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Ionic liquids for two-phase systems and their application for purification, extraction and biocatalysis

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Abstract

The development of biotechnological processes using novel two-phase systems based on molten salts known as ionic liquids (ILs) got into the focus of interest. Many new approaches for the beneficial application of the interesting solvent have been published over the last years. ILs bring beneficial properties compared to organic solvents like nonflammability and nonvolatility. There are two possible ways to use the ILs: first, the hydrophobic ones as a substitute for organic solvents in pure two-phase systems with water and second, the hydrophilic ones in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). To effectively utilise IL-based two-phase systems or IL-based ATPS in biotechnology, extensive experimental work is required to gain the optimal system parameters to ensure selective extraction of the product of interest. This review will focus on the most actual findings dealing with the basic driving forces for the target extraction in IL-based ATPS as well as presenting some selected examples for the beneficial application of ILs as a substitute for organic solvents. Besides the research focusing on IL-based two-phase systems, the “green aspect” of ILs, due to their negligible vapour pressure, is widely discussed. We will present the newest results concerning ecotoxicity of ILs to get an overview of the state of the art concerning ILs and their utilisation in novel two-phase systems in biotechnology.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for this work is provided by The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the priority program ‘SPP 1191 Ionic Liquids’ and the BMBF within the ‘Programm Spitzenforschung – REMEDIS’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Universtiy of Rostock, 18051, Rostock, Germany

    Sebastian Oppermann, Florian Stein & Udo Kragl

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  1. Sebastian Oppermann
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  2. Florian Stein
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  3. Udo Kragl
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Correspondence to Udo Kragl.

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Oppermann, S., Stein, F. & Kragl, U. Ionic liquids for two-phase systems and their application for purification, extraction and biocatalysis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 89, 493–499 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2933-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2933-4

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