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Research

2D NMR: Heteronuclear Single-Quantum Correlation Spectroscopy (HSQC)

Heteronuclear single-quantum correlation spectroscopy (HSQC) is a 2D NMR technique that reveals one-bond correlations between hydrogen and a heteronucleus. The HSQC experiment is similar to the heteronuclear correlation experiment (HETCOR) but is more sensitive. In the HSQC spectrum, the proton chemical shift is plotted on the horizontal F2 axis, while the 13C chemical shift is plotted on the vertical F1 axis. The corresponding proton and 13C spectra are also shown. The HSQC contour plot does not have any diagonal peaks. All the cross-peaks indicate the protons directly attached to each carbon in a molecule. Similar to the COSY spectrum, imaginary lines are drawn in horizontal and vertical directions to identify the correlated peaks.
For example, the HSQC spectrum of 2-chlorobutane has a carbon signal at 11 ppm that can be assigned to the shielded methyl group and correlated to the proton multiplet at 1.01 ppm. The carbon signal at 24.8 ppm arises from the deshielded methyl group, which correlates to the proton multiplet at 1.52 ppm. Similarly, the methylene carbon signal at 33.3 ppm and methine carbon signal at 60.4 ppm correlate to the multiplets at 1.72 and 3.96 ppm, respectively.&#160; HSQC is a very useful technique for structurally elucidating complex molecules and is routinely used in protein NMR studies.

Heteronuclear single-quantum correlation spectroscopy (HSQC) is a 2D NMR technique that reveals one-bond correlations between hydrogen and a ...

2D NMR: Overview of Heteronuclear Correlation Techniques

Heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy is an analytical technique that investigates the coupling between different types of nuclei, often a proton and an X-nucleus, such as carbon-13 or nitrogen-15. This method is commonly used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to gain insights into complex chemical compounds&#39; structural and compositional aspects. A typical heteronuclear correlation spectrum displays X-nucleus chemical shifts on one axis and a proton spectrum on the other axis. Cross-peaks reveal the connection between specific protons and X-nuclei.
The main heteronuclear correlation experiments include HETCOR, HSQC, HMQC, and HMBC. HSQC, HMQC, and HMBC record the proton spectrum, whereas the X-nucleus spectrum is recorded by standard heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy or HETCOR. The HETCOR-HMQC-HSQC group of experiments cannot detect X-nuclei without an attached proton. HETCOR is used when ultrahigh peak resolution is required along the X-nucleus axis.
The heteronuclear single quantum correlation technique, or HSQC, investigates proton-to-X-nucleus single bond correlations. In an HSQC experiment, polarization is transferred from a proton nucleus to a neighboring X-nucleus and then back to the proton nucleus. The signal from the proton nuclei is then recorded. HSQC generates a spectrum like that of heteronuclear multiple-quantum correlation spectroscopy or HMQC but uses a different suppression method, providing better X-nucleus resolution along the axis.
Heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation, or HMBC, is a proton-detected experiment, like HMQC but with a longer initial delay time. This experiment is used to observe long-range proton to X-nucleus connectivity separated by 2-3 bonds, with some experiments going out to 4 or 5 bonds. In an HMBC experiment, direct one-bond correlations are suppressed as part of the sequence. The spectra of HMBC give rise to cross peaks that correlate which protons are coupled to what other specific X-nucleus is more than one bond away. The gradient HMBC (gHMBC) pulse sequence offers better suppression of interfering signals, making it particularly useful for analyzing complex molecules with overlapping signals.

Heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy is an analytical technique that investigates the coupling between different types of nuclei, often a proton and an ...

2D NMR: Homonuclear Correlation Spectroscopy (COSY)

Homonuclear correlation spectroscopy, or COSY, is a 2-dimensional NMR technique that provides information about coupled protons. Typically, the geminal and vicinal coupling are observed. For example, consider the COSY spectrum of ethyl acetate, where its 1D proton NMR spectrum is plotted along the vertical and horizontal axes with their corresponding chemical shift scale. Three spots on the diagonal corresponding to the three peaks in the 1D proton spectrum are called diagonal peaks. The COSY spectrum is symmetric about the diagonal, with signals above and below the diagonal called cross-peaks or off-diagonal peaks. An imaginary line is drawn from diagonal peaks parallel to the horizontal axis, leading to a cross peak. A vertical line is then drawn from the same cross peak towards the diagonal peak to correlate the peaks. The off-diagonal peaks correlating the multiplets at 1.25 and 4.2 ppm indicate that the methyl protons are coupled to the methylene protons. The signal at 2 ppm is not associated with cross-peaks because the protons are not involved in homonuclear coupling. A COSY spectrum is useful when overlapping multiplets complicate the corresponding 1D spectrum.

Homonuclear correlation spectroscopy, or COSY, is a 2-dimensional NMR technique that provides information about coupled protons. Typically, the geminal ...

Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT)

Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT) is an advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique specifically designed to detect and enhance the signals of low-abundance nuclei, such as carbon-13 and nitrogen-15, in small molecules. The fundamental principle behind INEPT is the transfer of polarization from a more abundant and highly polarizable nucleus, typically hydrogen-1, to the low-abundance nucleus of interest. This process effectively boosts the NMR signal of the low-abundance nuclei, making them more easily detectable.
The INEPT technique involves a series of carefully timed radiofrequency (RF) pulses applied to the sample. These RF pulses excite the more abundant nuclei, causing them to align their spins in a specific manner. Through the process of spin coupling, the polarization of the more abundant nuclei is then transferred to the low-abundance nuclei. As a result, the NMR signal of these low-abundance nuclei is significantly enhanced, allowing for a more detailed analysis of the molecular structure.
Various pulse sequences have been developed to improve the observability of these low-abundance nuclei when coupled to a high-receptivity nucleus. The INEPT pulse sequence combines a spin echo and selective population inversion, which includes 90&#176; and 180&#176; pulses on the high-sensitivity (the I spins) and low-sensitivity nuclei (the S spins), respectively. Coupling-constant-based delays between pulses facilitate magnetization transfer through space or bond interactions. Additional RF pulses and delays invert the low-gamma magnetization, producing an observable NMR signal. The net result is an enhanced NMR signal from low-gamma nuclei that would otherwise be challenging to detect.
Various pulse sequences have been developed to improve the detection of low-abundance nuclei when coupled with high-receptivity nuclei such as protons. The INEPT sequence yields enhanced signals for insensitive nuclei, with half of the CH group producing negative peaks and the other half positive peaks. This pattern allows for discrimination between different types of carbon-hydrogen bonds within the molecule.
Decoupling methods can be employed to enhance sensitivity and resolution in distinguishing various carbon-hydrogen bonds, making INEPT an invaluable tool in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT) is an advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique specifically designed to detect and ...

Two-Dimensional (2D) NMR: Overview

The 1D NMR spectrum of large and complex molecules like natural products has complicated splitting patterns and overlapping signals, which can be easily interpreted using 2-dimensional (2D) NMR. Unlike 1D NMR, 2D NMR has two frequency axes that provide the coupling information between the nucleus A and nucleus B in a molecule. The process from which 2D spectra are obtained has four steps.
The first step is the preparation period, during which nucleus A is excited with a radiofrequency pulse. The second step is the evolution or wait period t1, which is incremented systematically, and no data is observed during this period. The next step is the mixing period, in which a second radiofrequency pulse is introduced, which transfers the magnetization to the spins of nucleus B. In the last step, the magnetization of nuclear spins from B is detected during the acquisition time t2 for each t1. Time domains t1 and t2 are Fourier transformed into frequency domains f1 and f2, and these correspond to two dimensions of 2D spectra, while the third dimension is the intensity. In 2D experiments, coupling between the same kind of nucleus is called homonuclear 2D experiments, whereas coupling between two types of nucleus is called heteronuclear 2D experiments. 2D spectra can be displayed as stacked or contour plots. When presented as stacked plots, 2D spectra are difficult to interpret. The contour plot is the horizontal cross-section of a stacked plot where the size of the circles shows the signal intensity. Its interpretation is straightforward and it is preferred for data analysis.

