Ionic liquids as bioactive chemical tools for use in agriculture and the preservation of agricultural products

Abstract

Organic salts called “ionic liquids” have already quite a long history; nevertheless, they still attract major attention from the scientific community and increaselly industry. In this review article, we present the recent progress made in the field of ionic liquids bearing bioactive components, with a particular emphasis on their use as chemical tools in agriculture and the preservation of agricultural products. The article comprehensively describes the use of ionic liquids as bactericides, fungicides, herbicides, wood preservation agents, plants stimulants, growth regulators, and their possible advantages in comparison with conventional, presently used formulations. Ionic liquid's unique properties and multifunctionality are underlined in particular, in order to show their high value as bioactive substances. Moreover, the ILs biodegradability, toxicity, and the methods for their determination and prediction are discussed. An outlook on possible future progression in this field finalizes this article.