Ionic Liquid-Based Dye Removal Techniques in Wastewater Treatment
Summary
Industrial effluents laden with synthetic dyes pose serious environmental and health hazards, owing to their high stability and complex aromatic structures. Ionic liquids (ILs)—salts that remain liquid at ambient or mildly elevated temperatures—have emerged as versatile media for the selective removal of dyes from aqueous streams. Their tunable cation–anion combination allows tailored solvation of target molecules and enables techniques such as liquid–liquid extraction, ion exchange, adsorption and membrane separation. In liquid–liquid extraction, hydrophobic ILs form ion pairs with charged dye molecules, facilitating phase transfer and concentration of pollutants. Adsorptive approaches often combine ILs with solid supports—such as biochar, bentonite or activated carbon—to take advantage of synergistic sorption and pair-formation effects. Key process parameters include IL structure, pH, temperature, mixing regime and phase ratio, each influencing removal efficiency and selectivity towards cationic, anionic or azo dyes. Regeneration of spent ILs via chemical reduction or thermal treatment enhances sustainability, while ongoing research addresses toxicity, cost and large-scale implementation. Overall, IL-based systems offer a high-performance alternative to conventional treatments, promising reduced chemical consumption, simplified operations and improved recovery of valuable dyestuffs.
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Ionic Liquid-Based Dye Removal Techniques in Wastewater Treatment publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ionic liquid-based dye removal techniques in wastewater treatment across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Ionic liquid: a salt composed entirely of ions that remains liquid below 100 °C, prized for its negligible vapour pressure and tunable solvent properties.
Azo dye: a class of synthetic colourants characterised by one or more –N=N– linkages, known for durability and resistance to biodegradation.
Ion exchange: a process in which ions in solution are swapped with counter-ions bound to a solid or liquid phase, enabling selective removal of charged species.
Sorbent: a solid material that takes up contaminants from a fluid phase by adsorption or absorption, often used in packed beds or batch reactors.
Regeneration: the restoration of a spent sorbent or ionic liquid to its initial state, typically involving chemical, thermal or electrochemical treatment.
References
- Separation of Anionic Chlorinated Dyes from Polluted Aqueous Streams Using Ionic Liquids and Their Subsequent Recycling. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Co-Action of Ionic Liquids with Alternative Sorbents for Removal of Reactive Azo Dyes from Polluted Wastewater Streams. Applied Sciences (2024).
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