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Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents: Their Crucial Roles in Green Chemistry

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Liquids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 3777

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Interests: ionic liquids; green chemistry; computational chemistry; reaction mechanisms; physical organic chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Interests: ionic liquids; deep eutectic solvents; green chemistry; sustainable organic reactions; sustainable valorization of biomass wastes

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Guest Editor Assistant
1. Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
2. Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Interests: ionic liquids; inorganic and coordination chemistry; electrochemistry; redox flow batteries; green chemistry; CO2 utilization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Green chemistry, an essential pillar of sustainable development, seeks to minimize the environmental impact of chemical processes. In this pursuit, the discovery and utilization of Ionic Liquids (ILs) and Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) have emerged as groundbreaking solutions, revolutionizing the landscape of chemical synthesis and catalysis.

ILs and DESs offer unique advantages over conventional organic solvents. Their remarkable properties, such as negligible vapor pressure, high thermal stability, and excellent solubilizing ability, make them ideal candidates for a wide range of applications. Most importantly, these solvents are often non-toxic and can be derived from abundant, renewable resources, further enhancing their sustainability.

ILs and DESs have made significant contributions in a variety of fields, ranging from catalysis and organic reactions to biomass extraction and electrochemical applications. These solvents have shown exceptional efficiency as reaction media, enabling cleaner and more selective transformations. They can stabilize reactive intermediates and provide a controlled environment for chemical reactions, leading to higher yields and reduced waste generation. Additionally, ILs and DESs have demonstrated excellent recyclability, allowing for multiple cycles of catalysis without a significant loss of activity.

Moreover, ILs and DESs have paved the way for the development of greener separation processes. Their tunable physicochemical properties enable the selective extraction and purification of target compounds, eliminating the need for hazardous and energy-intensive techniques. By replacing traditional solvents in extraction and separation procedures, ILs and DESs contribute to significant energy savings and reduce the release of harmful pollutants.

In conclusion, the emergence of Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents represents a major breakthrough in green chemistry. Their unique properties and eco-friendly nature make them indispensable tools for sustainable synthesis, catalysis, and separation processes. As we strive towards a greener future, further exploration and utilization of ILs and DESs hold the potential to revolutionize the chemical industry and significantly mitigate its environmental impact.

Dr. Christian Silvio Pomelli
Guest Editor

Dr. Angelica Mero
Dr. Luca Guglielmero
Guest Editor Assistants

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Keywords

  • ionic liquids
  • deep eutectic solvents
  • green chemistry
  • green energy
  • sustainable batteries
  • sustainable media for electronic and electrochemical applications
  • sustainability
  • chemical synthesis
  • catalysis
  • renewable resources
  • non-toxic solvents
  • vapor pressure
  • thermal stability
  • solubilizing ability
  • waste reduction
  • recyclability
  • separation processes
  • eco-friendly solutions

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3839 KiB  
Article
An Innovative Vortex-Assisted Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Approach Using Deep Eutectic Solvent: Application for the Spectrofluorometric Determination of Rhodamine B in Water, Food and Cosmetic Samples
by Sofia Kakalejčíková, Yaroslav Bazeľ, Van Anh Le Thi and Maksym Fizer
Molecules 2024, 29(14), 3397; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143397 - 19 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1065
Abstract
A new green and highly sensitive method for the determination of rhodamine B (RhB) by deep eutectic solvent-based vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction with fluorescence detection (DES-VALLME-FLD) was developed. The extraction efficiency of conventional solvents and different deep eutectic solvent (DES) systems composed of tetrabutylammonium [...] Read more.
A new green and highly sensitive method for the determination of rhodamine B (RhB) by deep eutectic solvent-based vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction with fluorescence detection (DES-VALLME-FLD) was developed. The extraction efficiency of conventional solvents and different deep eutectic solvent (DES) systems composed of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and an alcohol (hexanol, octanol, or decanol) in different ratios were compared. DFT calculations of intermolecular electrostatic and non-covalent interactions of the most stable RhB forms with DES and water explain the experimental DESs’ extraction efficiency. Semiempirical PM7 computations were used to obtain Hansen solubility parameters, which supported the good solubility of the monocationic RhB form in selected DESs. The dependence of the linear calibration of microextraction into 100 µL DES was observed in the RhB calibration range from 0.2 to 10.0 µg L−1 with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9991. The LOD value was calculated to be 0.023 µg L−1. The accuracy and precision of the proposed method were verified over two days with RSD values of 2.9 to 4.1% and recovery of 94.6 to 103.7%. The developed method was applied to the determination of RhB in real samples (tap water, energy drink, and lipstick). Full article
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23 pages, 5660 KiB  
Article
A Combined Experimental/Computational Study of Dicationic Ionic Liquids with Bromide and Tungstate Anions
by Guelber Cardoso Gomes, Claudio Ferdeghini, Luca Guglielmero, Felicia D’Andrea, Lorenzo Guazzelli, Andrea Mezzetta and Christian Silvio Pomelli
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 2131; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092131 - 3 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1450
Abstract
A panel of dicationic ionic liquids (DILs) with different rigid xylyl (ortho, meta, para) spacers and different anions (bromide and tungstate) has been synthetised and characterised through different experimental and computational techniques. Differences and analogies between the systems are analysed using information derived [...] Read more.
A panel of dicationic ionic liquids (DILs) with different rigid xylyl (ortho, meta, para) spacers and different anions (bromide and tungstate) has been synthetised and characterised through different experimental and computational techniques. Differences and analogies between the systems are analysed using information derived from their DFT structures, semiempirical dynamics, thermal behaviour, and catalytic properties versus the well-known reaction of CO2 added to epichlorohydrin. A comparison between the proposed systems and some analogues that present non-rigid spacers shows the key effect displayed by structure rigidity on their characteristics. The results show an interesting correlation between structure, flexibility, properties, and catalytic activity. Full article
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Review

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19 pages, 5071 KiB  
Review
Ionic Liquid/Deep Eutectic Solvent-Mediated Calcining Synthesis of Cobalt-Based Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting
by Chenyun Zhang, Jianjiao Jin, Jiahao Wang, Fangfang Sun, Jiacheng Xu, Shun Wang, Lihua Xu, Jing Zhang and Bingwei Xin
Molecules 2024, 29(18), 4435; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29184435 - 18 Sep 2024
Viewed by 600
Abstract
The recent advancements of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in the synthesis of cobalt-based catalysts for water splitting is reviewed. ILs and DESs possess unique physical and chemical properties, serving as solvents, templates, and reagents. Combined with calcination techniques, their [...] Read more.
The recent advancements of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in the synthesis of cobalt-based catalysts for water splitting is reviewed. ILs and DESs possess unique physical and chemical properties, serving as solvents, templates, and reagents. Combined with calcination techniques, their advantages can be fully leveraged, enhancing the stability and activity of resulted catalysts. In these solvents, not only are they suitable for simple one-step calcination, but also applicable to more complex multi-step calcination, suitable for more complex reaction conditions. The designability of ILs and DESs allows them to participate in the reaction as reactants, providing metal and heteroatoms, simplifying the preparation system of cobalt phosphide, sulfide, and nitride. This work offers insights into design principles for electrocatalysts and practical guidance for the development of efficient and high-performance materials for hydrogen production and energy storage systems. Full article
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