The 1D NMR spectrum of large and complex molecules like natural products has complicated splitting patterns and overlapping signals, which can be easily ...

2D NMR: Overview of Homonuclear Correlation Techniques

Homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (COSY) is a powerful technique used in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study the correlations between nuclei of the same type within a molecule. It provides information about scalar couplings between adjacent nuclei, which helps determine connectivity and structural information. There are several COSY variants, each with its unique strengths and experimental parameters.
COSY90 is the standard two-dimensional (2D) COSY experiment that utilizes a second 90-degree pulse to achieve high sensitivity and resolution. It excels in analyzing small to medium-sized molecules and provides information on directly coupled protons. COSY45, similar to COSY90, uses 45-degree pulses instead of 90-degree pulses. This results in reduced sensitivity but improved resolution.
Long-range COSY (LR-COSY) extends the COSY experiment to detect scalar couplings between nuclei further apart in the molecule. It achieves this by combining multiple pulse sequences and magnetization transfers.
Relayed COSY is a variant of COSY that adds extra pulses to the standard pulse sequence to produce cross-peaks between cross-peaks, showing specific molecular connections hidden by overlapping signals.
TOCSY (Total Correlation Spectroscopy), also known as HOHAHA (Homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn Spectroscopy), reveals all through-bond connectivity between all coupled nuclei. TOCSY is especially useful for analyzing molecules with overlapping signals and complex coupling patterns.
NOESY (Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy) measures the nuclear overhauser effect, which arises from dipole-dipole interactions between nuclei. It provides information about spatial proximity and can be used to determine the three-dimensional structure of a molecule.
ROESY (Rotating-frame Overhauser Enhancement Spectroscopy) is similar to NOESY but employs a different mechanism to obtain through-space correlations. It provides information about spatial proximity and is particularly useful for studying molecules with weak NOE signals.
In conclusion, choosing a COSY variant depends on the molecule or reaction under investigation and the desired information. The right COSY variant can be determined based on molecular size, coupling complexity, and the need for spatial or long-range connectivity data.

Homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (COSY) is a powerful technique used in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study the correlations ...

Double Resonance Techniques: Overview

Double resonance techniques in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy involve the simultaneous application of two different frequencies or radiofrequency pulses to manipulate and observe two distinct nuclear spins. One important application of double resonance is spin decoupling, which selectively suppresses coupling with one type of nucleus while observing the NMR signal from another nucleus, simplifying the spectrum and enhancing resolution.
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by irradiating the sample atoms with a suitable radio frequency (rf) pulse sequence, effectively eliminating all the coupling with one nuclide. This simplifies the observed spectrum, making it easier to analyze and understand the relationships between different nuclei.
Double resonance experiments can be classified as heteronuclear or homonuclear, depending on whether the two sets of nuclei are of different isotopes or the same isotope, respectively. They can also be selective or nonselective, depending on whether the irradiating frequency covers only a portion or all of the resonance frequencies.
In nonselective heteronuclear decoupling, samples are exposed to an appropriate radiofrequency range to remove all coupling with one nuclide. However, increased external field strengths necessitate more powerful irradiation across broader frequency ranges. In certain instruments, continuous irradiation creates enough heat to cause damage to thermally sensitive samples.
To overcome these problems, modern methods using a series of pulses and exact timing delays, like J-modulated spin echo pulse sequences, can be employed to eliminate or adjust coupling effects within the spectrum.
For example, the attached proton transfer (APT) experiment applies a J-modulated spin echo pulse sequence to focus on the phase of detected carbon signals. Carbon atoms attached to an even number of protons exhibit positive signals in the spectrum, while those bonded to an odd number of protons appear as negative signals.
It utilizes a combination of a 180&#176; proton pulse and broadband decoupling to simplify spectral interpretation and assign multiplicities. The 180&#176; pulse is applied to the protons during the APT experiment. Its role is to refocus the spin coupling evolution that naturally occurs due to interactions between protons and carbons.
Specifically, after the 90&#176; pulse creates transverse magnetization, the 180&#176; pulse ensures that the effects of coupling are frozen during the initial period where the decoupler is turned off. This means the chemical shifts evolve only during the time 1/J&#8203; (the coupling constant period) after the first 180&#176; pulse.
By carefully timing this pulse sequence, the experiment isolates carbon multiplicities by utilizing the J-coupling between carbons and their attached protons. After the coupling evolution period (1/J&#8203;), broadband decoupling is turned on. This removes the J-coupling signals, collapsing multiplets into single peaks for each carbon resonance.
The decoupling ensures that carbon signals are free of splitting, allowing for a clear differentiation of signals based on phase (positive or negative) rather than splitting patterns.
The APT technique selectively enhances carbon signals, providing valuable information about carbon-proton connectivity, the number of attached hydrogen atoms, and the overall molecular structure.

Double resonance techniques in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy involve the simultaneous application of two different frequencies or ...

&sup1;H NMR of Labile Protons:  Deuterium (&sup2;H) Substitution

This lesson illustrates the role of deuterium substitution in simplifying the NMR spectrum of compounds comprising labile protons. One method employed is the use of deuterium. Amongst the three isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium (2H) has a nucleus composed of one proton and one neutron. When the D2O solvent is added to a pure dry ethanol solution, its labile proton is substituted with deuterium.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/12280/12280-PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 700px;" />
Figure 1. The comparison of the proton NMR spectra of pure dry ethanol and the same in D2O solvent.
The signals from deuterium are not observed in a proton NMR spectrum, as deuterium&#8211;proton coupling is negligible, and no spin-spin splitting occurs between them. As shown in Figure 1, the NMR spectra of pure ethanol and ethanol in deuterium, the disappearance of the triplet in the latter, confirms that it corresponds to the labile &#8211;OH proton. Furthermore, the methylene protons that initially showed up as a multiplet transform to a quartet, proving that the multiplet is due to the coupling with the &#8211;OH proton and the methyl protons.

This lesson illustrates the role of deuterium substitution in simplifying the NMR spectrum of compounds comprising labile protons. One method employed is ...

Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement (NOE)

Irradiation of a spin-active nucleus causes an increase or decrease in the signal intensity of neighboring nuclei that are not necessarily chemically bonded or involved in J-coupling. &#160;This phenomenon, called the Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement (NOE), results from through-space interactions between the nuclear spins. The NOE effect decreases with increasing internuclear distance and is generally not observed beyond 4 angstroms. In NOE, dipole-dipole interactions between neighboring spin-active nuclei result in the transfer of nuclear spin polarization. These interactions can cause an increase or decrease in the signal intensity, which results in a positive or negative NOE, respectively.
NOE can be applied to improve the signal intensity of less sensitive nuclei such as carbon-13. Proton-decoupled carbon-13 spectra show a positive NOE effect, where the carbon signal intensities are substantially increased compared to those in proton-coupled spectra.
Targeted irradiation of specific nuclei can also reveal through-space proximity, which helps confirm stereochemistry and verify spectral peak assignments. The NOE effect is also applied in 2D NMR experiments, such as Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (NOESY), to determine the 3D structure of proteins.

Irradiation of a spin-active nucleus causes an increase or decrease in the signal intensity of neighboring nuclei that are not necessarily chemically ...

