Sustaining Polymer Extraction and Recovery from Environmental Matrices Using Ionic Liquid
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64601/25v4i3Keywords:
Anthracene, drilling spoil, fluoranthene, ionic liquid, polymersAbstract
Pollutants in drilling spoils vary; they include petroleum hydrocarbons, additives from the drilling fluid, organics such as aromatic compounds, and, in some cases, naturally occurring radioactive materials. This study investigates the innovative integration of 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ionic liquid (propyIMIMBr-IL) in the extraction of two aromatic compounds: anthracene and fluoranthene, as a model that can be replicated to sustain polymer extraction for reuse. The experimental research involved the synthesis of the propyIMIMBr-IL and conducting solubility tests at preset temperatures for fluoranthene (74°C) and anthracene (140°C), respectively. The recovery process involved a two-step extraction for the propyIMIMBr-IL, using methanol and 1-butanol; fluoranthene, using 2-butanol and tetrachloroethylene; and anthracene, using methanol and 2-butanol. The findings revealed a successful recovery of fluoranthene and the propyIMIMBr-IL, which depicts the effectiveness of the research. However, anthracene retrieval remained challenging due to its finer particle size, underscoring the complexity of the study and the need for innovative solutions. Subsequent Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis revealed residual anthracene in the recovered propyIMIMBr-IL and fluoranthene. A secondary extraction using 1-butanol and tetrachloroethylene successfully recovered anthracene, though in low yield. Although naturally occurring polymers can be less toxic to the environment, some synthetic polymers biodegrade slowly in the environment and may be harmful for a period, especially in aquatic ecosystems. Thus, this study demonstrates the potential for selective extraction with reduced solvent usage, which can be applied to the selective recovery of synthetic polymers commonly found in drilling spoils.
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