Application of clean technologies using electrochemistry in ionic liquids

Abstract

Rising costs and green environmental concerns have focused attention on more efficient way of producing chemical products. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), especially in combination with electrochemical activation, provide promise of reduction pollution in processing because of their recyclability and low vapour loss factors. The fundamental and applied aspects of electrolytic processing in ionic liquid media are discussed using data from various direct and catalytic redox processes. It is shown that ionic liquids are potentially very useful for performing important redox transformations, for example alcohol oxidations, carboxylations and CO 2 capture. These results indicated that electrolytic transformations in RTIL media are feasible which present opportunities for developing new real chemical processing applications. The opportunities and challenges for electrochemical engineers in this field are outlined and discussed. 

Electrocarboxylation: towards sustainable and efficient synthesis of valuable carboxylic acids

“…Some researchers focused on replacing toxic and volatile organic solvents with ionic liquids [ 81 – 83 ]. Their negligible vapor pressure, large electrochemical window, good intrinsic conductivity and high CO 2 solubility make them interesting solvents for electrochemical CO 2 valorization [ 81 – 83 99 – 101 ]. Under similar conditions, ketones are carboxylated with higher selectivity for the α-hydroxy acid compared to aldehydes, and especially compared to aliphatic aldehydes, like acetaldehyde, which give very poor yields [ 84 ].…”

Single Electron Transfer in Radical Ion and Radical-Mediated Organic, Materials and Polymer Synthesis

“…Another major recent development in the area of electrosynthesis is the switch to ionic liquids as a more ecological and easily recyclable solvent. − The common organic solvents have several disadvantages, such as low dielectric constant volatility and flammability. Because water is not a good choice either due to the insolubility problem for most of the organic compounds, the use of ionic liquid has great advantages such as high ionic conductivity, nonvolatility, and low flammability.…”

Catalysis by electrons and holes: formal potential scales and preparative organic electrochemistry

“…Experimental aspects of electrolyses performed in ionic liquids have been recently reviewed. 115 For convenience, several other solvent/electrolyte systems are shown in Fig. 4.…”