&sup1;H NMR of Labile Protons: Temporal Resolution

Protons bonded to heteroatoms such as nitrogen and oxygen exhibit a range of chemical shift values. This is due to the varying degree of hydrogen bonding between the proton and the heteroatom in other molecules. The extent of hydrogen bonding affects the electron density around the proton, thereby giving different chemical shift values for the protons in the proton NMR spectrum.
The &#8211;OH proton in alcohols typically appears in the range of &#948; 2 to 5 ppm but can vary depending on the specific alcohol and conditions. This &#8211;OH proton undergoes rapid proton exchange with other molecules and is referred to as a labile proton. So, the exact &#948; value of the &#8211;OH proton and the spin-spin coupling involving the &#8211;OH proton and the other protons in the alcohol depends on the rate of the &#8211;OH proton exchange. The proton exchange rate, in turn, depends on multiple factors, including the purity of the alcohol sample, temperature, and solvent.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/12279/12279-PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 350px;" />
Figure 1. The triplet of a &#8211;OH proton in the proton NMR spectrum of neat ethanol.
For example, the &#8211;OH proton exchange in a pure dry ethanol sample is very slow on the NMR time scale, giving enough time for the spin-spin coupling. Consequently, as depicted in Figure 1, the proton NMR spectrum of pure dry ethanol shows a triplet for the &#8211;OH proton due to the spin-spin coupling with adjacent methylene protons. The methylene protons are seen as a multiplet due to the coupling with the &#8211;OH proton and the methyl protons.
The presence of trace amounts of an acid or base increases the proton exchange rate. The proton exchange becomes rapid, and the NMR spectrometer only records an average of all the possible environments for the &#8211;OH proton.
<img alt="Figure2" src="/files/ftp_upload/12279/12279-PT_Figure_2.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 325px;" />
Figure 2. The broad singlet of a &#8211;OH proton in the proton NMR spectrum of neat ethanol.
As a result, as recorded in Figure 2, the &#8211;OH proton exhibits a broad singlet. The protons from the adjacent methylene group present a quartet where the splitting is caused only by the adjoining methyl group.

Protons bonded to heteroatoms such as nitrogen and oxygen exhibit a range of chemical shift values. This is due to the varying degree of hydrogen bonding ...

&sup1;H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Variable-Temperature NMR

The axial and equatorial protons in cyclohexane can be distinguished by performing a variable-temperature NMR experiment. In this process, except for one proton, the remaining eleven protons are replaced by deuterium. The deuterium substitution avoids the possible peak splitting caused by the spin-spin coupling between the adjacent protons. The remaining proton flips between the axial and equatorial positions.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/13016/13016-PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 480px;" />
Figure 1. The temperature-dependent proton NMR spectra of cyclohexane.
Figure 1 depicts the proton NMR spectrum of the deuterium substituted sample, recorded at various temperatures. At room temperature, the rapid ring flipping of cyclohexane results in a single sharp peak. As the temperature is lowered to &#8722;60&#176;C, the rate of chair-chair interconversion reduces, resulting in the broadening of the peak.
Further lowering of the temperature broadens the peak, forming a saddle that splits into two peaks. On reaching a temperature lower than &#8722;89&#176;C, two sharp, well-resolved peaks corresponding to the equatorial and axial protons are formed. The peaks corresponding to the equatorial and axial protons occur at &#948; 1.62 and 1.14, respectively. At such low temperatures, the rate of chair-chair interconversion is reduced significantly, enabling the detection of the two distinct sets of protons on the NMR time scale.

The axial and equatorial protons in cyclohexane can be distinguished by performing a variable-temperature NMR experiment. In this process, except for one ...

&sup1;H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution

At room temperature, the chair conformer of cyclohexane undergoes rapid ring flipping between two equivalent chair conformers at a rate of approximately 105 times per second. These two chair conformers are in equilibrium. The rapid ring flipping results in the interconversion of the axial proton to an equatorial proton and an equatorial to the axial proton. Such interconversions are too rapid and cannot be detected on the NMR timescale. Hence, the NMR spectrometer cannot distinguish between the axial and equatorial protons, resulting in a single peak at &#948; 1.4.
Similarly, NMR averages all the conformations of any molecule with rapid conformational equilibria. For example, the CH3 protons in bromoethane have a single resonance and coupling constant for splitting by the CH2 protons due to the rapid internal rotation of the carbon-carbon bond. Lastly, besides conformational equilibria, the time-averaging effect of NMR spectroscopy is also observed in some chemical reactions.

At room temperature, the chair conformer of cyclohexane undergoes rapid ring flipping between two equivalent chair conformers at a rate of approximately ...

Mass Spectrometry: Carboxylic Acid, Ester, and Amide Fragmentation

The fragmentation patterns observed for compounds such as carboxylic acids, esters, and amides in the mass spectra include &#9082;-cleavage and McLafferty rearrangement. Fragmentation by &#9082;-cleavage preferentially occurs at the carbon-carbon bond at the &#9082;-position next to the carboxylic group to generate a neutral radical and a cation. Long chain compounds with hydrogen at their &#947;-carbon undergo McLafferty rearrangement to give a radical cation and a neutral alkene.
For example, the fragmentation of butyramide is demonstrated in Figure 1. The molecular ion peak of butyramide, which contains one nitrogen atom, shows an odd mass-to-charge ratio of 87. Fragmentation of butyramide molecular ion by &#9082;-cleavage produces a cation at a mass-to-charge ratio 44. In addition to &#9082;-cleavage, butyramide molecular ion also undergoes fragmentation via McLafferty rearrangement. The base peak at the mass-to-charge ratio 59 arises due to McLafferty rearrangement.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/13051/13051_PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 250px;" />

The fragmentation patterns observed for compounds such as carboxylic acids, esters, and amides in the mass spectra include &#9082;-cleavage and McLafferty ...

Chemical Ionization (CI) Mass Spectrometry

The molecular ion peak of a molecule in the mass spectrum provides vital information for molecular identification. However, conventional electron impact ionization can lead to the rapid dissociation of some molecular ions before they reach the detector. A milder ionization method is required to increase the lifetime of such ionized analyte molecules. Chemical ionization (CI) is a gas-phase protonation reaction useful for mass-analyzing analyte molecules that are easily protonated to yield the corresponding conjugate acid. In this process, the sample is mixed with an excess reagent gas, which ensures the electron impact occurs primarily on the reagent gas. The charged species formed from the reagent protonates the analyte molecule, producing a relatively stable protonated analyte (conjugate acid) compared to the molecular ion. This results in an M+1 peak in the mass spectrum. The conjugate acid may then undergo fragmentation that generates additional signals.
For example, the CI of di-sec-butyl ether in methane gas illustrates this process. When the ether is mixed with excess methane gas as a reagent, electron impact occurs on methane rather than the ether. The resulting methane radical cation can react with another methane molecule to generate a methane radical and a methanium ion. The methanium ion is a source of gas-phase protons, which can protonate the ether to form its conjugate acid. The sequential reactions during the chemical ionization of di-sec-butyl ether are depicted in Figure 1.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/12300/12300_PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 175px;" />
Figure 1: Chemical ionization of di-sec-butyl ether methane mixture.
This conjugate acid of the ether (m/z = 131) is relatively more stable than the molecular ion (m/z = 130) of ether formed via the conventional electron impact ionization. In the traditional route, the molecular ion undergoes fragmentation via &#945; cleavage, giving a signal at m/z = 101. Figure 2 illustrates the reactions that occur during electron impact ionization directly on di-sec-butyl ether.
<img alt="Figure2" src="/files/ftp_upload/12300/12300_PT_Figure_2.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 175px;" />
Figure 2: Electron impact ionization of di-sec-butyl ether and fragmentation of the molecular ion.
So, the mass spectra of di-sec-butyl ether ionized via CI feature an M+1 peak at m/z = 131. On the other hand, mass spectra of di-sec-butyl ether ionized via electron impact ionization do not show any peak at the m/z value of its molecular weight. Figures 3a and 3b show the mass spectra of di-sec-butyl ether ionized via the electron impact and chemical ionization methods, respectively.
<img alt="Figure3" src="/files/ftp_upload/12300/12300_PT_Figure_3.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 225px;" />
Figure 3:&#160;a) No m/z = 130 peak is visible in the mass spectrum obtained via electron impact ionization of di-sec-butyl ether. b) The m/z = 131 peak is clearly visible in the mass spectrum obtained via chemical ionization of di-sec-butyl ether.

