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Thioglycolate-based task-specific ionic liquids: Metal extraction abilities vs acute algal toxicity
Sonja Platzer1, Raphlin Leyma2, Sara Wolske2
1Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Technical University of Vienna, Getreidemarkt 9/163, 1060 Vienna, Austria.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|July 17, 2017
Summary
Two thioglycolate-based ionic liquids efficiently extract heavy metals like zinc from water. Immobilization on charcoal shows promise for solid-liquid extraction, though the ionic liquids exhibit high toxicity to freshwater algae.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Green Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Heavy metal contamination in aqueous solutions poses environmental risks.
- Ionic liquids (ILs) offer potential for selective metal extraction.
- Thioglycolate-based ILs show promise for removing toxic metals.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the extraction efficiency of two thioglycolate-based ILs for cobalt(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II).
- Explore the potential for IL recycling and immobilization for solid-liquid extraction.
- Determine the ecotoxicity of the ILs towards freshwater green algae.
Main Methods:
- Time-dependent metal removal experiments using methyltrioctylammonium S-hexyl thioglycolate and methyltrioctylphosphonium S-hexyl thioglycolate.
- Quantum-mechanical calculations to elucidate the metal extraction mechanism.
- In vivo ecotoxicity tests on three freshwater green algae species.
Main Results:
- High distribution ratio for zinc (RIL/Water=2000) achieved.
- Successful zinc recovery and recycling demonstrated.
- Immobilization of ILs on active charcoal showed potential for solid-liquid extraction.
- Quantum-mechanical calculations indicated metal-water cluster stability influences extraction.
- Nickel complexes showed planar coordination, zinc complexes showed tetrahedral configuration.
- Effective concentration (EC50) values indicated high toxicity of tested ILs to all algae species.
Conclusions:
- Thioglycolate-based ionic liquids are effective for extracting zinc from aqueous solutions.
- Immobilized ILs offer a viable route for solid-liquid heavy metal separation.
- The studied ionic liquids exhibit significant ecotoxicity, necessitating careful environmental consideration.
