Concentration-dependent apparent partition coefficients of ionic liquids possessing ethyl- and bi-sulphate anions

Abstract

This study deals with the concentration dependent apparent partition coefficients log P of the ethyl and bisulfate-based ionic liquids. It is observed that the bisulfate-based ionic liquids show different behaviour with respect to concentration as compared to ethyl sulphate-based ionic liquids. It is significant and useful analysis for the further implementation of alkyl sulfate based ionic liquids as solvents in extraction processes. The log P values of the ethyl sulphate-based ionic liquids were noted to vary linearly with the concentration of the ionic liquid, whereas a flip-flop trend with the concentration for the log P values of the bisulphate-based ionic liquids was observed due to the difference in hydrogen bond accepting basicity and possibility of aggregate formation of these anions. The π–π interactions between the imidazolium and pyridinium rings were seen to affect the log P values. The alkyl chain length of anions was also observed to influence the log P values. The hydrophobicity of ionic liquid changes with the alkyl chain in the anion in the order; [HSO₄]⁻ < [EtSO₄]⁻ < [BuSO₄]⁻.