Extractive elimination of platinum-based cytostatic drugs

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a relatively new class of liquid salts with a defined melting point below 100C, though most of them are already liquid at room temperature. ILs consist entirely of ions and display some extraordinary properties like an extremely low vapor pressure and a wide liquidus range. Most outstanding, their properties are tunable by choice of cation and/or anion as well as by the chemical modification of the ions. Hence, their physico- chemical properties can be adjusted and tuned and ILs can be adequately designed for a specific task. Among others, it is possible to prepare hydrophobic, water immiscible ILs especially designed for the efficient and selective extraction of distinct compounds from aqueous phases. The main goal of this project is the preparation of functionalized ILs which are suitable for the effective elimination of cancerogenic platinum compounds (CPC, e.g. cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin) and their metabolites as well as of inorganic platinum compounds from hospital and communal waste water. The affinity of the prepared ILs will be governed by the systematic functionalization of an anion and/or cation. The functionalization will be achieved by the incorporation of adequate donor atoms/groups onto the ionic components of the ILs. Thereby, the interrelation between the distinct functional moiety and the extraction efficiency of the prepared ILs for selected platinum species will be extensively studied. Furthermore, the influence of different water matrices (hospital and communal waste water) on the extraction behavior of the ILs will be investigated. In the next step a possible backextraction and hence an effective enrichment of valuable platinum from the aqueous phase will be aspired. The recyclability of the synthesized ILs and their application as effective and selective extraction agents will be evaluated. A further aim of the proposed project is the evaluation of the environmental impact of the synthesized ionic liquids via determining their toxicity in aquatic systems as well as in mammalian cells. An additional goal of this project is the implementation of novel functionalized ILs in membrane technology. The aim of this project is therefore the development and evaluation of an ionic liquid-based technology as a promising, sustainable and robust method for the effective and selective removal of platinum compounds from the aquatic environment.