Chapter 7
Ionic Liquid–Liquid Chromatography:
A Novel Separation Method
Leslie Brown, Martyn J. Earle, Manuela A. Gilea, Natalia V. Plechkova
and Kenneth R. Seddon
Abstract There is a wide selection of ionic liquid/(water/organic solvents) biphasic
mixtures. These mixtures could be utilized for liquid–liquid extractions in countercurrent chromatography for the separation of organic, inorganic, and bio-based
materials. A customized countercurrent chromatography has been designed and constructed specifically to adapt to the more viscous character of ionic liquid-based solvent systems to be used in a broad variety of separations (including transition metal
salts, arenes, alkenes, alkanes, bio-oils, and sugars).
Keywords Ionic liquid–liquid chromatography · IL-Prep™ · Liquid–liquid
extraction · Purification · Separations
7.1 Introduction
Liquid chromatography (LC) [1], particularly liquid–liquid chromatography (LLC)
and countercurrent chromatography (CCC) [2], with the latter considered to be a continuous, automated form of liquid–liquid separation, has continued to make progress
over the last 20 years. The industrial aspects have been discussed by Sutherland
et al. [3] and Berthod and Serge [4]. These LC techniques rely on the ability of
solutes to distribute themselves between two mutually immiscible liquid phases: a
mobile phase (MP) and a stationary phase (SP) [5]. Current LC techniques have
several drawbacks in terms of solubility, low scale of separation, the reactivity of
This chapter is dedicated to the memory of our brilliant and inspirational co-author Professor
Kenneth R. Seddon.
L. Brown
AECS-QuikPrep Ltd., 55 Gower Street, London WC1 6HQ, UK
M. J. Earle (B) · M. A. Gilea · N. V. Plechkova (B) · K. R. Seddon
School of Chemistry, The QUILL Research Centre, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast
BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK
e-mail: m.earle@qub.ac.uk
N. V. Plechkova
e-mail: n.plechkova@qub.ac.uk
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
M. B. Shiflett (ed.), Commercial Applications of Ionic Liquids, Green Chemistry
and Sustainable Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35245-5_7
167
Ionic Liquid–Liquid Chromatography:
A Novel Separation Method
Leslie Brown, Martyn J. Earle, Manuela A. Gilea, Natalia V. Plechkova
and Kenneth R. Seddon
Abstract There is a wide selection of ionic liquid/(water/organic solvents) biphasic
mixtures. These mixtures could be utilized for liquid–liquid extractions in countercurrent chromatography for the separation of organic, inorganic, and bio-based
materials. A customized countercurrent chromatography has been designed and constructed specifically to adapt to the more viscous character of ionic liquid-based solvent systems to be used in a broad variety of separations (including transition metal
salts, arenes, alkenes, alkanes, bio-oils, and sugars).
Keywords Ionic liquid–liquid chromatography · IL-Prep™ · Liquid–liquid
extraction · Purification · Separations
7.1 Introduction
Liquid chromatography (LC) [1], particularly liquid–liquid chromatography (LLC)
and countercurrent chromatography (CCC) [2], with the latter considered to be a continuous, automated form of liquid–liquid separation, has continued to make progress
over the last 20 years. The industrial aspects have been discussed by Sutherland
et al. [3] and Berthod and Serge [4]. These LC techniques rely on the ability of
solutes to distribute themselves between two mutually immiscible liquid phases: a
mobile phase (MP) and a stationary phase (SP) [5]. Current LC techniques have
several drawbacks in terms of solubility, low scale of separation, the reactivity of
This chapter is dedicated to the memory of our brilliant and inspirational co-author Professor
Kenneth R. Seddon.
L. Brown
AECS-QuikPrep Ltd., 55 Gower Street, London WC1 6HQ, UK
M. J. Earle (B) · M. A. Gilea · N. V. Plechkova (B) · K. R. Seddon
School of Chemistry, The QUILL Research Centre, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast
BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK
e-mail: m.earle@qub.ac.uk
N. V. Plechkova
e-mail: n.plechkova@qub.ac.uk
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
M. B. Shiflett (ed.), Commercial Applications of Ionic Liquids, Green Chemistry
and Sustainable Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35245-5_7
167