How effective is beta-Cyclodextrin in trapping different types of gases, and what are the implications for applications in food, environmental protection, and fuel storage?

The study evaluates the effectiveness of β-CD in trapping various gases, including those relevant to food preservation (N2O, CO2), environmental protection (NO2, SO2, HCN), and fuel storage (CH4, CH3CH2CH3). The thermodynamic parameters of complex formation provide insights into the potential applications of β-CD in these areas.

From: "Inclusion Complexes between β-Cyclodextrin and Gaseous Substances—N2O, CO2, HCN, NO2, SO2, CH4 and CH3CH2CH3: Role of the Host’s Cavity Hydration", Inorganics 2024, 12(4), 110

β-CD is highly effective in trapping polar gases like N2O, HCN, NO2, and SO2, with Gibbs free energies of complex formation ranging from −15 to −1 kcal/mol. These gases form stable complexes with β-CD, making it a potential candidate for applications in food preservation (e.g., as a foaming agent or for food quality assessment), environmental protection (e.g., as a detector or scavenger for toxic gases), and fuel storage (e.g., for capturing methane). However, β-CD is less effective in trapping non-polar gases like CH4 and CH3CH2CH3, with less favorable ∆G values. This suggests that β-CD may not be suitable for applications involving non-polar gases, but it can be highly beneficial for polar gases in the mentioned fields.