The Radiation Stability of Organic Ionic Liquids in Biphasic Systems

Abstract

The influence of γ-radiation on the stability of biphasic water/ionic liquid (IL) and gas/IL systems was studied. The behaviours of two phosphonium-based ionic liquids with the same cation and differing anions were compared. Exposure to γ-radiation did not significantly impact IL stability, but it did speed up processes that occurred even in the absence of radiation. The two most significant effects of irradiation were the promotion of faster emulsion layer formation and the precipitation of a fine white solid. Precipitate formation could be deleterious, whereas emulsion layer formation could be either beneficial or detrimental, in an IL-based separations process.