Properties of Polyvinylpyrrolidone in a Deep Eutectic Solvent

Abstract

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are mixtures of two or more components with high melting temperatures, which form a liquid at room temperature. These DES hold great promise as green solvents for chemical processes, as they are inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Specifically, they present a unique solvating environment to polymers that is different from water. Here, we use small angle neutron scattering to study the polymer properties of the common, water-soluble, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in the prominent DES formed by a 1:2 molar mixture of choline chloride and urea. We find that the polymer adopts a slightly different structure in DES than in water, so that at higher concentrations the polymer favors a more expanded conformation compared to the same concentration in water. Yet, the osmotic pressure of PVP solutions in DES is very similar to that in water, indicating that both solvents are of comparable quality and that the DES components interact favorably with PVP. The osmotic pressure measurements within this novel class of promising solvents should be of value toward future technological applications as well as for osmotic stress experiments in nonaqueous environments.

Crowders and Cosolvents—Major Contributors to the Cellular Milieu and Efficient Means to Counteract Environmental Stresses

“…The latter demands further developments of experimental techniques to allow also for such studies under extreme environmental conditions. Further, to arrive at a predictive theory of macromolecular stability, dynamics and interactions at such harsh and complex solution conditions, also advances in both theoretical and computational methods are expected to play pivotal roles …”

Counterion binding alters surfactant self-assembly in deep eutectic solvents

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Influence of Hydration on the Structure and Interactions of Ethaline Deep‐Eutectic Solvent: A Spectroscopic and Computational Study

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