Effect of kosmotropicity of ionic liquids on the enzyme stability in aqueous solutions

This paper examined the effect of several pyridinium and imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) on the protease stability in aqueous solutions. In general, the enzyme was found quite active at low concentrations of hydrophilic ILs. In aqueous environment, the enzyme was stabilized by the kosmotropic anions (such as CF3COO− and CH3COO−) and chaotropic cations (such as [BuPy]+ and [EMIM]+), but was destabilized by chaotropic anions (such as tosylate and BF4−) and kosmotropic cations (such as [BMIM]+).

Hydrophilic ionic liquids dissociate into individual ions in water. The effect of individual ions on the enzyme activity follows the Hofmeister series: kosmotropic anions and chaotropic cations stabilize the enzyme.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide