Issue 4, 2014

Biodegradability of 27 pyrrolidinium, morpholinium, piperidinium, imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquid cations under aerobic conditions

Abstract

The chemical and thermal stability of ionic liquids (ILs) makes them interesting for a large variety of applications in nearly all areas of the chemical industry. However, this stability is often reflected in their recalcitrance towards biodegradation, which comes with the risk of persistence when they are released into the environment. In this study we carried out a systematic investigation of the biodegradability of pyrrolidinium, morpholinium, piperidinium, imidazolium and pyridinium-based IL cations substituted with different alkyl or functionalised side chains and using halide counterions. We examined their primary degradability by specific analysis and/or their ultimate biodegradability using biochemical oxygen demand tests according to OECD guideline 301F. Biological transformation products were investigated using mass spectrometry. A comparison of the biodegradation potential of these ILs shows that for all five head groups, representatives can be found that are readily or inherently biodegradable, thus permitting the structural design of ILs with a reduced environmental hazard.

Graphical abstract: Biodegradability of 27 pyrrolidinium, morpholinium, piperidinium, imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquid cations under aerobic conditions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Sep 2013
Accepted
15 Jan 2014
First published
15 Jan 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Green Chem., 2014,16, 2174-2184

Biodegradability of 27 pyrrolidinium, morpholinium, piperidinium, imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquid cations under aerobic conditions

J. Neumann, S. Steudte, C. Cho, J. Thöming and S. Stolte, Green Chem., 2014, 16, 2174 DOI: 10.1039/C3GC41997E

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