"The second, completely revised and enlarged edition of what has become the standard reference work in this fascinating field brings together the latest developments, supplemented by numerous practical tips, providing those working in both research and industry with an indispensable source of information. New contributions have been added, to reflect the fact that industrial processes are already established, and ionic liquids are now commercially available. A must for everyone working in the field."--Publisher's description.

Research into ionic liquids (ILs) has been a very rapidly growing discipline in recent years. ILs have attracted very considerable attention because of their unique properties, which may be useful in new processes and technologies. They have already been studied for a variety of applications such as alternative solvents in organic synthesis and catalysis, reaction media for biocatalysis and biotransformation, in the separation sciences, electrolytes in batteries and solar cells, alternative lubricants, and as media for tissue preservation. ILs have excellent solvation properties, are thermally, chemically and electrochemically stable, and their vapour pressure is negligible. Nevertheless, the same properties that make them attractive replacements for other volatile industrial compounds may render them hazardous to ecosystems. This book discusses several topics that include the pharmaceutical aspect of ILs; the application of ILs to lignin extraction and depolymerisation; recent developments in ionic liquid toxicity assessments; the role temperature, irradiation and oxidation has on the stability of ILs; and analytical methods for determining the constituents of ILs.

The demand for increasingly clean and efficient chemical syntheses is becoming more urgent from both an economic and an environmental standpoint. Many technologies rely on large quantities of hazardous even toxic solvents. A promising and now established approach is the development of new, ionic solvents that are fluid at room temperature. These solvents not only have the potential to increase chemical reactivity and thus lead to more efficient processes, but are also non-flammable and are less toxic than conventional solvents due to their low vapor pressure. This volume brings together the latest developments in this fascinating field, supplemented by numerous practical tips, and thus provides those working in both research and industry with an indispensable source of information.

In the late 1990s, there was an explosion of research on ionic liquids and they are now a major topic of academic and industrial interest with numerous existing and potential applications. Since then, the number of scientific papers focusing on ionic liquids has risen exponentially, including a few edited multi-author books covering the latest advances in ionic liquids chemistry and several volumes of symposium proceedings. Much of the content in these books and volumes is written using technical jargon that only scientists at the cutting edge of ionic liquids research will understand and ionic liquids are hardly covered in most modern chemistry textbooks. This is the first single-author book on ionic liquids and the first introductory book on the topic. It is written in a clear, concise and consistent way. The book provides a useful introduction to ionic liquids for those readers who are not familiar with the topic. It is also wide ranging, embracing every aspect of the chemistry and applications of ionic liquids. The book draws extensively on the primary scientific literature to provide numerous examples of research on ionic liquids. These examples will enable the reader to become familiar with the key developments in ionic liquids chemistry over recent years. The book provides an introduction to: ionic liquids; their nomenclature; history; physical, chemical and biological properties; and their wide ranging uses and potential applications in catalysis, electrochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analysis, biotechnology, green chemistry and clean technology. Notable and important chapters include "The Green Credentials of Ionic Liquids" and "Biotechnology." The chapter on "Applications" includes sections with brief descriptions of recent research on the development of ionic liquids: - for the construction of a liquid mirror for a moon telescope - for use as rocket propellants - for use as antimicrobial agents that combat MRSA - as active pharmaceutical ingredients and antiviral drugs - for embalming and tissue preservation Science students, researchers, teachers in academic institutions and chemists and other scientists in industry and government laboratories will find the book an invaluable introduction to one of the most rapidly advancing and exciting fields of science and technology today.

Written by experts who have been part of this field since its beginnings in both research and academia, this textbook introduces readers to this evolving topic and the broad range of applications that are being explored. The book begins by examining what it is that defines ionic liquids and what sets them apart from other materials. Chapters describe the various types of ionic liquids and the different techniques used to synthesize them, as well as their properties and some of the methods used in their measurement. Further chapters delve into synthetic and electrochemical applications and their broad use as "Green" solvents. Final chapters examine important applications in a wide variety of contexts, including such devices as solar cells and batteries, electrochemistry, and biotechnology. The result is a must-have resource for any researcher beginning to work in this growing field, including senior undergraduates and postgraduates.

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Application, Purification, and Recovery of Ionic Liquids provides a comprehensive overview of the usage of ionic liquids (IL). The book gives a description of the methods used for recovery and purification of ILs, a summary of the economic aspects of using ILs, and a review on the toxicity data of ILs. It is written for researchers, scientists, and engineers working with ILs, their properties, and usages. The book not only describes the chemical aspects, but the economic and environmental aspects as well, making it of particular interest to professionals applying this technology. - Chapters written by scientists in academia and researchers in industry, ensuring coverage of both the scientific fundaments and industrial applications - A single source of information for a broad collection of recovery and purification methods - Provides information on using ionic liquids as green solvents - Includes economic aspects of recovery and reuse of ionic liquids