1 Important Developments in the History of Ionic Liquids …
19
A second British company,
32 started in 2004, was a spin-off from the University
of Cambridge and later moved with its founders to the University of York. This
firm targeted primarily biochemical and biocatalytical processes, and the ionic liquids were designed to replace water. The company pursued a more science-driven
approach and generated its revenue by consultancy and process design. In 2006, a
local Yorkshire investment company invested in this firm, and a partnership with a
larger chemical company
33 was established for the production and distribution of
the products. Subsequently, the production of environmentally friendly solvents in
accordance with the respective legislation began, and this firm promoted a label
34
that addressed sustainability and anticipated ionic liquids of the third generation. The
qualification criteria were that all precursor materials used in manufacture came from
renewable feedstocks, were biodegradable within 14 days (>98% by mixed community of natural soil organisms), were non-mutagenic as determined by the Ames test
(mutagenicity index < 2, mutagenic activity ratio <2.5), and had low toxicity to both
Daphnia magna (EC50 > 250 mg/L) and the green algae Selanstrum capricornutum (ErC50 > 100 mg/L) [91]. The company strongly resorted to in-silico design to
develop these systems. Another success was the extraction of the anti-malaria drug
artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, from plant material with ionic liquids [92]. In
2007, however, the firm faced financial problems and ultimately went bankrupt in
2009.
From an economic point of view, Runge came to the conclusions that the company
founded in 1999 as a corporate spin-off from RWTH Aachen had difficulty transforming scientific achievements into a business providing sufficient revenues and
had to cope with a close competitor founded in 2003 with the same market segments.
The 2003 firm had a better start due to specialized people, a consolidating market, a
broader network, and an effective business strategy. In addition, the 2003 firm serves
a niche market and volumes are currently too small for larger chemical manufacturers, so there is minimal mutual competition. The British firm founded in 1999 as a
joint venture had less competitive strength compared to the 2003 company due to its
constitution and served a different market sector. Ultimately, the other British firm,
founded in 2004, was curiosity-driven and had a remarkable scientific record. The
company operated continuously at a high-risk level, and an irreversible market entry
did not succeed. These were the main factors that contributed to bankruptcy [87].
There are two additional companies of similar background that also have had
success, the first in France and the second in Austria.
The French start-up,
35 founded in 2003 by François Malbosc and located at
Toulouse, produces ionic liquids and develops applications in the fields of catalysis,
surface preparation, and energy storage [93]. This firm is strongly engaged in energyrelated research projects funded by the European Union, the most recently launched
32 Bioniqs Ltd.
33 Merck KGaA.
34 ECONIQS ™ , Bioniqs Ltd.
35 Solvionic SA.
19
A second British company,
32 started in 2004, was a spin-off from the University
of Cambridge and later moved with its founders to the University of York. This
firm targeted primarily biochemical and biocatalytical processes, and the ionic liquids were designed to replace water. The company pursued a more science-driven
approach and generated its revenue by consultancy and process design. In 2006, a
local Yorkshire investment company invested in this firm, and a partnership with a
larger chemical company
33 was established for the production and distribution of
the products. Subsequently, the production of environmentally friendly solvents in
accordance with the respective legislation began, and this firm promoted a label
34
that addressed sustainability and anticipated ionic liquids of the third generation. The
qualification criteria were that all precursor materials used in manufacture came from
renewable feedstocks, were biodegradable within 14 days (>98% by mixed community of natural soil organisms), were non-mutagenic as determined by the Ames test
(mutagenicity index < 2, mutagenic activity ratio <2.5), and had low toxicity to both
Daphnia magna (EC50 > 250 mg/L) and the green algae Selanstrum capricornutum (ErC50 > 100 mg/L) [91]. The company strongly resorted to in-silico design to
develop these systems. Another success was the extraction of the anti-malaria drug
artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone, from plant material with ionic liquids [92]. In
2007, however, the firm faced financial problems and ultimately went bankrupt in
2009.
From an economic point of view, Runge came to the conclusions that the company
founded in 1999 as a corporate spin-off from RWTH Aachen had difficulty transforming scientific achievements into a business providing sufficient revenues and
had to cope with a close competitor founded in 2003 with the same market segments.
The 2003 firm had a better start due to specialized people, a consolidating market, a
broader network, and an effective business strategy. In addition, the 2003 firm serves
a niche market and volumes are currently too small for larger chemical manufacturers, so there is minimal mutual competition. The British firm founded in 1999 as a
joint venture had less competitive strength compared to the 2003 company due to its
constitution and served a different market sector. Ultimately, the other British firm,
founded in 2004, was curiosity-driven and had a remarkable scientific record. The
company operated continuously at a high-risk level, and an irreversible market entry
did not succeed. These were the main factors that contributed to bankruptcy [87].
There are two additional companies of similar background that also have had
success, the first in France and the second in Austria.
The French start-up,
35 founded in 2003 by François Malbosc and located at
Toulouse, produces ionic liquids and develops applications in the fields of catalysis,
surface preparation, and energy storage [93]. This firm is strongly engaged in energyrelated research projects funded by the European Union, the most recently launched
32 Bioniqs Ltd.
33 Merck KGaA.
34 ECONIQS ™ , Bioniqs Ltd.
35 Solvionic SA.