1 Important Developments in the History of Ionic Liquids …
21
1.8 The Major Chemical Companies
In their review of the industrial use of ionic liquids, Dr. Plechkova and Professor Kenneth Seddon reported the situation as of 2007 [83]. There were four major European
chemical companies with ionic liquids in their portfolio.
39 In fact, one such chemical
company
40 was involved in the foundation of QUILL [79], and a second
41 had ionic
liquids on display at the first Green Solvents Conference. Runge also portrayed the
engagement of major players in his market study [87].
The company that was a founding member of QUILL was the first large company
to go into ionic liquids. Runge mentioned a project with ionic liquids for battery
applications as early as the 1980s, but the program was discontinued. Ionic liquids
were started at this firm in 2002 at a facility that was also used for the production
of liquid crystals. This company not only offered a broad selection of ionic liquids
(about 250 by 2004) but also provided a searchable web-based database containing
physical properties. Notably, to overcome the problem of hydrolytic decomposition
of perfluorinated anions, this company developed and patented the so-called FAP
(i.e., tris(perfluoroalkyl)trifluorophosphate) anion, which also displayed a high electrochemical and thermal stability [100–102]. By 2008, this company had acquired
another firm
42 and integrated the business. A chemical supplier
43 became a subsidiary
in 2015. Today, ionic liquids can be found within the portfolio of their company
brand
44 [103].
Another major company,
45 known as one of the biggest producers of bulk chemicals, performance products, and formulations in the world, turned to ionic liquids
around 2002. A competitive portfolio of diverse chemicals as well as processes was
established within a short time [83, 98]. The ionic liquids were classified
46 within
the category of “intermediates,” an arrangement that remains today [104]. The ionic
liquids in this classification are intended to qualify for applications and processes,
such as separation enhancers, reaction mediums and lubricants, polymer additives,
and eventually as reaction solvents. This firm supplied 23 substances in 2005, most
cations being alkyl-substituted imidazolium, such as [C 4 C 1 im]
+ or [C 2 C 1 im]
+ , with
[Cl]
− , [HSO 4 ]
− , [C 1 SO 4 ]
− , [Ace]
− , or [SCN]
− as anions [105]. Notably, choline
acetate and choline salicylate were also on display. Smaller quantities were provided
in cooperation with a chemical supplier.
47 In addition to a high patent record, this
company cultivated strong ties with academic research, such as sponsoring the activities of DECHEMA. It paid off, as the biphasic acid scavenging utilizing ionic liquids
39 BASF SE, Merck KGaA, Degussa AG, and Acros.
40 Merck KGaA.
41 BASF SE.
42 Solvent Innovation GmbH.
43 Sigma-Aldrich.
44 Performance Materials, Merck KGaA.
45 BASF SE.
46 BASIONICS ™ , BASF SE.
47 Sigma-Aldrich.
21
1.8 The Major Chemical Companies
In their review of the industrial use of ionic liquids, Dr. Plechkova and Professor Kenneth Seddon reported the situation as of 2007 [83]. There were four major European
chemical companies with ionic liquids in their portfolio.
39 In fact, one such chemical
company
40 was involved in the foundation of QUILL [79], and a second
41 had ionic
liquids on display at the first Green Solvents Conference. Runge also portrayed the
engagement of major players in his market study [87].
The company that was a founding member of QUILL was the first large company
to go into ionic liquids. Runge mentioned a project with ionic liquids for battery
applications as early as the 1980s, but the program was discontinued. Ionic liquids
were started at this firm in 2002 at a facility that was also used for the production
of liquid crystals. This company not only offered a broad selection of ionic liquids
(about 250 by 2004) but also provided a searchable web-based database containing
physical properties. Notably, to overcome the problem of hydrolytic decomposition
of perfluorinated anions, this company developed and patented the so-called FAP
(i.e., tris(perfluoroalkyl)trifluorophosphate) anion, which also displayed a high electrochemical and thermal stability [100–102]. By 2008, this company had acquired
another firm
42 and integrated the business. A chemical supplier
43 became a subsidiary
in 2015. Today, ionic liquids can be found within the portfolio of their company
brand
44 [103].
Another major company,
45 known as one of the biggest producers of bulk chemicals, performance products, and formulations in the world, turned to ionic liquids
around 2002. A competitive portfolio of diverse chemicals as well as processes was
established within a short time [83, 98]. The ionic liquids were classified
46 within
the category of “intermediates,” an arrangement that remains today [104]. The ionic
liquids in this classification are intended to qualify for applications and processes,
such as separation enhancers, reaction mediums and lubricants, polymer additives,
and eventually as reaction solvents. This firm supplied 23 substances in 2005, most
cations being alkyl-substituted imidazolium, such as [C 4 C 1 im]
+ or [C 2 C 1 im]
+ , with
[Cl]
− , [HSO 4 ]
− , [C 1 SO 4 ]
− , [Ace]
− , or [SCN]
− as anions [105]. Notably, choline
acetate and choline salicylate were also on display. Smaller quantities were provided
in cooperation with a chemical supplier.
47 In addition to a high patent record, this
company cultivated strong ties with academic research, such as sponsoring the activities of DECHEMA. It paid off, as the biphasic acid scavenging utilizing ionic liquids
39 BASF SE, Merck KGaA, Degussa AG, and Acros.
40 Merck KGaA.
41 BASF SE.
42 Solvent Innovation GmbH.
43 Sigma-Aldrich.
44 Performance Materials, Merck KGaA.
45 BASF SE.
46 BASIONICS ™ , BASF SE.
47 Sigma-Aldrich.