Next generation solvents
3 May 2005
Bioniqs has been established by the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) at the
The company has resulted from research by Professor Neil Bruce and Dr Adam Walker and is based around novel ionic liquids - salts that are molten at room temperature - which can be specifically tailored for biochemical systems.
Ionic liquids have recently attracted attention, because of their high solvation capacities for inorganic, organic and polymeric materials – certain ionic liquids can dissolve DNA, cellulose and even coal and rocks while still being compatible with glass, metal or plastic containers.
The next generation of ionic liquids, being designed and manufactured by Bioniqs, incorporate hydromimetic (water-like) properties, permitting proteins, such as enzymes, to function in the near absence of water, offering a wider range of biocatalytic processes to the manufacturing industry (chemical, pharmaceutical, paper & textile).
They also have the advantages of being non-toxic, non-flammable and biodegradable. As well as their chemical utility, these new ionic liquids also provide realistic alternatives to molecular organic solvents for numerous industrial applications, including solvent extraction, lubrication, hydraulic fluids and sensor technologies where their superior properties and benign characteristics are desirable.
Professor Neil Bruce said: “We have demonstrated that ionic liquids can be specifically designed to permit biological systems to work in the near absence of water. This biocompatibility endows ionic liquids with a wide variety of applications in the biotechnological and biomedical arenas.”
Dr Adam Walker said: “We have developed our core technology around new classes of ionic liquids, which offer real advantages over other solvents – in practice as well as in theory. The enormous flexibility of these materials allows them to be optimized individually for specific applications, facilitating major improvements over existing media.”
