Halogen-free water-immiscible ionic liquids based on tetraoctylammonium cation and dodecylsulfate and dodecylbenzenesulfonate anions, and their application as chelate extraction solvent.

The tetraoctylammonium cation forms water-immiscible room temperature ionic liquids with dodecylsulfate and dodecylbenzenesulfonate anions. The ionic liquids are halogen-free and can be considered environmentally friendly solvents. At 25 degrees C, the solubilities of water in tetraoctylammonium dodecylsulfate and tetraoctylammonium dodecylbenzenesulfonate were 2.8 and 4.0%, respectively, and the densities were 0.92 and 0.93 g cm(-3). The ionic liquids formed stable interfaces with water at 25 degrees C. The possible use of tetraoctylammonium dodecylsulfate as chelate extraction solvent was evaluated by using 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butanedione as extractant. Tetraoctylammonium dodecylsulfate showed high extraction performance for divalent transition metal cations.