Ionic liquids may make electroplating cleaner, greener, and cheaper.
The Ionic Liquids Demonstrator (ILD) project will build on the research of the Green Chemistry group at the university to transfer ionic liquids applications and know-how to local manufacturers. The pilot plant will provide a range of small-scale process demonstrations in the practical application of ionic liquids to metal-related industrial processes.
Ionic liquids offer an environmentally friendly, non-toxic substitute for current acid-based processes. In addition to health and safety and environmental benefits, characteristics of metal products such as hardness, fineness, adherence are improved
Ionic liquid applications also improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions of chemical waste.
The demonstrator has been set up in collaboration with Scionix, a company spun out of the university in 1999. Most of the solvents Scionix has developed are based on vitamin B4 (choline chloride), which is safe and easy to manufacture in large quantities. Its use does not have to be registered. By combining the basic liquid with other molecules or salts a range of processes can be tailored to individual companies’ use.
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