Use of magnetic, ionic liquids as an extraction agent

1. A process for extraction by means of an extracting medium, comprising the steps of:

generating a magnetic extract of a component by contacting a feed with the extracting medium;

the extracting medium being a paramagnetic ionic liquid which comprises magnetic ions in homogeneous phase; and

separating the magnetic extract from the feed by an interaction between the extracting medium and a magnetic field, wherein the partition of phases occurs by the magnetic field,

wherein the separating is not effected based on density differences of the phases.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the extraction is a liquid-liquid or liquid-solid or liquid-gas extraction.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the paramagnetic ionic liquid contains anions which are transition metal compounds.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the paramagnetic ionic liquid contains cations which are transition metal cations and/or transition metal compounds.

5. The process as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the paramagnetic ionic liquid conforms to one of the general formulae

[A] + [M +v X v+1 ] − ,

([A] + ) 2 [M +v X v+2 ] 2− or

([A] + ) 3 [M +v X v+3 ] 3−

where [A] + is a quaternary ammonium cation [R 1′ R 1 R 2 R 3 N] + ;

a phosphonium cation [R 1′ R 1 R 2 R 3 P] + , a sulfonium cation [R 1′ R 1 R 2 S] + or a heteroaromatic cation;

wherein M +v is a transition metal atom having the oxidation number +v, v being an integer in the range 1-6;

wherein X is an ion or ligand having the charge number −1 and wherein R 1 , R 1′ , R 2 , R 3 are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aklynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or heteroaryl; or

two of R 1 , R 1′ , R 2 , R 3 combine with a heteroatom to which they are attached to form a ring, wherein the ring is saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the paramagnetic ionic liquid comprises a solution of a paramagnetic inorganic and/or organic salt in a nonparamagnetic ionic liquid.

7. The process as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the nonparamagnetic ionic liquid conforms to the general formula ([A] + ) a [B] a− ;

where [A] + is a quaternary ammonium cation [R 1′ R 1 R 2 R 3 N] + , a phosphonium cation [R 1′ R 1 R 2 R 3 P] + , a sulfonium cation [R 1′ R 1 R 2 S] + or a heteroaromatic cation, wherein R 1′ , R 1 , R 2 , R 3 are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aklynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or heteroaryl;

or two of R 1 , R 1′ , R 2 , R 3 combine with the heteroatom to which they are attached to form a ring, wherein the ring is saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, and

wherein [B] a− is an anion with a being one of 1, 2, and 3.

8. The process as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the paramagnetic salt has a melting point of below 200° C.

9. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the paramagnetic ionic liquid comprises a solution of a paramagnetic inorganic and/or paramagnetic organic salt in an ionic liquid; and

wherein the paramagnetic ionic liquid has a melting point of below 200° C.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the paramagnetic ionic liquid is admixed with further functional groups and/or with additives.