Screening of ionic liquids as promising separation agents of oil mixtures for application in membranes

Fractionation of a mixture of oleic acid/squalene using room temperature ionic liquids as the extracting agent has been investigated for a range of imidazolium and phosphonium based ionic liquids. The partition coefficient of oleic acid to the ionic liquid phase varied from 0.85 for [C2][NTf2] to 2.96 for [EMIM][MDEGSO4]. It was observed that the fractionation of the oil mixture could be tuned by appropriately choosing the combination of the anion and cation type. This effect could be explained by the change in the polarity of the ionic liquid.

Fractionation of a mixture of oleic acid/squalene using room temperature ionic liquids as the extracting agent has been investigated for a range of imidazolium and phosphonium based ionic liquids. The partition coefficient of oleic acid to the ionic liquid phase varied from 0.85 for [C2][NTf2] to 2.96 for [EMIM][MDEGSO4]. It was observed that the fractionation of the oil mixture could be tuned by appropriately choosing the combination of the anion and cation type. This effect could be explained by the change in the polarity of the ionic liquid.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ Ionic liquids are potential extracting agents of valuable compounds in oil mixtures. ▶ Fractionation of oil mixture tuned by combination of IL anion and cation type. ▶ Affinity of IL to oleic acid can be explained by its polarity or solvent strength.