Density and sound speed study of hydration of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium based amino acid ionic liquids in aqueous solutions

Amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) have huge potential in the field of protein chemistry, enzymatic reactions, templates for synthetic study etc. which is due to their distinctive properties like unique acid-base characteristics, tunable hydrophobicity, hydrogen bonding ability and strong hydration effects. To explore the field of bio-ionic liquids for its real life applications and sustainable technology development, it is essential to have better understanding of these newly researched liquid salts in life’s most chosen medium, i.e. in aqueous medium, through study of their physicochemical properties in aqueous solutions. In this context, we are reporting herewith measurements and analysis of volumetric properties in the temperature range of (293.15 to 313.25) K and acoustic properties at 298.15 K in the concentration range of (0.05 to 0.5) mol · kg⁻¹ for aqueous solutions of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium [Bmim] based amino acid ionic liquids, prepared from glycine, l-alanine, l-valine, l-leucine and l-isoleucine. The experimental density and sound speed data were used to obtain apparent, partial and limiting molar volumes as well as isentropic and isothermal compressibility properties. These data have been further used to understand electrostriction as well as concentration dependence of internal pressure. The hydration numbers for AAILs in aqueous medium were estimated from compressibility data using Passynski method and the estimated ionic hydration numbers are compared with those obtained using activity data. The results are explained in terms of cooperative hydration effects, hydrophobic interactions, kosmotropic behavior of AAILs, etc.