Anion Influence on Aggregation Behavior of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid in Aqueous Solutions: Effect on Diverse Chemical Processes

ALEJANDRO M. GRANADOS; CLAUDIA G. ADAM; M. VIRGINIA BRAVO

Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

American Chemical Society

Año: 2017 vol. 56 p. 1214 - 1222

1520-5045

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been proven to be a special class of materials with wide applications including theformation of aggregates of micellar type that are of most industrial interest. In this work, we analyzed the effect of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide/tetrafluorborate in aqueous solution ([Cnmim] [Br]/[BF4]+W) upon three chemical processestaken as models. It was possible to obtain information about how these systems are organized, their structures, and the functionof the counterion in the formation of this structure. We confirmed that the counterion participation is crucial in the micellizationprocess. It was clear that the systems [C8,10,12mim] [Br] are better organized than those with counterion [BF4]. In the last case, itwas possible to prove the formation of micelles only for [C12mim] [BF4]. These results show features of interest when designingILs with amphiphilic characteristics.