Integrating safety-related properties of ionic liquids when targeting biomass valorization

Abstract : Ionic liquids have resuscitated say 10 years ago as outstanding chemicals of growing importance due to the fact that functional properties can be tuned purposely nearly without limits and that for some reasons they were considered as green chemicals per se. At now far expanding uses of ILs in many sectors are explored at R&D and demo levels, featuring a great potential in particular for the biobased economy. This poster complements G. Marlair's oral communication on same topic by emphasizing some key elements of the appropriate manner with these valuable chemicals to optimize their selection for their actual greener use according to targeted applications. Indeed, dedicated and complementary methodologies to address the full spectrum of hazards pertaining to ionic liquids were recently set up and implemented by INERIS/UTC and further developed in a joint collaboration with UTC/, URCA and some other organisms (namely ESCOM, U Lyonl, LEREM and 2/3 industrial entities. Current achievements obtained allows for better appraisal of ILs hazards profiles and related potential risks and environmental impacts in the appropriate context for given applications. These methods and related expertise developed can be proposed to all stakeholders exploring new applications of ILs to optimize their final selection and their safe use. The poster emphasizes some of these aspects with illustrations of equipments used, mention of key contributors and also names subsequent projects in liaison with biomass valorization in where safe use of ionic liquids are currently further investigated (ECORBIO and PIVERT projects).