Use of ionic liquids in metal extraction

What is an Ionic Liquid?

ILs are salts that exist in liquid form at temperatures below 100C. Their molecules are composed of a large asymmetric cation, e.g., 1-alkyl-3methylimidazolium, N-alkylpyridinium, and an organic or inorganic anion. Depending on the cation and anion used, the properties of IL such as viscosity, cloud point and solubility in water can vary. The above mentioned property serves as a great advantage.

The most commonly used cations and anions in the synthesis of ILs are
Cations - Imidazolium ions, Pyrinidium ion, Ammonium ion, Phosphonium ion.
Anions - [BF4]-, [PF6]-, [RSO4]-, [RSO3]-.

Ionic liquids in metal extraction

IL,s can act as better substitute for the conventional organic solvent used to extract out the metal ions from the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is treated with ionic liquid containing an extractant(why the extractant is used?). The extractant dehydrate the metal ions and form complexes with them.

 The metal-extractant complexes are more hydrophobic than the metal ions and thus partitioning preferably to the hydrophobic solvent(IL). Example Dicyclohexan-18-crown-6 and other crown ethers can be used to extract alkali, alkaline and few heavy metal ions into ionic liquid. Finally the metal ions can be stripped off the ionic liquid under acidic conditions.

Effect of cationic and ionic part on metal extraction efficiency

The solubility of crown ether-metal complexes in ionic liquid can be tuned by altering the length of the alkyl chain on the ionic liquid imidazolium cation. Extraction efficiency decreases with increasing chain length. Also, the extraction efficiency of crown ether-metal complexes into ionic liquids with [NTf2]- anion is higher then extraction into ionic liquid with [PF6]- ions.

 Various other combinations of metal extractant and ionic liquid can be used depending on type of the metal which needs to be extracted out. Task specific imidazolium ionic liquids have been designed such as to serve the purpose of both as extractant and the hydrophobic extracting solvent.

Why conventional solvent are getting replaced by IL,s ?

ILs are tagged as green solvents because they are non flammable(<100 C), non toxic(except few), non hazardous and biodegradable. Moreover, their non-measurable volatility and thermal stability even up to 350C make them very attractive for industrial use. Adding to all this, the ILs are fairly less expensive.

 One of the primary driving forces behind research into ionic liquids is the perceived benefit of substituting traditional industrial solvents, most of which are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with nonvolatile ionic liquids. Replacement of conventional solvents by ionic liquids would prevent the emission of VOCs, a major source of environmental pollution.

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Presented byNitin Singh 09MT3010 Jani Pasha 09MT Amit Dhalia - 09MT