1 Important Developments in the History of Ionic Liquids …
7
generation three. Upcoming ionic liquids of the fourth generation will have to be
entirely sustainable.
The so-called deep eutectic solvents (DES) can be seen as “distant relatives” or
a sideline of the ionic liquid family tree. DES share many typical features of ionic
liquids, but the ultimate distinguishing criterion is that DES are always a mixture
while an ionic liquid is a single substance (a salt formed from the combination of a
cation and anion) [29, 32].
Most ionic liquids used in industrial processes and commercial applications still belong to the second generation. One reason is that many of them
are universally and thoroughly characterized, like 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium
bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [C 6 C 1 im][NTf 2 ], a reference material for an interlaboratory thermophysical study with consolidated data available for design and
development. The ionic liquids of the second generation do have drawbacks, but
these drawbacks are controllable. A challenge comes from another direction, namely
computational chemistry. As the number of possible ionic liquids is extraordinarily large, high-performance computing (using elaborate models that represent the
molecule as realistically as possible) can assist in a preselection of substances that
display some desired characteristics. In 2007, Maginn proposed a paradigm shift
from “post-prediction” of properties to modeling systems that have not yet been
synthesized [33].
1.3 Organization
This book is organized into four parts: Part I, Introduction (this chapter); Part II,
Ionic Liquid Processes (Chaps. 2–5); Part III, Ionic Liquid Products (Chaps. 6–8);
and Part IV, Future Ionic Liquid Applications (Chaps. 9–11).
Part II provides examples of processes using ionic liquids. Industry has a continuing long-range interest in advanced process technologies that have promise to save
energy and materials and reduce waste. In Chap. 2, we highlight one such technology
[34, 35] developed for next-generation alkylate gasoline manufacturing. Hye Kyung
Timken, Huping Luo, and B. K. Chang
1 and Elizabeth Carter and Matthew Cole
2
provide a comparison of the new ionic liquid catalyst performance relative to the
incumbent technologies. The first alkylation plant is scheduled for start-up in 2020
and will be one of the largest scale commercial applications of ionic liquids to date.
3
4
1 Chevron Energy Technology Company.
2 Honeywell UOP.
3 ISOALKY ™ , Chevron Energy Technology Company, and Honeywell UOP.
4 Commercial suppliers, equipment, instruments, or materials are identified only in order to adequately specify certain procedures. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or
endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the
products identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
7
generation three. Upcoming ionic liquids of the fourth generation will have to be
entirely sustainable.
The so-called deep eutectic solvents (DES) can be seen as “distant relatives” or
a sideline of the ionic liquid family tree. DES share many typical features of ionic
liquids, but the ultimate distinguishing criterion is that DES are always a mixture
while an ionic liquid is a single substance (a salt formed from the combination of a
cation and anion) [29, 32].
Most ionic liquids used in industrial processes and commercial applications still belong to the second generation. One reason is that many of them
are universally and thoroughly characterized, like 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium
bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [C 6 C 1 im][NTf 2 ], a reference material for an interlaboratory thermophysical study with consolidated data available for design and
development. The ionic liquids of the second generation do have drawbacks, but
these drawbacks are controllable. A challenge comes from another direction, namely
computational chemistry. As the number of possible ionic liquids is extraordinarily large, high-performance computing (using elaborate models that represent the
molecule as realistically as possible) can assist in a preselection of substances that
display some desired characteristics. In 2007, Maginn proposed a paradigm shift
from “post-prediction” of properties to modeling systems that have not yet been
synthesized [33].
1.3 Organization
This book is organized into four parts: Part I, Introduction (this chapter); Part II,
Ionic Liquid Processes (Chaps. 2–5); Part III, Ionic Liquid Products (Chaps. 6–8);
and Part IV, Future Ionic Liquid Applications (Chaps. 9–11).
Part II provides examples of processes using ionic liquids. Industry has a continuing long-range interest in advanced process technologies that have promise to save
energy and materials and reduce waste. In Chap. 2, we highlight one such technology
[34, 35] developed for next-generation alkylate gasoline manufacturing. Hye Kyung
Timken, Huping Luo, and B. K. Chang
1 and Elizabeth Carter and Matthew Cole
2
provide a comparison of the new ionic liquid catalyst performance relative to the
incumbent technologies. The first alkylation plant is scheduled for start-up in 2020
and will be one of the largest scale commercial applications of ionic liquids to date.
3
4
1 Chevron Energy Technology Company.
2 Honeywell UOP.
3 ISOALKY ™ , Chevron Energy Technology Company, and Honeywell UOP.
4 Commercial suppliers, equipment, instruments, or materials are identified only in order to adequately specify certain procedures. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or
endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the
products identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.