Effects of ions on the solubility transition and the phase-separation of N-isopropylacrylamide in water

J Phys Chem B. 2011 Nov 10;115(44):12905-10. doi: 10.1021/jp207576z. Epub 2011 Oct 18.

Abstract

The effects of NaCl, NaOH, and HCl on the solubility transition and the phase-separation of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) were investigated for the purpose of clarifying the physicochemical mechanism of salting-out and salting-in phenomena. The discrete change in the solubility of NIPA in the salt-free water at the solubility transition (reported in J. Phys. Chem. B 2010, 114, 14995-15002) decreased with the addition of HCl and disappeared in the HCl solutions at concentrations higher than 2 M, while it increased with additions of NaOH and NaCl. A difference in NIPA concentration between the phase-separated solutions decreases with the addition of HCl and increases with additions of NaOH and NaCl. Partition coefficients of HCl in the phase-separated NIPA-rich solutions are higher than those in the NIPA poor solutions, while partition coefficients of NaCl and NaOH between the NIPA-rich and -poor solutions have trends opposite to those of HCl. The present results clearly indicate that the HCl favors the dehydrated NIPA and stabilizes the H(2)O-poor state of the NIPA molecule more than NaCl.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides / chemistry*
  • Hydrochloric Acid / chemistry
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Phase Transition*
  • Sodium Chloride / chemistry
  • Sodium Hydroxide / chemistry
  • Solubility
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Ions
  • Water
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • N-isopropylacrylamide
  • Hydrochloric Acid