Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S87089/01
Title:	Phase behaviour and crystallisation of ionic liquids and the effect of carbon dioxide: zone melting for ionic liquid purification and recovery.
Principal Investigator:	Winterton, Professor N
Other Investigators:	Steiner, Dr A Cooper, Professor A Johnson, Dr K
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	PETA Solutions
Department:	Chemistry
Organisation:	University of Liverpool
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 October 2004	Ends:	29 February 2008	Value (£):	344,334
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Chemical Synthetic Methodology Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Chemicals
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Enhancing the efficiency of chemicals production and reducing waste and emissions from chemical processes will play an important part in achieving sustainable development, that is, a balance in meeting the needs of a growing world population and the protection of the environment.The production of many chemicals relies on the use of volatile solvents as reaction media and this may provide a source of emissions to the environment. Reduction or avoidance of such emissions is an important target. Several novel approaches are being researched, including the use of organic salts that are liquid at low temperatures ('ionic liquids') and which are essentially non-volatile.While ionic liquids display interesting properties as reaction media, they are expensive and difficult to recover and purify after use (an important requirement for their economic use on the large scale).A multi-disciplinary team of chemists at the University of Liverpool want to learn more about what happens to ionic liquids when they are cooled down. If they form crystals rather than glasses then this may provide a means of purification through the technique of zone-melting.As many ionic liquids are viscous and become more so on cooling, the formation of a glass on solidification will prevent purification. We want to know more about the nature of the ionic liquid that lead to these different types of behaviour.We also want to know whether it may be possible to enhance the likelihood of crystallisation by carrying out the cooling in the presence of supercritical carbon dioxide.The grant will enable structural, thermochemical and zone-melting experiments to be undertaken, building on the existing expertise and facilities at Liverpool to answer these questions.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.liv.ac.uk