Ionic-liquid-based Aqueous Biphasic Systems ― Fundamentals and Applications

This book offers comprehensive information on the fundamentals and applications of ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems, which have predominantly (and successfully) been employed as alternative platforms for the extraction, separation and purification of diverse high-value products. The book consists of an initial introduction providing a brief overview, from fundamentals to applications, followed by nine chapters addressing the respective phase diagrams (interpretation and characterization) and remarkable examples of their applications. It also includes two final chapters focusing on recent developments in the search for more environmentally-benign and biocompatible ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems, and on the progress made to date concerning the recovery, recycling and reuse of the phase-forming components, the goal being the development of cost-effective and sustainable processes. The book offers an interesting and useful guide for a broad readership in the fields of green chemistry, biotechnology, chemical engineering, and biochemistry, among others.

Mara G. Freire graduated in Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry in 2003 from University of Aveiro, Portugal, and received the "Best Chemistry Student Award" from Dow Portugal. By the end of 2007 she completed her PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Aveiro. During her PhD studies, she was a trainee at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France. From the beginning of 2008 to the middle of 2013 she was a post-doctoral researcher at Instituto de TecnologiaQuimica e Biologica, ITQB2, New University of Lisbon, Portugal. From June 2013 to January 2014, Dr. Freire was an Assistant Researcher at the Centre for Research in Ceramics and Composite MaterialsAveiro Institute of Materials (CICECO), and since February 2014 she is a Coordinator Researcher at CICECO, Chemistry Department, University of Aveiro, Portugal. The main research interests and experience of Dr. Freire cover colloids and surfaces and emulsions stability, aeration in multiphase biological reactors, extraction and purification of biomolecules (mainly biopharmaceuticals), concentration of cancer biomarkers from human fluids, phase equilibria, biomass dissolution and processing, among others. Most of these research studies were/are carried out with ionic liquids. Currently, Dr. Freire is the principal investigator of an European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant regarding the use of ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems for the purification of biopharmaceuticals.