Environmental Hazards of Phenanthrene and Extraction using Ionic Liquid

Abstract

In order to improve the quality of the environment and minimise pollutants and other environmental and health hazards, industrial activities require adequate monitoring to determine the pollutant levels in the environment. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic organic pollutants that can pose severe threats to man and the environment. This study aims to determine the potential of ionic liquid in extracting phenanthrene, a polyaromatic compound, to promote a clean environment whilst recovering material for reuse in other industrial applications. The research methodology comprises a literature review of journals and laboratory research. This involves developing a novel method to investigate the potential use of 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (propylMIMBr), an ionic liquid synthesised by microwave technology, to recover the pure aromatic compound selectively. Though phenanthrene is toxic to the environment, it can be of value in the manufacturing industry for making dyes, plastics, pesticides and drugs. Findings from this study reveal that >1g of phenanthrene is soluble in 2g of propylMIMBr ionic liquid at 74°C and can be isolated as a viscous pale yellow liquid in 90% yield for reuse and recycling. Thus, novel technologies should be explored to isolate pollutants such as phenanthrene from contaminated environments.