Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids in Water: Assessment of Photocatalytic and Photochemical Transformation

Environ Sci Technol. 2015 Sep 15;49(18):10951-8. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02738. Epub 2015 Sep 3.

Abstract

The photoinduced transformation of two ionic liquids, 1-methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate (HMIM) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogensulfate (EMIM), was investigated under photocatalytic conditions in the presence of irradiated TiO2. We monitored substrate disappearance, transformation products (TPs), degree of mineralization, and toxicity of the irradiated systems. Acute toxicity measures suggested in both cases the occurrence of more toxic TPs than the parent molecules. A total of five TPs were detected by HPLC-HRMS from HMIM and nine from EMIM. Complete mineralization and stoichiometric release of nitrogen was achieved for both compounds within 4 h of irradiation. The photochemical transformation kinetics and pathways in surface waters (direct photolysis and indirect photoreactions) were studied for EMIM, to assess its persistence in sunlit water bodies such as rivers or lakes. Environmental phototransformation would be dominated by direct photolysis, with half-life times of up to one month under fine-weather conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis / radiation effects
  • Environment
  • Half-Life
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / toxicity
  • Ionic Liquids / chemistry*
  • Ionic Liquids / toxicity
  • Kinetics
  • Minerals / chemistry
  • Photochemical Processes*
  • Time Factors
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute
  • Water / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis

Substances

  • Imidazoles
  • Ionic Liquids
  • Minerals
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Water
  • 1-methylimidazole
  • 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium