Ionic-Liquid-Mediated Extraction and Separation Processes for Bioactive Compounds: Past, Present, and Future Trends

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been proposed as promising media for the extraction and separation of bioactive compounds from the most diverse origins. This critical review offers a compilation on the main results achieved by the use of ionic-liquid-based processes in the extraction and separation/purification of a large range of bioactive compounds (including small organic extractable compounds from biomass, lipids, and other hydrophobic compounds, proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids, and pharmaceuticals). ILs have been studied as solvents, cosolvents, cosurfactants, electrolytes, and adjuvants, as well as used in the creation of IL-supported materials for separation purposes. The IL-based processes hitherto…

• ER
  European Research Council

  Award: 337753
• FP
  Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

  Awards: IF/00402/2015, UID/CTM/50011/2013, SFRH/BPD/79263/2011, SFRH/BD/94901/2013, SFRH/BD/100155/2014
• ER
  European Regional Development Fund

  Award: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679