Greener synthesis of new ammonium ionic liquids and their potential as extracting agents

New hydrophobic ionic liquids were synthesized from tricaprylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336©) and selected Bronsted acids by a sustainable, simple and cost-saving deprotonation-metathesis route. Prepared ionic liquids were evaluated as potential extracting agents for cadmium from different aqueous solutions. High efficiency and selectivity were reached for the extraction of cadmium from a natural river matrix with tricaprylmethylammonium thiosalicylate, [A336][TS], a thiol-containing task specific ionic liquid. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.