Algicidal Characteristics of 1-Alkyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride Ionic Liquids to Several Fresh-water Algae

This study was conducted to know that if ionic liquids can be applicable as control agents of harmful algae in water-ecosystem and to find out problems caused by ionic liquid application. Firstly, the differential selectivity of various fresh-water algal species to several 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids was investigated. There was a distinct differential response between alkyl chain lengths from butyl to dodecyl and towards the algal organisms : Generally algicidal activity was increased with increase of chain length and among the algae used in this study, Stephanodiscus hantzschii f. tenuis, Oscillatoria tenuis and Spirulina pratensis were most sensitive to 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (MAIC12), next was Microcystis aeruginosa, and the others were relatively less sensitive to the chemical. The selectivity degree was about ten to twenty times based on the (Effective concentration required for 80% growth inhibition). Secondly, an activity persistence of ionic liquids was investigated in natural mimic condition (using water bottle containing soil-sediments under the greenhouse condition). At the application of of 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (MAIC8), the algal growth did not occur at all until 6 days after treatment(DAT) and observed a only little growth at 9 DAT. But the algae grew rapidly after 9 DAT. So at 20 DAT, total chlorophylls was and the growth was inhibited by 58.2% compared to untreatment. On the other hand, MAIC12 also had a similar persistence pattern to MAIC8, showing nearly 5 times more activity than MAIC8. At 20 days after application of MAIC12, that is, total chlorophylls was and the growth was inhibited by 55.2% compared to untreatment. In summary, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids is likely to be applicable for selective control of harmful algae as potent compounds having long lasting activity. However, the difficulty of degradation seems to be a limiting factor in an eco-friendly application of the compounds.