Ionic liquids and supported ionic liquids membranes as novel materials for organic pollutants removal

The utilization of ionic liquids (ILs) and their technologies for the remediation of waste streams containing organic pollutants has shown a significant and sustained increase over the last decade. This remarkable usage of ILs can be attributed to their insignificant volatility as compared to the high volatility of traditional solvents, the ability to tailor ILs for specific applications, and the urgency of the removal of organic pollutants which are usually harmful to health and the environment. In this review, the state-of-the-art in the utilization of ILs for the treatment of organic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorophenols, pesticides, dioxins, polyamides, phthalates, and dyes from waste streams are evaluated. A review of these studies is essential as there are many works that have focused on the treatment of organic pollutants in gas, liquid, and solid waste streams with different ILs and technologies. Hence, an assessment and systematic organization of these reports is necessary in order to enhance further development in the field. The challenges and future prospects of the process are presented. The issues arising from the toxicity and cost of ILs are discussed also. Furthermore, the application of novel hydrophobic ionic liquid analogs in waste organic pollutant treatment is assessed.