Ionic liquids (ILs) are low melting salts that are being designed, developed and explored for a myriad of applications.  While it is possible to make ILs that are highly toxic (and these should certainly be avoided), their real potential for contributions to global stewardship are the applications.  Here we will explore how the unique properties of ILs � low vapor pressure, good thermal stability, widely tunable solvation properties and chemical functionalization � make previously inaccessible products and processes possible.  These include low energy separation of carbon dioxide from post-combustion flue gas, elimination of ozone depleting, global warming and flammable refrigerants, safer batteries and supercapacitors, chrome plating without exposure to highly toxic hexavalent chromium, homogeneous phase processing of biomass into chemicals and fuels, reactions and separations without fugitive emissions, non-volatile lubricants and heat transfer fluids, and more cost efficient harvesting of solar energy.

How ionic liquids can contribute to global stewardship

248th National Meeting (2014)

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