The molecular ion peak of a molecule in the mass spectrum provides vital information for molecular identification. However, conventional electron impact ...

Mass Spectrometry: Alkyl Halide Fragmentation

Chlorine isotopes exist as 35Cl and 37Cl in a 3:1 ratio, while bromine isotopes exist as 79Br and 81Br in a 1:1 ratio. The mass spectrum of alkyl halides typically produces two distinct molecular ion peaks, the molecular ion peak, [M], and the molecular ion plus two, [M + 2] peak. The relative heights of these two peaks are proportional to the isotopic abundance ratios of the halide. For example, 2&#8208;chloropropane and 1&#8208;bromopropane display two peaks with relative peak heights in a 3:1 and 1:1 ratio, respectively.
Alkyl halides typically lose a non-bonding electron from the halogen to form molecular ions. The base peak results from the heterolytic cleavage of the carbon&#8211;halogen bond, where the bonding electrons go to the most electronegative atom, forming a cation and halogen atom. Interestingly, the &#9082;-cleavage is observed only in alkyl chlorides, not alkyl bromides. In alkyl chlorides, the&#160; C&#8211;Cl and C&#8211;C bonds exhibit similar strengths, while in alkyl bromides, the C&#8211;Br bond is weaker than the C&#8211;C bond. Consequently, the alkyl chlorides form a stable cation, where the positive charge is shared between the two atoms.
While less commonly discussed, fluoroalkanes and iodoalkanes exhibit unique fragmentation behavior. Fluoroalkanes, due to the strength of the C&#8211;F bond and the presence of only one isotope (19F), show limited fragmentation and lack isotopic peaks. Iodoalkanes, with their weak C&#8211;I bond and a single isotope (127I), predominantly fragment by losing iodine, resulting in simpler spectra with less isotopic splitting.

Chlorine isotopes exist as 35Cl and 37Cl in a 3:1 ratio, while bromine isotopes exist as 79Br and 81Br in a 1:1 ratio. The mass spectrum of alkyl halides ...

Electrospray Ionization (ESI) Mass Spectrometry

Higher molecular weight biomolecules are nonvolatile compounds that may decompose before ionizing or vaporizing during mass analysis with conventional electron impact ionization methods. Accordingly, electrospray ionization (ESI) is the favored method for vaporizing and ionizing biomolecules as it circumvents rapid fragmentation and enables the recording of mass signals for the entire biomolecule.
ESI utilizes electrical energy to transfer ions from the liquid phase of the sample into the gaseous phase. The analyte biomolecule is premixed with an ionic liquid&#8212;a nonmolecular compound serving as the ionization source. The solution is sprayed through a high-voltage capillary to generate a fine aerosol. The voltage difference applied between the capillary and the entrance of the analysis chamber causes the movement of charged droplets toward the analysis chamber. The ionic liquid from the aerosol evaporates during this movement, leaving behind a variably protonated or ionized analyte molecule. These charged species are detected in the mass spectrum at an m/z value equivalent to the sum of the analyte molecule&#39;s molecular mass and the ions&#39; molecular weight from the ionic liquid associated with the analyte molecule.
The position of mass signals varies depending on the type of cations present in the ionic liquid. For example, the presence of sodium ions in the ionic liquid leads to an (M+23) peak in the mass spectra, while the presence of a proton results in an (M+1) peak.

Higher molecular weight biomolecules are nonvolatile compounds that may decompose before ionizing or vaporizing during mass analysis with conventional ...

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI)

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a powerful analytical technique used in mass spectrometry. It enables the identification and characterization of various biomolecules, including proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. MALDI spectrometry is widely employed in biological and medical research, as well as in fields like pharmacology and biochemistry.
The analyte of interest, a biomolecule or a mixture of biomolecules, is mixed with a suitable matrix material. The matrix is usually an organic compound, such as a small organic acid or a crystalline substance, that facilitates ionization. This analyte-matrix mixture is then deposited onto a target surface, inserted into the mass spectrometer, and dried. During drying, the matrix forms small crystals that incorporate the analyte molecules within their structure.
Once the sample is prepared, a pulsed laser is directed onto the target surface. The matrix molecules absorb the laser beam energy, causing them to heat up and vaporize rapidly. This process is known as laser desorption. As the matrix molecules vaporize, they carry the embedded analyte molecules. The vaporized analyte molecules become ionized through a process called proton transfer. The proton transfer occurs between the matrix and the analyte molecule. The matrix molecule donates a proton to the analyte molecule, resulting in the formation of protonated ions. The analyte ions are then accelerated by an electric field and further separated based on their mass-to-charge ratio in a time-of-flight mass analyzer.
The mass spectrum obtained from MALDI spectrometry provides valuable information about the mass and relative abundance of the analyzed biomolecules.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a powerful analytical technique used in mass spectrometry. It enables the identification and ...

Mass Spectrometry: Aldehyde and Ketone Fragmentation

In mass spectrometry, the fragmentation of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones generally occurs through three key mechanisms: &#945;-cleavage, inductive cleavage, and the McLafferty rearrangement.
<ol>
	<li>&#945;-Cleavage 
	&#945;-Cleavage is a common fragmentation in carbonyl compounds where the bond adjacent to the carbonyl group is broken. This process produces an alkyl radical and an acylium cation, which is often detected in the mass spectrum due to its stability.</li>
	<li>Inductive Cleavage 
	In inductive cleavage, fragmentation yields an acyl radical and an alkyl cation. This occurs when electrons are drawn toward the carbonyl, weakening adjacent bonds and resulting in a distinctive fragmentation pattern. For example, in the mass spectrum of 5-methyl-2-hexanone, inductive cleavage produces an alkyl cation at a mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio of 71.</li>
	<li>McLafferty Rearrangement 
	The McLafferty rearrangement is a specific fragmentation pattern for carbonyl compounds with &#947;-hydrogen (hydrogen on the third carbon from the carbonyl group). The molecule undergoes a six-membered cyclic transition in this rearrangement, yielding a radical cation and a neutral alkene. For 5-methyl-2-hexanone, this rearrangement results in a peak at m/z 58.</li>
</ol>
Example: Fragmentation of 5-methyl-2-hexanone 
In the mass spectrum of 5-methyl-2-hexanone, the molecular ion undergoes these fragmentation patterns:
<ol style="list-style-type: circle;">
	<li>Inductive cleavage produces an alkyl cation at m/z 71.</li>
	<li>&#945;-Cleavage results in the base peak at m/z 43.</li>
	<li>McLafferty rearrangement creates a distinct peak at m/z 58.</li>
</ol>
An additional diagnostic feature in aldehydes is the M&#8722;1 peak, which arises due to the &#945;-cleavage of the aldehyde proton. In mass spectrometric analysis, this peak can help identify aldehydes, specifically among other carbonyl compounds.
Understanding these fragmentation pathways is crucial for interpreting mass spectra, particularly in identifying functional groups and distinguishing between similar compounds.

