CRYSTILS

Crystallization in Ionic Liquid Solutions

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Crystallization is an essential process in the manufacture of products as varied as pharmaceuticals, electronic devices or biomimetic materials. In order to obtain a crystalline product with desirable characteristics (e.g. crystal size, morphology, structural organization) for specific applications it is crucial to control the mechanism and kinetics of crystal nucleation and growth. Yet, our understanding of the crystallization reactions remains limited, especially for organic, polymeric, and protein crystals. It is recognized that the specific chemistry of a solvent affects crystal growth and nucleation kinetics, morphology, crystal size distribution and purity of precipitates. Usually different solvents with respective properties are used for particular purposes, and organic solvents are ubiquitously applied in crystallization strategies in research and industry. However there is great concern in limiting the use of organic solvents because of their negative environmental and health impact. Ionic liquids (ILs) have earned special attention from the scientific community as alternatives to replace traditional volatile organic compounds. Some attempts have been made to exploit the unique properties of these salts in crystallization processes. Nevertheless the complexity of such systems and as yet not fully characterized chemistry of ILs make understanding of the underlying mechanisms and control of resulting precipitate characteristics quite difficult. The aim of this project is to use ILs as crystallization additives in order to design the aqueous solvent with predictable and controllable effect on respective characteristics of inorganic and protein crystals. Such an approach results from a novel concept that explains dependence of the crystallization reactions on additives present in solution by their effect on water structure and dynamics.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU-funded researchers have investigated how ionic liquids (ILs) can influence the crystallisation of various inorganic and protein crystals in water.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Crystallisation is an important process for a number of industries such as pharmaceuticals and electronics, as well as for researchers studying protein structure. ILs can be used as additives to influence the crystallisation process, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms of ILs as solvents.

The 'Crystallization in iIonic liquid solutions' (CRYSTILS) project used IL additives to elucidate the relationship between IL and the crystallisation process in an aqueous (water-based) solution. The project aimed to design an aqueous solvent with predictable and controllable crystallisation properties.

A model system was set up using the precipitation of barium sulphate crystals in various IL-containing solutions. The first major finding of the project was a link between the conductivity of the IL used and the size of the precipitating crystalline particles.

The model system also revealed the fundamental properties of nucleation in aqueous ionic solutions, such as different precipitation effects at the liquid surface and interior. In general, the properties observed were true for both inorganic and protein crystals.

Finally, CRYSTILS used these findings to synthesise inorganic crystals with specific properties. This included complex crystal structures, permeable crystals and crystals with internal cavities.

The experimental knowledge gained over the course of the CRYSTILS project provides a solid foundation for future work in this new field. Understanding the relationship between ILs in solution and the precipitation of crystals from that solution will allow for manufacture of novel functional materials.