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August 10-23, 2001 |
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If you choose to follow any links to the abstracts and/or complete text of articles, books, and documents listed below, you will be leaving the Strategian Web site. If you wish to return to this page from the Web page you are sent to, please use the Back option of your browser. Feature Items: Kenneth Chang With a Splash of Salt, Industry May Reap Environmental Advantages. (... an interesting and easy-to-read article about ionic liquids--substances with chemical structures similar to table salt -- but which look and flow like water -- [and which] may one day become environmentally friendly replacements for some of the noxious solvents used by industry. The most evident advantage of ionic liquids is environmental. Chemical reactions producing materials ranging from polyester to pharmaceuticals generally employ organic solvents -- a commonplace example of one is paint thinner -- but their fumes are often dangerous if inhaled and can contribute to the formation of smog. Most ionic liquids emit hardly any fumes, and they can usually be easily recycled and reused, eliminating many of the problems and costs of disposing of solvents. The article contains a very understandable description of the chemical structure of ionic liquids and why that structure is similar to that of table salt [sodium chloride] though with much lower melting temperatures. The structure of ionic liquids allows for great flexibility in their creation potentially allowing the development of custom solvents--for instance, an ionic liquid that is able to bind with heavy metal pollutants like mercury and cadmium. In addition to other potential advantages, ionic liquids are often better than traditional solvents and can enable some new chemical reactions. The author states that ionic liquids are still not well understood though, and widespread use in industry as a replacement for currently-used solvents may be years away. Other keywords and phrases -- chemical bonds, James Davis, Robert Morland, Robin D. Rogers, Kenneth R. Seddon -- from the text of the article) New York Times (April 24, 2001 -- Late Edition): Section F, Page 2, Column 1. Thomas Welton Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids. Solvents for Synthesis and Catalysis. (... a scholarly, more technical review of the research involving room-temperature ionic liquids [substances which are similar to ordinary table salt in their chemical structure but which look and flow like water at and below room temperature]. These substances are of great interest today because--as the author states--as the introduction of cleaner technologies has become a major concern throughout both industry and academia, the search for alternatives to the most damaging solvents has become a high priority. Solvents are high on the list of damaging chemicals for two simple reasons: (i) they are used in huge amounts and (ii) they are usually volatile liquids that are difficult to contain. Ionic liquids, which are considerably safer for the environment, have the potential of replacing many or all of the solvents currently used by industry for the production of various synthetic products. Other keywords and phrases -- environmental, fused salts, inorganic, organic, Kenneth R. Seddon -- from the text of the article) Chemical Reviews Volume 99, Number 8 (1999): 2071-2084. How to find the above journals, magazines, and other publications? See Step 3: Locate of the Information Strategy for details. Questions about any or all of the above? Please let me know. |
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