Work

Sustainable and Simple Water‐Induced Separation of Ionic Liquid Mixtures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Ionic liquids (ILs) are often considered inseparable once mixed, posing a major challenge for their reuse and recycling. We demonstrate a simple and effective method to separate ILs containing hydrophobic ([NTf 2 ] − ) and hydrophilic ([OAc] − ) anions under ambient conditions. This process is driven by the thermodynamic behavior of the ILs in presence of water that enables the near‐complete (⩾99%) recovery of pure components without complex purification steps. Our findings prove that pure ILs can easily be recovered after being mixed and open new pathways for the sustainable use of ionic fluids in various applications.

Source: Angewandte Chemie

DOI: 10.1002/ange.202503863

Authors: Beatriz R. de Moraes, Agilio Pádua, Rômulo A. Ando, Margarida Costa Gomes

Institutions: École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universidade de São Paulo, Laboratoire de Chimie

Language: English

Topic: Ionic liquids properties and applications

Subfield: Catalysis

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,790