Ionic liquids application for wastewater treatment and biofuel production: A mini review

Abstract

Commonly described as ionic compounds that are fluid below 100 C, Ionic Liquids (ILs) have found its application in several fields of science and engineering. Formerly limited in its use for electrochemical purposes, ILs today have applications in wide and myriad fields. Among their numerous uses, the current water scarcity and rapid depletion of non-renewable fuel sources have directed the importance of ILs to wastewater treatment and production of biofuels. The versatility and stability of ILs have resulted in several studies dedicated to their optimization and practical application in the afore-mentioned fields. This review paper aims to provide a summary of the ILs studied for wastewater management for the extraction of organic pollutants as well as metal contents. It further details the ILs used to produce biodiesel through transesterification of various feedstocks.