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Structural effects of ionic liquids on microalgal growth inhibition and microbial degradation

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Abstract

In the present study, we investigated structural effects of various ionic liquids (ILs) on microalgal growth inhibition and microbial biodegradability. For this, we tested pyridinium- and pyrrolidinium-based ILs with various alkyl chain lengths and bromide anion, and compared the toxicological effects with log EC50 values of imidazolium-based IL with the same alkyl chains and anion from literature. Comparing determined EC50 values of cationic moieties with the same alkyl chain length, pyridinium-based ILs were found to be slightly more toxic towards the freshwater green alga, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, than a series of pyrrolidinium and imidazolium except to 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide. Concerning the biodegradation study of 12 ILs using the activated sludge microorganisms, the results showed that the pyridinium derivatives except to 1-propyl-3-methylpyridinium cation were degraded. Whereas in case of imidazolium- and pyrrolidinium-based compounds, only n-hexyl and n-octyl substituted cations were fully degraded but no significant biodegradation was observed for the short chains (three and four alkyl chains).

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Korean Government through NRF (2014R1A2A1A09007378, 2014R1A1A2008337) grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore, 117576, Singapore

    Thi Phuong Thuy Pham

  2. School of Chemical Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, 54896, Republic of Korea

    Chul-Woong Cho & Yeoung-Sang Yun

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  1. Thi Phuong Thuy Pham
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  2. Chul-Woong Cho
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Correspondence to Chul-Woong Cho or Yeoung-Sang Yun.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Pham, T.P.T., Cho, CW. & Yun, YS. Structural effects of ionic liquids on microalgal growth inhibition and microbial degradation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 4294–4300 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5287-8

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