Toxicity and antimicrobial activity of imidazolium and pyridinium ionic liquids
Top Cited Papers
- 14 March 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in Green Chemistry
- Vol. 7 (4), 185-189
- https://doi.org/10.1039/b419172b
Abstract
Ionic liquids (ILs) are novel organic salts with a wide liquid range that have enormous potential for industrial use as “green” chemicals. Varying the cationic and anionic components can alter IL properties and toxicities. Before the likely industrial release of ILs into the environment, it is necessary to determine their toxic and antimicrobial properties. As a measure of microbial toxicity of imidazolium and pyridinium ILs with varying alkyl chain lengths, we investigated Vibrio fischeri using the Microtox method. An increase in alkyl group chain length as well as an increase in the number of alkyl groups substituted on the cation ring corresponded with an increase in toxicity. Varying the anion identity did not significantly alter toxicity. We then examined the antimicrobial effects of 1000 ppm of butyl-, hexyl- and octyl- imidazolium and pyridinium bromide ILs on the growth of a group of microorganisms representing a variety of physiological and respiratory capabilities. In general, hexyl- and octyl- imidazolium and pyridinium bromides had significant antimicrobial activity to pure cultures of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Butyl-imidazolium and pyridinium bromides were less antimicrobial than ILs with longer alkyl chain lengths to all microorganisms examined. However, the most significant antimicrobial activity was observed in tests with B. subtilis. This research provides toxicity and antimicrobial information about ILs, prior to their widespread use and release. This type of proactive approach can aid in the prevention of pollution, and avoid costs of future clean-up, and provide information about the “green” nature of practical industrial solvents.Keywords
This publication has 21 references indexed in Scilit:
- Biological effects of imidazolium ionic liquids with varying chain lengths in acute Vibrio fischeri and WST-1 cell viability assaysEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2004
- Experimental Study of the Adsorption of an Ionic Liquid onto Bacterial and Mineral SurfacesEnvironmental Science & Technology, 2004
- Synthesis and anti-microbial activities of choline-like quaternary ammonium chloridesEuropean Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2003
- Room temperature ionic liquids as replacements for conventional solvents – A reviewKorean Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2002
- Ionic liquids: Innovative fluids for chemical processingAIChE Journal, 2001
- Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of new pyridinium and benzimidazolium chloridesEuropean Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2001
- Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids. Solvents for Synthesis and CatalysisChemical Reviews, 1999
- Study of pyridinium-type functional polymers. II. Antibacterial activity of soluble pyridinium-type polymersJournal of Applied Polymer Science, 1998
- Photobacterium phosphoreum Toxicity Data IndexWater Quality Research Journal, 1991