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Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
High-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry for the characterization of transformation
Debora Fabbri1, Paola Calza1, Giorgio Noè1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 5, 10125, Torino, Italy.
Rationale:
Ionic liquids (ILs) are a subject of active research in the field of alternative solvents. We studied the behaviour of a piperidine IL, 1-butyl-1-methylpiperidinium tetrafluoroborate (BMPA), through the elucidation of its transformation products (TPs) in water.
Methods:
The transformation pathways of BMPA were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with a hybrid LTQ-Orbitrap instrument on the basis of mass defect filtering. TPs of BMPA were identified by fragmentation patterns and accurate mass measurements.
Results:
The separation and identification of 32 TPs was achieved. BMPA can be oxidized at different positions in the alkyl chains. The ultimate products corresponds to N-methyl-piperidinium and some byproducts involving ring-opening. Tests of acute toxicity, evaluated with Vibrio Fischeri bacteria, show that BMPA transformation proceeds through the formation of slightly harmful compounds.
Conclusions:
Results showed that the main transformation pathways of BMPA were alkyl chain hydroxylation/shortening and de-alkylation, and that HPLC/LTQ-Orbitrap can serve as an important analytical platform to gather the unknown TPs of ILs.
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