Direct dissolution of wet and saliferous marine microalgae by polar ionic liquids without heating

Abstract

We successfully dissolved wet and saliferous microalgae (WSM) in polar ionic liquids (ILs) under mild conditions. The Kamlet–Taft parameters, especially β for the ILs, were good predictors of the ability to dissolve WSM. 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylphosphate ([C2mim][MeO(H)PO2]) was the IL that best dissolved WSM without heating. WSM (containing 95wt% water) was mixed with [C2mim][MeO(H)PO2]; the WSM had dissolved completely within 30min at room temperature with gentle stirring. The IL maintained its chemical structure after removal of the microalgae component, suggesting recyclable use. The concentration of contaminant mineral salts in the [C2mim][MeO(H)PO2] did not increase with increasing recycle number. The recycled [C2mim][MeO(H)PO2] maintained its ability to dissolve WSM regardless of the number of recycling studied here.