In mass spectrometry, the fragmentation of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones generally occurs through three key mechanisms: &#945;-cleavage, inductive ...

Mass Spectrometry: Alcohol Fragmentation

Alcohols (R-OH) ionize to lose one non-bonded electron from the oxygen atom, forming molecular ions. Due to their tendency to fragment rapidly, the intensity of the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum is weak or sometimes absent. The fragmentation patterns for alcohols occur in two ways, i.e. &#9082;-cleavage and dehydration. During &#9082;-cleavage, the bond at the &#9082;-position adjacent to the hydroxyl group cleaves to give a resonance-stabilized cation and a radical. However, intramolecular dehydration involves losing a water molecule from an alcohol, forming an alkene cation, which shows a peak at M&#8722;18. Consider the fragmentation of butanol as shown below. &#9082;-cleavage produces a base peak at a mass-to-charge ratio of 31. In the case of dehydration, the fragmentation forms an alkene radical cation at a mass-to-charge ratio of 56.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/13046/13046-PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 175px;" />

Alcohols (R-OH) ionize to lose one non-bonded electron from the oxygen atom, forming molecular ions. Due to their tendency to fragment rapidly, the ...

Mass Spectrometry: Alkyne Fragmentation

The fragmentation of alkynes preferentially occurs at the carbon&#8211;carbon bond between the &#945; and &#946; carbon of the alkyne bond to generate a 3-propynyl cation (or propargyl cation). In terminal alkynes, there is the only type of fragmentation that yields the 3-propynyl cation. The unsubstituted 3-propynyl cation exhibits a peak at a mass-to-charge ratio of 39. In internal alkynes, the 3-propynyl cation is substituted. For example, 2-pentyne fragments into methyl-substituted 3-propynyl cation, which subsequently features as a mass signal at the mass-to-charge ratio of 56. The 3-propynyl cation is resonance-stabilized, and the corresponding mass signal is intense in the mass spectrum of alkynes. Figure 1 shows the fragmentation of 1-pentyne into an ethyl radical and a resonance stabilized 3-propynyl cation.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/13045/13045-PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 115px;" />
Figure 1: Fragmentation of 1-pentyne molecular ion to yield the 3-propynyl cation.
Another fragmentation pathway observed in terminal alkynes is the loss of hydrogen from the terminal sp carbon. This results in a mass signal with a mass-to-charge ratio of one unit less than the molecular ion. This M&#8211;1 peak is very intense and becomes the base peak in the mass spectra of many alkynes, so it can be used to identify alkynes.
<img alt="Figure2" src="/files/ftp_upload/13045/13045-PT_Figure_2.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 275px;" />
Figure 2: The mass spectrum of 1-pentyne.

The fragmentation of alkynes preferentially occurs at the carbon&#8211;carbon bond between the &#945; and &#946; carbon of the alkyne bond to generate a ...

Mass Spectrometry: Aromatic Compound Fragmentation

Upon ionization, aromatic compounds generate a molecular ion that is observed as a prominent peak in their mass spectra. For example, the molecular ion peak for benzene appears at a mass-to-charge ratio of 78, while toluene is observed at a mass-to-charge ratio of 92. The molecular ion benzene is highly stable and does not readily undergo further fragmentation due to the significant amount of energy required to disrupt the aromatic stability of the benzene ring. In contrast, the molecular ion of alkyl&#8208;substituted benzenes, such as toluene, can undergo fragmentation by losing a hydrogen atom, forming a benzylic carbocation. This carbocation can rearrange to form the resonance-stabilized tropylium cation, which appears in the mass spectra as a strong peak. In the case of toluene, this strong peak is observed at a mass-to-charge ratio of 91.

Upon ionization, aromatic compounds generate a molecular ion that is observed as a prominent peak in their mass spectra. For example, the molecular ion ...

Mass Spectrometry: Cycloalkene Fragmentation

The molecular ions of cycloalkenes undergo fragmentation via a retro-Diels&#8211;Alder reaction.

The reaction proceeds via the cleavage of two carbon-carbon bonds in the cycloalkene to yield ethene. The remaining part of the cycloalkene structure is a dienyl radical cation with a molecular weight of 28 u lower than the molecular ion. This fragmentation pathway is similar to the fragmentation of cycloalkanes releasing ethene, differing only in the resultant radical cation. An alkyl species forms from the cycloalkane, whereas a dienyl species originates from the cycloalkene.

Retro-Diels&#8211;Alder reactions of cycloalkenes are also similar to the McLafferty-rearrangement-type fragmentation observed in acyclic alkenes with hydrogen on the &#947; carbon. In both cases, cleavage occurs at two positions, yielding an ethene molecule and an alkenyl species. In acyclic alkenes, the cleavage occurs at one carbon-carbon bond and a carbon-hydrogen bond, along with rearranging hydrogen from one carbon to another. In cyclic alkenes, cleavage occurs at two carbon&#8211;carbon bonds without any atomic rearrangement. Figure 1 depicts the fragmentation of cyclohexene via a retro-Diels&#8211;Alder reaction.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/13044/13044-PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 90px;" />
Figure 1: Fragmentation of cyclohexene via a retro-Diels&#8211;Alder reaction.
In addition to the retro-Diels&#8211;Alder reaction, branched cycloalkenes exhibit fragmentation via cleavage of the side chain to form a cycloalkene cation. For example, the fragmentation of 1-methyl-1-cyclohexene via a retro-Diels&#8211;Alder reaction and side-chain cleavage are shown in Figure 2.
<img alt="Figure2" src="/files/ftp_upload/13044/13044-PT_Figure_2.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 225px;" />
Figure 2: Fragmentation of 1-methyl-1-cyclohexene via (top) a retro-Diels&#8211;Alder reaction; (bottom) side-chain cleavage.
The corresponding signals of the isoprenyl radical cation and the cyclohexenyl cation are evident in the mass spectrum of 1-methyl-1-cyclohexene shown in Figure 3.
<img alt="Figure3" src="/files/ftp_upload/13044/13044-PT_Figure_3.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 250px;" />
Figure 3: Mass spectrum of 1-methyl-1-cyclohexene.

The molecular ions of cycloalkenes undergo fragmentation via a retro-Diels&#8211;Alder reaction.

The reaction proceeds via the cleavage of two ...

Mass Spectrometry: Amine Fragmentation

Amines can be identified using mass spectroscopy based on their characteristic fragmentation patterns. The molecular ions of amines undergo fragmentation via &#9082;-cleavage. The &#9082;-cleavage of the carbon-carbon bonds in amines generates an alkyl radical and resonance-stabilized nitrogen-containing cation.
In amines, the number of nitrogen atoms affects the mass of the molecular ion, which is described by the nitrogen rule of mass spectrometry. This rule states that a compound containing a single or an odd number of nitrogen atoms produces a molecular ion with an odd molecular weight, while a compound with no or an even number of nitrogen atoms generates a molecular ion with an even molecular weight.
For example, the mass spectrum of 3-methyl-1-butanamine, which contains one nitrogen atom, displays a molecular ion having an odd mass-to-charge ratio of 87. Fragmentation of this molecular ion via &#9082;-cleavage produces a base peak, which features a mass signal at a mass-to-charge ratio of 30, corresponding with the loss of the 2-methyl propyl radical.
Similarly, the fragmentation of triethylamine via &#9082;-cleavage generates a cation at a mass-to-charge ratio of 86. The molecular ion peak shows an odd mass-to-charge ratio of 101, as shown below.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/13048/13048_PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 105px;" />

Amines can be identified using mass spectroscopy based on their characteristic fragmentation patterns. The molecular ions of amines undergo fragmentation ...

