Polyphenol, polysaccharide and lactate extraction from pulping factory black liquor by ionic liquids

Extraction of polyphenols, polysaccharides and organic acids present in a liquor issued from a pulping factory, so-called black liquor, was studied using two ionic liquids trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride ([P66614]Cl) and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bromide ([P66614]Br). The extraction of each of the three compounds mentioned above was reported as a function of the dilution of the initial black liquor, the volume ratio of liquor vs. ionic liquid, and the initial pH of the black liquor. Polyphenols and polysaccharides were quantitatively extracted at room temperature with both ionic liquids. Extraction of lactate anions was found to be low, exhibiting distribution coefficients below 8 in all cases.