Synthesis and toxicity evaluation of hydrophobic ionic liquids for volatile organic compounds biodegradation in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2016-04, Vol.307, p.221-230
• Main Authors: Rodriguez Castillo, Alfredo Santiago, Guihéneuf, Solène, Le Guével, Rémy, Biard, Pierre-François, Paquin, Ludovic, Amrane, Abdeltif, Couvert, Annabelle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated sludge; Animals; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Bioreactors; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemical Sciences; Danio rerio; Fluorides; Fluorides - chemistry; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Ionic liquids; Ionic Liquids - chemical synthesis; Ionic Liquids - chemistry; Ionic Liquids - toxicity; Organic chemistry; Partitioning; Sewage; Synthesis; Toxic; Toxicity; Volatile Organic Compounds - chemistry; Volatile Organic Compounds - metabolism; Zebrafish
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.12.043

[Display omitted] •Description of a VOC depollution system suitable with industrial processes, TPPB.•Novel association of TPPB and hydrophobic ionic liquids.•Synthesis of several hydrophobic ionic liquids designed to fit desired properties.•Toxicity evaluation of these ILs towards cells, animals and bacteria. Synthesis of several hydrophobic ionic liquids (ILs), which might be selected as good candidates for degradation of hydrophobic volatile organic compounds in a two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB), were carried out. Several bioassays were also realized, such as toxicity evaluation on activated sludge and zebrafish, cytotoxicity, fluoride release in aqueous phase and biodegradability in order to verify their possible effects in case of discharge in the aquatic environment and/or human contact during industrial manipulation. The synthesized compounds consist of alkylimidazoliums, functionalized imidazoliums, isoqinoliniums, triazoliums, sulfoniums, pyrrolidiniums and morpholiniums and various counter-ions such as: PF6−, NTf2− and NfO−. Toxicity evaluation on activated sludge of each compound (5% v/v of IL) was assessed by using a glucose uptake inhibition test. Toxicity against zebrafish and cytotoxicity were evaluated by the ImPACCell platform of Rennes (France). Fluoride release in water was estimated by regular measurements using ion chromatography equipment. IL biodegradability was determined by measuring BOD28 of aqueous samples (compound concentration,1mM). All ILs tested were not biodegradable; while some of them were toxic toward activated sludge. Isoquinolinium ILs were toxic to human cancerous cell lines. Nevertheless no toxicity was found against zebrafish Danio rerio. Only one IL released fluoride after long-time agitation.