Abstract

The ecotoxicity of a nitrate-based ionic liquid (IL) and saturated mixtures with four nitrate salts towards the bioluminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri, were tested in this work, using the Microtox® standard toxicity test. The selected IL was Ethylammonium Nitrate (EAN) and the nitrate salts were Lithium Nitrate (LiNO3), Calcium Nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), Magnesium Nitrate (Mg(NO3)2), and Aluminum Nitrate (Al(NO3)3). The effective concentration (EC50) of these mixtures was determined over three standard periods of time, namely 5, 15, and 30 min. Results of EC50 for pure EAN at 15 min are in relatively good concordance with the literature. To the best of our knowledge, no ecotoxicity studies have been performed for doped EAN. Similar results have been found for pure EAN and for EAN doped with LiNO3 and Mg(NO3)2, whose values indicated low toxicity. Nevertheless, the addition of Ca(NO3)2 and Al(NO3)3 cause an increase in the ecotoxicity of EAN, especially for the IL doped with Al(NO3)3, which present values associated to highly toxic compounds, comparable even with benzene or atrazine.

Highlights

  • Ionic Liquids (ILs) are generically regarded as environmentally “harmless” and accepted as “non-toxic” [1]

  • Far, toxicity of ILs have been evaluated through different models, it is extremely important to study the effects of their ecotoxicity across various trophic levels

  • Microtox® Toxicity Test [8] was used to assess the toxicity of the tested chemical compounds through the inhibition of the luminescence of the marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri

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Summary

Introduction

Ionic Liquids (ILs) are generically regarded as environmentally “harmless” and accepted as “non-toxic” [1]. Owing to the limitless possibilities in their design, their ecotoxicity is still poorly known. Due to their ionic character, almost all ILs are soluble in water [2], which can represent an environmental problem. Focusing on the use of ILs as: Electrolyte for chemical devices, base lubricants or lubricant additives, or even as potential working fluids for absorption heat pumps, a spill of IL can occur, and it is necessary to know their possible environmental effects. Far, toxicity of ILs have been evaluated through different models, it is extremely important to study the effects of their ecotoxicity across various trophic levels. The knowledge on the relation between the chemical structure and the toxic effect is essential for the future design of greener solvents.

Chemicals
Experimental Section
Results and Discussion
Conclusions

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