Enhanced Deoxygenation of Solvents via an Improved Inert Gas Bubbling Method with a Ventilation Pathway

Abstract

We introduce an improved inert gas bubbling method for solvent deoxygenation, featuring a ventilation path alongside the inert gas inlet to enhance the efficiency and reproducibility. While essential for life, oxygen’s reactivity can disrupt scientific and industrial processes by forming unwanted intermediates and deactivating catalysts, necessitating efficient deoxygenation methods. Traditional methods like freeze-pump-thaw (FPT) are effective but time-consuming, require stringent safety measures, and have potential limitations for use with aqueous and biological samples. Our enhanced inert gas bubbling method retains the simplicity and safety of conventional bubbling while achieving FPT-like deoxygenation efficiency, demonstrated by photoluminescence intensity and lifetime measurements in acetonitrile (ACN) and toluene (TOL). Simulations using a simplified kinetic model and the Stern-Volmer equation reveal that the added ventilation pathway reduces oxygen contamination in Ar gas bubbles, improving the deoxygenation efficiency. This method is widely applicable in academic and industrial fields, requiring consistent and efficient solvent deoxygenation. © 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.