Toxicity of Ionic Liquids

Abstract

The dramatic growth in ionic liquid research over the past decade has resulted in the development of a huge number of novel ionic liquids, as well as many associated applications. The perceived environmentally friendly nature of ionic liquids, which results from their negligible vapor pressure, is now under scrutiny since although they will not evaporate into air, it is not possible to guarantee that they will never enter the environment. Toxicity research studies including ecotoxicity, have recently received broad attention and the commonly accepted notion that ionic liquids have low toxicity has been shown to be incorrect. This review attempts to highlight the progress of ionic liquid toxicity research, as well as the development of degradable and bio-renewable ionic liquids.

Evaluation of the biocompatibile ionic liquid 1-methyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethylphosphite pretreatment of corn cob for improved saccharification

“…Our finding of good cellulase compatibility in modest concentration (20%, v/v) of phosphate-based ILs is in contrast to the strong deactivation or inhibition of cellulase (Turner et al 2003;Zhao et al 2007Zhao et al , 2008Docherty and Kulpa 2005 Compared with other phosphate-based ILs and chloridebased ILs investigated, [Mmim]DMP was chosen as a green solvent to pretreat corn cob in view of its biocompatibility with both lignocellulose pretreatment and cellulase activity. Both the [Mmim]DMP involved pretreatment/ saccharification process and in situ saccharification process could efficiently convert corn cob to sugars which is important from the practical viewpoint.…”

Physicochemical properties and toxicities of hydrophobic piperidinium and pyrrolidinium ionic liquids

“…[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Only few reports have used human cancer cells. 18,22,26 For extraction of organic solutes or offensive metallic cations from water, we require highly hydrophobic ionic liquids that have very low solubility in water. Water-immiscible ionic liquids used previously for metal-ion extraction from water exhibit solubilities in water that are too large for industrial extraction processes.…”

Efficient Hydrolysis of Lignocellulose by Acidic Ionic Liquids under Low-Toxic Condition to Microorganisms

“…To investigate the mechanism of toxicity, the same experiments using H2SO4 and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, an IL that does not contain any acidic part, were also performed. All three compounds, [Sbmim][HSO4], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, and H2SO4, 4 ] solution is lethal to microorganisms due to its acidity and the intrinsic toxicity of ILs [26][27][28][29]. Especially, the intrinsic toxicity of IL cannot be reduced unlike the toxicity by acidity (reduced by neutralization): sufficiently dilute solution has to be used.…”