Mass Spectrometry: Long-Chain Alkane Fragmentation

The molecular ions of linear alkanes prefer to fragment at the carbon-carbon bond away from the end of the chain since the cleavage of an inner bond creates a stable carbocation and a stable radical. Consequently, the mass signals of linear alkanes feature intense peaks in the middle of the mass-to-charge ratio plot with weaker peaks on either end. The fragmentation of each carbon-carbon bond with the release of a methyl group in each splitting leads to prominent peaks in the mass spectra separated by 14 u. Smaller mass signals near each prominent peak result arise from secondary fragmentation at the carbon-hydrogen bond.
For example, consider the fragmentation pattern of n-hexane shown in Figure 1 and the corresponding mass spectra in Figure 2.
<img alt="Figure1" src="/files/ftp_upload/12299/12299-PT_Figure_1.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 500px;" />
Figure 1: Fragmentation of n-hexane molecular ion.
<img alt="Figure2" src="/files/ftp_upload/12299/12299-PT_Figure_2.svg" style="text-align: center; height: 275px;" />
Figure 2: Mass spectrum of n-hexane.
The signals at a mass-to-charge ratio of 71, 57, 43, 29, and 15 indicate that the cleavage can occur at all carbon-carbon bonds in the molecule. However, the relative abundance of these peaks varies. The difference between molecular ion signal and signal at 71 indicates the separation of methyl groups (M.W. = 15 u) group from molecular ions. Further release of a CH2 group from that fragment (M.W. = 14 u) results in a signal at 57. The signals at 43, 29, and 15 are due to the subsequent releases of CH2 groups. The abundance of signals at 15 and 71 is minimal due to the least probability for the formation of unstable methyl carbocation or a methyl radical, respectively. The base peak at 43 indicates the most preferred fragmentation, which yields a pair of stable carbocation and radical.

The molecular ions of linear alkanes prefer to fragment at the carbon-carbon bond away from the end of the chain since the cleavage of an inner bond ...

Testing the Heat Transfer Efficiency of a Finned-tube Heat Exchanger

Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Heat exchangers transfer heat from one fluid to another fluid. Multiple classes of heat exchangers exist to fill different needs. Some of the most common types are shell and tube exchangers and plate exchangers1. Shell and tube heat exchangers use a system of tubes through which fluid flows1. One set of tubes contains the liquid to be cooled or heated, while the second set contains the liquid that will either absorb heat or transmit it1. Plate heat exchangers use a similar concept, in which plates are closely joined together with a small gap between each for liquid to flow1. The fluid flowing between the plates alternates between hot and cold so that heat will move into or out of the necessary streams1. These exchangers have large surface areas, so they are usually more efficient1.
The goal for this experiment is to test the heat transfer efficiency of a finned-tube heat exchanger (Figure 1) and compare it to the theoretical efficiency of a heat exchanger without fins. The experimental data will be measured for three different flow rates of monoethylene glycol (MEG). Two different water flow rates for each MEG flow rate will be used. Using the Wilson plot method the heat transfer coefficients will be determined from the experimental data. Additionally, the Reynold&#39;s number and the amount of heat transferred will be compared for flow with and without the fins to evaluate heat transfer efficiency.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/10437/10437fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Finned-tube Heat Exchanger. 1) MEG outlet temperature 2) water inlet temperature 3) MEG inlet temperature 4) water outlet temperature 5) water meter 6) MEG accumulation sight glass/cylinder.

Heat Transfer Efficiency Test of a Finned-tube Heat Exchanger

Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Heat exchangers transfer ...

Using a Tray Dryer to Investigate Convective and Conductive Heat Transfer

Source: Michael G. Benton and <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a>, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Dryers are utilized in numerous industrial processes. The function of a dryer is to use heat transfer processes to dry solids. A variety of dryer types exist. Adiabatic dryers use convection and direct contact with gases to dry solids, whereas non-adiabatic dryers use methods other than heated gas contact to dry1, including conduction, radiation, and radio frequency drying1. Dryers can be used for batch processes or they be in continuous use1.
In this experiment, the effects of temperature and air velocity on the drying rate of sand will be determined using a tray dryer. Three different power settings (1000 W, 1500 W and 2500 W) for two different air flow rates will be tested, providing a total of six data sets. From this data, the heat and mass transfer coefficients can be calculated.

Tray Dryer Test to Investigate Convective and Conductive Heat Transfer

Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Dryers are utilized in ...

Viscosity of Propylene Glycol Solutions

Source: Michael G. Benton and <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a>, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Viscosity is a measure of a fluid&#39;s resistance to flow, and it is a useful parameter in the design of efficient product processing and quality control in a wide range of industries. A variety of viscometers are used to obtain the most accurate readings of experimental materials. The standard method of measuring viscosity is through a glass tube viscometer, which estimates viscosity by measuring the amount of time it takes fluid to flow through a capillary tube made of glass1.
Rotational viscometers operate by applying shearing forces and measuring the time it takes a flowing1. These viscometers make use of the flowing force of the fluid, and they can use either a spring system or a digital encoder system1. Different measuring systems exist as well, with the standard being a cone and plate system, where fluid flows under the cone shape and over the plate, in order to minimize shear stress1. Parallel plate systems use two parallel plates and is ideal for measuring across temperature gradients, allowing a smooth transition1. Couette systems use a cup and filling material, and the fluid flows in between the two1. These systems are best for materials with low viscosity, since this system minimizes shear stress, but the system is also harder to operate routinely due to issues with cleaning and needing larger volumes of fluid1.
In this experiment, a Cannon-Fenske viscometer will be used to measure the viscosities of several propylene glycol solutions to determine the relationship between viscosity and composition.

Measuring Viscosity of Propylene Glycol Solution Using a Glasstube Viscometer

Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Viscosity is a measure of a ...

Porosimetry of a Silica Alumina Powder

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Surface area and pore size distribution are attributes used by adsorbent and catalyst manufacturers and users to ensure quality control and to determine when products are at the end of their useful lives. The surface area of a porous solid is directly related to its adsorption capacity or catalytic activity. The pore size distribution of an adsorbent or catalyst is controlled such that pores are large enough to easily admit molecules of interest, but small enough to provide a high surface area per mass.
Surface area and pore size distribution can be measured by the technique of isothermal nitrogen adsorption/desorption. In this experiment, a nitrogen porosimeter will be used to measure the surface area and pore size distribution of a silica/alumina powder.

Measuring Porosimetry of Silica Alumina Powder Using a Nitrogen Porosimeter

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Surface area and pore size ...

Demonstration of the Power Law Model Through Extrusion

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Polymer melts are often formed into simple shapes or &#34;extrudates&#34;, such as cylindrical pellets, flat sheets, or pipe, using an extruder.1 Polyolefins are among the most common extrudable polymers. Extrusion involves transporting and melting solid feed, which is sometimes mixed with non-polymeric materials, and the pressure build-up and transport of the melt or mixture. It is applied to thermoplastic polymers, which deform when heated and resume their earlier &#34;no-flow&#34; properties when cooled.
Using a simple lab extruder, the effect of operating conditions on polymer output and pressure drop can be examined and the resulting data can be correlated using the &#34;Power Law&#34; model for flow of polymer melts and solutions. This model is used to scale up the process to more complex extruders. The relationship between operating conditions and the deviations from theoretical displacement behavior (&#34;slippage&#34;) and extrudate shape (&#34;die swell&#34;) can be determined.
In this experiment, a typical thermoplastic polymer, such as a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) copolymer (of ethylene + a longer chain olefin) will be used. The operating temperature for the die and zones depend on the material. The flow rate can be determined by weighing the die output at timed intervals. All other necessary data (screw speed, zone temperatures, pressure entering the die) can be read from the instrument panel.

