Preface

The generation and management of waste is part of human behaviour. For centuries, human societies have developed strategies to deal with waste. However, unprecedented environmental and human health challenges have been faced since the mid-20th century, mainly derived from the exacerbated amount of waste being produced by a consumer society based on a linear economy model. Currently, this economic model of society is responsible for exceptionally high amounts of municipal solid waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste, construction and demolition waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, and e-waste. To cope with this problem, while improving sustainability and ultimately reaching a zero-waste society, it is essential to consider waste as a valuable resource. Nevertheless, to unlock the potential of waste as a resource, innovative solutions are required, where novel solvents such as ionic liquids are expected to play an important role towards this goal.

Given the relevance and promising advances achieved hitherto, we felt the need to summarize, critically review, and show to society, academia, and industry the progress that has been achieved in the valorisation of waste using ionic liquids. Currently, their use is well beyond the lab scale, with a broad range of patented and/or commercial applications available.

Despite the challenges ahead, inherently associated with the development of novel technologies, the application of ionic liquids in the valorisation of waste is expected to strongly contribute to the transition towards a circular economy, while addressing the root causes of some of the most pressing problems of the world, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Ultimately, the use of ionic liquids in the valorisation of waste will allow products and materials to be kept in use and will reduce or even eliminate waste.

With this book, we hope to motivate researchers and industry stakeholders to get inspired by ionic-liquid-based technologies to valorise waste towards the transition into a zero-waste society, in which nothing is wasted as everything can be reused or its components recovered.

Francisca A. e Silva

Ana C. Sousa

João A. P. Coutinho

Mara G. Freire