The present invention describes an extractive oxidation process for removing contaminants from hydrocarbon streams using an ionic liquid combined with an organometallic ionic complex of iron(II), which comprises a complex of iron(II) cation with an ionophilic binder, catalyst of iron(II) with ionophilic binder in its molecular structure, oxidation of which is performed with an oxidizing agent and is catalysed by the organometallic iron(II) complex present in the phase of the ionic liquid.

Besides maintaining its characteristics of selective solvent of oxidizing compounds, the ionic liquid combined with the organometallic complex of iron(II) with catalytic ionophilic binder of the oxidizing agent, stimulating the reactive phenomenon taking place in the ionic liquid phase, with the effect that the iron remains stable in the ionic liquid phase, without being leached into the oily phase. This measure results in a considerable improvement in removal of the heteroatoms from the hydrocarbon medium.

A micro-emulsion and a method of making the micro-emulsion are described. The micro-emulsion includes a hydrocarbon component, an ionic liquid component, and a co-solvent. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The micro-emulsion can optionally include a surfactant, and a catalyst promoter. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than the polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of about 0.05 wt % to about 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion.

The present invention relates to a method for generating oxygen, comprising providing at least one oxygen source, providing at least one ionic liquid, the ionic liquid comprising a cation and an anion, wherein the oxygen source is a hydrogen peroxide adduct compound which is at least partially soluble in the ionic liquid, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from 10 C. to +50 C., and the anion is selected from metallate anions, and contacting the oxygen source and the ionic liquid.

The present invention is directed to a method for generating oxygen comprising providing at least one oxygen source, providing at least one ionic liquid, providing at least one metal oxide compound, wherein the oxygen source is a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in the temperature range from 10 C. to +50 C., and the metal oxide compound is an oxide of one single metal or of two or more different metals, said metal(s) being selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements, and contacting the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, and the metal oxide compound.

The invention concerns ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention is comprised of an amide or one of its salts, including an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M.sup.+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO.sup.+, an ammonium NH.sub.4.sup.+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion matches the formula R.sub.FSO.sub.xN.sup.?Z, where R.sub.F is a perflourinated group, x is 1 or 3, and Z is an electroattractive substituent. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

There is provided an optical wavelength conversion element with a good temporal stability and such a high optical wavelength conversion efficiency that the element is viable even under sunlight or similar, low intensity light. Owing to these properties, the element is suited for use in solar cells, photocatalysts, photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen generating devices, photon upconversion filters, and like articles. The optical wavelength conversion element is visually homogeneous and transparent and produced by dissolving and/or dispersing in an ionic liquid (C) a combination of organic photosensitizing molecules (A) and organic light-emitting molecules (B) that exhibits triplet-triplet annihilation. The organic photosensitizing molecules (A) have either an only one local maximum absorption wavelength or a plurality of local maximum absorption wavelengths, and either the single local maximum absorption wavelength or a maximum one of the plurality of local maximum absorption wavelengths is from 250 nm to 499 nm.

A process utilizing a micro-emulsion is described. The micro-emulsion formed by contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, a hydrocarbon, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion. The micro-emulsion comprises a hydrocarbon component comprising the hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than a polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of 0.05 wt % to 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion. A product mixture comprising a product is produced in a process zone containing the micro-emulsion.

An electrochemical device comprises an anode and a cathode. An electrocatalyst mixture is placed between said anode and cathode. The electrocatalyst mixture comprises at least one Catalytically Active Element and, separately, at least one Helper Catalyst comprising an organic molecule, an organic ion, or a mixture of organic molecules and organic ions. The electrocatalyst mixture electrochemically converts carbon dioxide to one or more carbonaceous reaction products via the reaction: CO.sub.2+2e.sup.+2H.sup.+.fwdarw.carbonaceous reaction products, at overpotentials of 0.9 V or less.

An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises vinylbenzyl-R.sub.s and a substituted ethene. R.sub.s is a positively charged cyclic amine group. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-R.sub.s groups is greater than 15% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane.

The present invention is directed to the use of an ionic liquid as a dispersant or solvent and as a heat sink in a composition for generating oxygen, the composition further comprising at least one oxygen source formulation, and at least one metal oxide compound formulation, wherein the oxygen source formulation comprises a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from 10 C. to +50 C., and the metal oxide compound formulation comprises a metal oxide compound which is an oxide of one single metal or of two or more different metals, said metal(s) being selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements.