For over a decade, considerable effort has been directed at the evaluation of the viability of ionic liquids (ILs) as replacements for the molecular organic solvents normally employed as diluents in the liquid-liquid extraction of metal ions.  While some studies have demonstrated that extraction efficiencies far superior to those observed in conventional solvent extraction systems can be achieved using ILs, other work indicates that this improved efficiency comes at the price of added mechanistic complexity and a greater likelihood of substantial solvent losses during the extraction process.   In this presentation, the results of our recent investigations of the extraction of alkali and alkaline earth cations by macrocyclic polyethers into various room-temperature ionic liquids are summarized, with emphasis on the factors found to be responsible for determining the balance among the several possible pathways for metal ion partitioning in IL-based extraction systems (<i>e.g</i>., IL cation surface activity, water content of the ionic liquid phase).  The significance of these factors as regards the improvement of IL-based metal ion extraction systems and their application in the development of guidelines for the rational design of these systems is described.<br/>

Recent progress in understanding ionic liquid-based metal ion extraction systems

2019 Spring National Meeting

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