Comparative ecotoxicology study of two neoteric solvents: Imidazolium ionic liquid vs. glycerol derivative

• The ecotoxicity of two solvents (Ionic liquid and glycerol-derivative) has been evaluated.
• Three trophic levels (bacteria, crustacean, fish) have been explored.
• An ESH comparison has been performed using both ecotoxicity results and environmental properties.
• Glycerol-derivative solvent seems to be less harmful for the environment, according to ESH.

In this study we have compared the acute ecotoxicity of two solvents, with very different structure and origin, but sharing many physical-chemical properties, so they can be used for similar purposes; a well-known ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) and a solvent partially derived from biomass, 3-bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)propan-2-ol (BTFIP). We have used three biomodels (Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna and Danio rerio) and performed the comparison applying the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) hazard assessment. According to the results, ecotoxicity of [BMIM][PF6] and BTFIP is quite similar in the simplest model Vibrio fischeri, while in Daphnia magna [BMIM][PF6] is clearly more toxic. However, in Danio rerio, toxicity of these chemicals is again quite similar and both can be classified as “nontoxic”. The higher index value of [BMIM][PF6] in water mediate effect in the EHS assessment indicates that this ionic liquid is more dangerous than BTFIP, although accumulation and degradation properties have not been taken into account. Further studies will be necessary to ascertain these conclusions.