Chapter 9: Advanced Oxidation Processes for the Abatement of Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) are potential substitutes for conventional organic solvents. In the synthesis or use of ILs, wastewater discharges may occur that can introduce ILs into the aquatic system. Because of the relatively high solubility of ILs, their presence in the environment is of concern because of their low biodegradability and high ecotoxicity. However, many ILs are not readily degraded in conventional wastewater treatment plants and can accumulate in the environment. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have emerged as technologies able to remove a wide range of recalcitrant pollutants. In this chapter, we evaluate the degradation of different ILs from the imidazolium and pyridinium families by AOPs, including Fenton, catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO), photo-assisted treatments, and electrochemical processes.