First liquid-liquid extraction trial finds porous liquids can separate harmful or unwanted alcohols from mixtures

Phys.org  September 18, 2024 Researchers in the UK explored the application of porous liquids for the separation of miscible liquids, using MEG/water (MEG=monoethylene glycol) and EtOH/water as proof-of-principle. PLs ZIF-8@PDMS (PL1, PDMS=polydimethylsilicone) or ZIF-8@sesame oil (PL2) each consisting of 25 wt % of the hydrophobic microporous material ZIF-8 was dispersed in PDMS or sesame oil respectively were physically stable to sedimentation. MEG was selectively extracted through a membrane from approximately into the PL phase. The PL could also be regenerated and re-used, suggesting its potential for continuous, cyclic extraction, PL3 (silicalite-1@PDMS) was effective in selective alcohol extraction from beverages. According to […]