Power Law Model Through Extrusion, Start-up and Heat-soak

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Polymer melts are often ...

Gas Absorber

Source: Michael G. Benton and <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a>, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Gas absorbers are used to remove contaminants from gas streams. Multiple designs are used to accomplish this objective1. A packed bed column uses gas and liquid streams running counter to each other in a column packed with loose packing materials, such as ceramics, metals, and plastics, or structured packing1. The packed bed uses surface area created by the packing to create a maximum amount of efficient contact between the two phases1. The systems are low maintenance and can handle corrosive materials with high mass transfer rates1. Spray columns are another type of absorber, which uses constant direct contact between the two phases, with gas moving up and liquid being sprayed down into the gas flow1. This system only has one stage and poor mass transfer rates, but is very effective for solutes with high liquid solubility1.
The goal of this experiment is to determine how variables including gas flow rate, water flow rate, and carbon dioxide concentration affect the overall mass transfer coefficient in a gas absorber. Understanding how these parameters affect CO2 removal enables contaminant removal to be optimized. The experiment uses a randomly packed water counter-flow gas absorption column. Eight runs with two different gas flow rates, liquid flow rates, and CO2 concentrations were used. During each run, the partial pressures were taken from the bottom, middle, and top of the column unit, and the equilibrium partial pressures were calculated. These pressures were then used to find the mass transfer coefficient, and the mass transfer coefficients were compared to theoretical values.

Gas Absorber, Variable Flow Rate and Mass Transfer Coefficient

Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Gas absorbers are used to ...

Vapor-liquid Equilibrium

Source: Michael G. Benton and <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a>, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Vapor-liquid equilibrium is paramount in engineering applications such as distillation, environmental modeling, and general process design. Understanding the interactions of components in a mixture is very important in designing, operating and analyzing such separators. The activity coefficient is an excellent tool for relating molecular interactions to mixture composition. Finding the molecular interaction parameters allows future prediction of the activity coefficients for a mixture using a model.
Vapor-liquid equilibrium is a critical factor in common processes in the chemical industry, such as distillation. Distillation is the process of separating liquids by their boiling point. A liquid mixture is fed into a distillation unit or column, then boiled. Vapor-liquid equilibrium data is useful for determining how liquid mixtures will separate. Because the liquids have different boiling points, one liquid will boil into a vapor and rise in the column, while the other will stay as a liquid and drain through the unit. The process is very important in a variety of industries.
In this experiment, the activity coefficients of mixtures of various compositions of methanol, isopropanol, and deionized water will be obtained using a vapor-liquid equilibrium apparatus and gas chromatograph. Additionally, the binary interaction parameters of the system will be determined using Wilson&#39;s equation and the activity coefficients.

Vapor-liquid Equilibrium, Activity Coefficient, Fugacity

Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Vapor-liquid equilibrium is ...

The Effect of Reflux Ratio on Tray Distillation Efficiency

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Tray and packed columns are both commonly used for distillation, absorption, and stripping separation operations.1,2 The goal of this experiment is to distill a mixture of alcohols (methanol, isopropanol) and water in a sieve tray column and examine how closely simple theories of distillation based on equilibrium assumptions are followed. Sieve trays provide maximum interfacial area between the liquid and vapor. A P&#38;ID schematic of the sieve tray (each tray contains holes in a support plate) distillation system can be found in Appendix A.
In this demonstration, the Tray Distillation Unit (TDU) is started in total reflux mode. After a steady reflux drum level is attained, a switch to finite reflux mode is made by adjusting the bottoms, distillate and reflux flow rate controllers as necessary to maintain steady levels in the reflux drum and the reboiler, and to maintain a target reflux ratio RD = L/D. Once steady state is achieved (takes at least 90 min), liquid samples will be taken from the reflux drum, reboiler and on each tray and analyzed in a gas chromatograph. A typical protocol is to investigate the effects of reflux ratio over a wide range. From the sample analyses, the tray efficiencies can be determined for all three components on all six trays assuming constant molar overflow (McCabe-Thiele method). The results can also be simulated using an equilibrium process simulator, if available. These two methods can also be used to determine the overall tray efficiency. Additionally, data reconciliation of the mass balances can be performed to determine if gross measurement errors exist. Any Separations or Unit Operations textbook covers the fundamentals of distillation including basic concepts such as reflux ratio, Murphree efficiencies and the McCabe-Thiele method and diagram.2

Distillation Column Operation and Effects of Reflux Ratio

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Tray and packed columns are ...

Efficiency of Liquid-liquid Extraction

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) is a separation technique used instead of distillation when either: (a) the relative volatilities of the compounds to be separated are very similar; (b) one or more of the mixture components are temperature sensitive even near ambient conditions; (c) the distillation would require a very low pressure or a very high distillate/feed ratio.1The driving force for mass transfer is the difference in solubility of one material (the solute) in two other immiscible or partially miscible streams (the feed and the solvent). The feed and solvent streams are mixed and then separated, allowing the solute to transfer from the feed to the solvent. Normally, this process is repeated in successive stages using counter-current flow. The solute-rich solvent is called the extract as it leaves, and the solute-depleted feed is the raffinate. When there is a reasonable density difference between the feed and solvent streams, extraction can be accomplished using a vertical column, although in other cases a series of mixing and settling tanks may be used.
In this experiment, the operational goal is to extract isopropanol (IPA, ~10 - 15 wt. %, the solute) from a mixture of C8-to-C10 hydrocarbons using pure water as solvent. A York-Scheibel type (vertical mixers and coalescers, one each per physical stage) extraction column is available. Like most extractors, the overall efficiency (number theoretical stages/physical stages) of this column is quite low, especially in comparison to many distillation columns. The low efficiencies arise from both slow mass transfer (two liquid resistances instead of one as in distillation) and often also from maldistribution of the phases. The effect of agitator speed on both the solute recovery in the extract and the overall column efficiency will be evaluated.

Liquid-liquid Extraction and York-Scheibel Column Operation

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Liquid-liquid extraction ...

Liquid Phase Reactor: Sucrose Inversion

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Both batch and continuous flow reactors are used in catalytic reactions. Packed beds, which use solid catalysts and a continuous flow, are the most common configuration. In the absence of an extensive recycle stream, such packed bed reactors are typically modeled as &#34;plug flow&#34;. The other most common continuous reactor is a stirred tank, which is assumed to be perfectly mixed.1 One reason for the prevalence of packed bed reactors is that, unlike most stirred tank designs, a large wall area to reactor volume ratio promotes more rapid heat transfer. For almost all reactors, heat must either be added or withdrawn to control the temperature for the desired reaction to take place.
The kinetics of catalytic reactions are often more complex than the simple 1st order, 2nd order, etc. kinetics found in textbooks. The reaction rates can also be affected by rates of mass transfer - reaction cannot take place faster than the rate at which reactants are supplied to the surface or the rate at which products are removed - and heat transfer. For these reasons, experimentation is almost always necessary to determine the reaction kinetics prior to designing large-scale equipment. In this experiment, we explore how to conduct such experiments and how to interpret them by finding a reaction rate expression and an apparent rate constant.
This experiment explores the use of a packed bed reactor to determine the kinetics of sucrose inversion. This reaction is typical of those characterized by a solid catalyst with liquid phase reactants and products.
sucrose&#160;&#8594; glucose (dextrose) + fructose(1)
A packed bed reactor will be operated at different flow rates to control the space time, which is related to residence time and is analogous to elapsed time in a batch reactor. The catalyst, a solid acid, will first be prepped by exchanging protons for any other cations present. Then, the reactor will be heated to the desired temperature (isothermal operation) with the flow of reactants. When the temperature has equilibrated, product sampling will begin. The samples will be analyzed by a polarimeter, which measures optical rotation. The mixture&#39;s optical rotation can be related to the conversion of sucrose, which can then be used in standard kinetics analyses to determine the order of the reaction, with respect to the reactant sucrose, and the apparent rate constant. The effects of fluid mechanics - no axial mixing (plug flow) vs. some axial mixing (stirred tanks in series) - on the kinetics will be analyzed as well.

