ROOM TEMPERATURE IONIC LIQUIDS AS ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL ORGANIC SOLVENTS IN SOLVENT EXTRACTION

摘要

We describe a new class of solvents comprised of low melting salts known as room temperature ionic liquids. Recent interest has focused on their unique properties as alternative solvents in synthesis and separations. The properties of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic ionic liquids reveal how water content, density, viscosity, surface tension, melting point, and thermal stability are affected by changes in the nature of both cation and anion. Applications for ionic liquids, with particular attention to their solvating ability and utilization as replacements for organic solvents in liquid/liquid separations, are described.