sub 2} solubility in ten of these ionic liquids. Through our efforts, we developed an ionic liquid that has a CO{sub 2} solubility 2.6 times greater than the 'best' ionic liquid available to us at the start of the project. Moreover, we demonstrated that SO{sub 2} is also extremely soluble in ionic liquids, opening up the possibility of using ionic liquids to remove both SO{sub 2} and CO{sub 2} from flue gas. In collaboration with Trimeric Inc., a preliminary systems analysis was conducted and the results used to help identify physical properties that must be optimized to enable ionic liquids to be cost-competitive for CO{sub 2} capture. It was found that increasing the capacity of the ionic liquids for CO{sub 2} would be important, and that doing so could potentially make ionic liquids more effective than conventional amine solvents

Tuning the electronic environment of cations and anions using ionic liquid mixtures

Electrostatic interactions are ubiquitous in ionic liquids and therefore, the electronic environment (i.e. the distribution of electron density) of their constituent ions has a determining influence on their properties and applications. Moreover, the distribution of electron density on atoms is at the core of ionic liquid molecular dynamics simulations. In this work, we demonstrate that changing the composition of ionic liquid mixtures can tune the electronic environment of their constituent ions, both anions and cations. The electronic environment of these ions can be monitored by measuring the characteristic electron binding energies of their constituent atoms by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The possibility to fine tune, in a controlled way, the electronic environment of specific ions provides an invaluable tool to understand ionic liquid properties and allows the design of ionic liquid mixtures towards specific applications. Here, we demonstrate the power of this tool by tuning the electronic environment of a catalytic centre, and consequently its catalytic activity, by the use of ionic liquid mixtures

Strategic Design and Optimization of Inorganic Sorbents for Cesium, Strontium and Actinides

The basic science goal in this project is to identify structure/affinity relationships for selected radionuclides and existing sorbents. The research will then apply this knowledge to the design and synthesis of sorbents that will exhibit increased cesium, strontium and actinide removal. The target problem focuses on the treatment of high-level nuclear wastes. The general approach can likewise be applied to non-radioactive separations