Reaction Kinetics in Packed Bed Reactor and Sucrose Inversion

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Both batch and continuous ...

Crystallization of Salicylic Acid via Chemical Modification

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Processing of biochemicals involves unit operations such as crystallization, ultracentrifugation, membrane filtration, and preparative chromatography, all of which have in common the need to separate large from small molecules, or solid from liquid. Of these, crystallization is the most important from a tonnage standpoint. For that reason, it is commonly employed in the pharmaceutical, chemical and food processing industries. Important biochemical examples include chiral separations,1 purification of antibiotics,2 separation of amino acids from precursors,3 and many other pharmaceutical,4-5 food additive,6-7 and agrochemical purifications.8 The control of crystal morphology and size distribution is critical to process economics, as these factors affect the costs of downstream processing operations such as drying, filtration, and solids conveying. For more information about crystallization, consult a specialized textbook or a Unit Operations textbook.9
The crystallizer unit (Figure 1) enables study of: (a) the effects of key parameters, such as supersaturation and cooling/heating rates, on solids content, morphology and crystal size distribution; (b) and the on-line control of crystallization processes. Supersaturation can be controlled by altering conditions such as agitation rate and temperature. The different classifications of crystallization include cooling, evaporative, pH swing and chemical modification. In this experiment,an offline microscope will measure from crystals ranging in size from 10-1000 &#956;m, a typical size range for biologicals.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/10407/10407fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: P&#38;ID schematic (left)and picture (right)of Crystallizer. <a href="//cloudfront.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/10407/10407fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
This experiment will demonstrate a &#34;chemical modification&#34;,or &#34;pH-swing&#34; crystallization, to generate salicylic acid (SAL) (precursor of aspirin) crystals from the rapid reaction of aqueous solutions of basic sodium salicylate (NaSAL), which are basic, and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at anywhere from 40 - 80&#176;C.11
Na+SAL + 0.5 H2SO4 SAL (ppt) + Na+ + 0.5 SO42-
The byproduct sodium sulfate remains soluble. The apparatus consists of two feed tanks, three variable speed (peristaltic) pumps, the crystallizer (stirred tank to approximate uniform temperature and concentration, ~5 L), a circulating bath for temperature control, power controller, product tank, and a makeup tank for feed regeneration with NaOH solution (if desired). Samples will be analyzed by a UV-Vis spectrometer for the residual soluble salicylate ion, and the salicylic acid crystal product will be dried and weighed.A pH probe can be used to determine steady-state when reaction conditions are altered.

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Processing of biochemicals ...

Single and Two-phase Flow in a Packed Bed Reactor

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
The goal of this experiment is to determine the magnitude of maldistribution in typical packed bed reactors in both single phase and two-phase (gas-liquid) flow and evaluate the effects of this maldistribution on pressure drop. The concepts of residence time distribution and dispersion are introduced through the use of tracers, and these concepts are related to physical maldistribution.
Channeling in a single-phase flow can occur along walls or by preferential flow through a larger portion of the bed cross-section. Channeling in two-phase flow can result from even more complex causes, and simple two-phase flow theories seldom predict pressure drops in packed beds. A design goal is always to minimize the extent of channeling by finding the optimal bed and particle diameters for the design flow rates and by packing a bed in a way to minimize settling. It is always important to quantify how much maldistribution might occur and to over-design the unit to account for its occurrence.
The permeameter apparatus measures pressure drop, &#916;P, and the concentration of tracer (dye) exiting horizontal packed beds of armored glass for either water, air, or two-phase flow (Figures 1 and 2). Water enters through a control valve and can be routed through manual valves to any of five beds (48&#34; long, 3&#34; I.D.) with different size glass bead dumped (random) packings. The pressure drop is measured using a pressure transmitter. The water flow is measured by a differential pressure (DP, orifice) transmitter and the air flow by a dry test meter (similar to a home gas meter). The dye sample is injected upstream by an automated sampling valve. The exit concentration of the dye from a bed is measured using a UV-Vis spectrometer. Residence time distributions are calculated from the tests and compared to the predictions of theories on dispersion in packed beds. Two-phase flow will be studied in bed 5, which contains the largest particles.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/10431/10431fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Process and instrumentation diagram of the apparatus.
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/10431/10431fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2. 3-D rendering of the apparatus. Bed #1 is at the top, bed #5 at the bottom. The water control valve is on the left (red bonnet). The DP transmitter is at the top center (blue).

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
The goal of this experiment ...

Kinetics of Addition Polymerization to Polydimethylsiloxane

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Polymers are molecules consisting of many repeating monomer units that are chemically bonded into long chains. They exhibit a broad range of physical properties, which are affected by their chemical structure, molecular weight and degree of polymerization. The polymer industry manufactures thousands of raw materials used in a broad variety of commercial products.1,2
The goal of this video is to perform an addition polymerization reaction and then evaluate the resulting product to understand how viscosity can be used to determine polymer molecular weight. Additionally, this experiment will investigate how molecular weight can be related to monomer conversion.

Synthesis of Polydimethylsiloxane via Addition Polymerization

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Polymers are molecules ...

Catalytic Reactor: Hydrogenation of Ethylene

Source: <a href="https://www.jove.com/author/Kerry+M._Dooley">Kerry M. Dooley</a> and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
The hydrogenation of ethylene (C2H4) to ethane (C2H6) has often been studied as a model reduction reaction in characterizing new metal catalysts.1-2 While supported nickel is not the most active metal catalyst for this reaction, it is active enough that reaction can take place at &#60; 200&#176;C.
The reaction typically involves adsorbed, dissociated hydrogen (H2) reacting with adsorbed ethylene. In other words, both hydrogen-atoms and ethylene molecules form bonds with a metal site (here denoted &#34;S&#34;). The strong bonding of ethylene with S weakens the double bond sufficiently to allow hydrogen atoms to add to ethylene, forming ethane, which is not adsorbed.
The purpose of this experiment is, first, to convert raw composition measurements to limiting reactant fractional conversions.3 These conversions can then be used in a plug-flow reactor (PFR) to fit the data to a standard power-law kinetics model by the &#34;Integral Method&#34;.3 A comparison of the experimental orders of reaction for both ethylene and hydrogen with the theoretical orders reveals in this case that the reaction is kinetically controlled rather than mass-transfer controlled.

Heterogeneous Catalytic Reactor and Hydrogenation of Ethylene

Source: Kerry M. Dooley and Michael G. Benton, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
The hydrogenation of ...

Evaluating the Heat Transfer of a Spin-and-Chill

Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
The Spin-and-Chill uses heat transfer and fluid flow fundamentals to chill beverages from room temperature to 38 &#176;F in as little as 2 min. It would take a refrigerator approximately 240 min and an ice chest approximately 40 min to achieve an equivalent temperature change. This is accomplished Spin and Chill by spinning a can or bottle at up to 500 rpm, which creates little or no foaming.
In this experiment, the efficacy of spinning a cylinder (i.e., soda can) at high speeds to cool a soft drink will be evaluated. Operational parameters, such as rpm and spin time, will be varied to assess their effect on heat transfer, and the heat transfer coefficient will be calculated using a lumped parameter model.

Convective Spin-and-Chill Heat Transfer: Lumped Parameter Model

Source: Michael G. Benton and Kerry M. Dooley, Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
The Spin-and-Chill uses ...

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