Chapter 10: Ionic Liquids in Advanced Oil Dispersion

The poor biodegradability and increased toxicity of conventional chemical dispersants have necessitated the use of environmentally benign dispersants. Ionic liquids (ILs), popularly known as green solvents, have emerged as an alternative eco-friendly dispersant in recent years. This chapter summarises and evaluates IL-based formulations for crude oil dispersion. Experimental and computational studies on ILs in the formation of water-in-oil (W/O) or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, their aggregation and micellization behaviour, demulsification, toxicological profile, and surface, interface and transport properties are discussed in detail. This chapter aims to understand molecular-level interactions of ILs with oil, explore their potential applications for oil spill remediation and provide relevant information for researchers to develop various eco-friendly IL-based systems.