Alkyl-chain length effects of imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquids on photosynthetic response of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

The toxicities of imidazolium- and pyridinium-based ionic liquids with various alkyl-chain lengths were investigated on the photosynthetic activity of the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Our results show that an imidazolium compound with four carbons in the alkyl chain was the least toxic salt, and should be preferred over pyridinium entity.