Ionic-Liquid-Mediated Extraction and Separation Processes for Bioactive Compounds: Past, Present, and Future Trends

• Published in: Chemical reviews Vol. 117; no. 10; pp. 6984 - 7052
• Main Authors: Ventura, Sónia P. M, e Silva, Francisca A, Quental, Maria V, Mondal, Dibyendu, Freire, Mara G, Coutinho, João A. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 24-05-2017
• Subjects: Adjuvants; Amino acids; Amino Acids - chemistry; Bioactive compounds; Biocompatibility; Biological activity; Biological Products - chemistry; Biomass; Biomedical materials; Chemical compounds; Chemical Fractionation - methods; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; Crystallization; Drugs; Electrolytes; Extraction processes; Fluids; Ionic liquids; Ionic Liquids - chemistry; Lacunas; Lipids; Lipids - chemistry; Liquid-liquid extraction; Liquid-Liquid Extraction - methods; Nucleic acids; Nucleic Acids - chemistry; Pharmaceutical Preparations - chemistry; Proteins; Proteins - chemistry; Review; Separation; Separation processes; Solvents; Surgical implants
• ISSN: 0009-2665; 1520-6890
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00550

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been proposed as promising media for the extraction and separation of bioactive compounds from the most diverse origins. This critical review offers a compilation on the main results achieved by the use of ionic-liquid-based processes in the extraction and separation/purification of a large range of bioactive compounds (including small organic extractable compounds from biomass, lipids, and other hydrophobic compounds, proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids, and pharmaceuticals). ILs have been studied as solvents, cosolvents, cosurfactants, electrolytes, and adjuvants, as well as used in the creation of IL-supported materials for separation purposes. The IL-based processes hitherto reported, such as IL-based solid–liquid extractions, IL-based liquid–liquid extractions, IL-modified materials, and IL-based crystallization approaches, are here reviewed and compared in terms of extraction and separation performance. The key accomplishments and future challenges to the field are discussed, with particular emphasis on the major lacunas found within the IL community dedicated to separation processes and by suggesting some steps to overcome the current limitations.