Applications of Ionic Liquids in Removal of Surface Contaminants

Abstract Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a new class of low melting point materials with tunable properties that make them attractive for cleaning applications. These properties include high solubility for a wide range of contaminants, thermal and chemical stability, low melting point, very low volatility, and high conductivity. IL solvents do have some disadvantages including high cost, complex synthesis, need for purification for reuse, and high toxicity and non-biodegradability of many formulations. DESs have been developed to overcome some of these limitations. Successfully demonstrated cleaning applications range from brush cleaning for removal of microcontaminants to electropolishing of metals and soil decontamination.