1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

Chemical properties

green crystals

The Uses of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride is an imidazolium chloride ionic liquid that can be used as:

• A starting material for the preparation of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride/tetrafluoroborate (EMI.Cl.BF₄) molten salt for electrochemical studies.
• A solvent as well as catalyst for the depolymerization of oak wood lignin.
• A solvent in the hydrolysis of hemicellulose (xylan) to xylose using Br?nsted acid catalysts.

The Uses of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

Used in cellulose processing.

Definition

ChEBI: An organic chloride salt in which the cationic component is 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium.

General Description

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride is an organic salt and a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). It is used as a solvent in many organic reactions due to its unique properties like small vapor pressures, high thermal stabilities and ionic conductivities.

Synthesis

1-methylimidazole and ethyl chloride (1:1) were uniformly dispersed in ethanol. After heating to 35 ° C with a circulating heating device, under stirring conditions, irradiation with ultraviolet light of 600 W/m 2 for 10 h to obtain a quaternary ammonium salt solution of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride in a yield of 100%.

Purification Methods

A yellow solution of impure 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (ALDRICH) (50 g) having a yellow color in deionized water (250 mL) was prepared. Decolorizing charcoal (3 g) was added to the yellow solution and the resulting mixture was heated at 65° C. for 24 hours. The solution was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The filtrate was colorless. The water was removed from the colorless filtrate using a lyophilizer. The resulting solid was then heated under a vacuum for 48 hours at 65° C. The product white solid was substantially pure 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (48 g).