Boron selective ionic liquids and polymeric ionic liquids, methods of making and methods of use thereof

1. A boron selective ionic liquid (IL), comprised of: i) at least one cationic component having an amine functionalized with a hydrophobic alkyl moiety, and at least one polyol capable of chelating boron; and, ii) one or more types of anionic components comprising a hydrophobic anion.

2. The boron selective IL of claim 1 , wherein the cationic component is polymerized to form a polymeric ionic liquid (PIL).

3. The boron selective IL of claim 1 , wherein the cationic component comprises one or more of: monocationic components, dicationic components, multicationic components, saccharide cationic components, and mixtures thereof.

4. A boron selective polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) comprising: i) a cationic component comprised of an ionic liquid (IL) that is polymerized, and ii) one or more anionic components, wherein the anionic components can be the same or different;

wherein the cationic component comprises:

one of a tertiary amine or quaternary amine, wherein the amine is functionalized with at least one hydrophobic alkyl moiety; and

a polyol;

wherein the PIL is capable of chelating boron in boric acid.

5. The PIL of claim 4 , wherein the cationic component is described by the general formula of —X + RR′R″, where X is N, and where each of R, R′, R″ is selected from the group consisting of proton, aliphatic group, cyclic group and aromatic group, wherein the R, R′ and R″ are the same or are different from each other.

6. The PIL of claim 4 , wherein the cationic component is described by the formula of (—X(R) 3 ) + , wherein R is selected from the group consisting of proton, aliphatic group, cyclic group and aromatic group.

7. The PIL of claim 4 , polymerized to form linear polymers and/or cross-linked by crosslinking molecules comprising one or more of monocationic/dicationic/tricationic/multicationic crosslinking molecules.

8. The PIL of claim 4 , wherein the cationic component comprises one or more of: monocationic components, dicationic components, tricationic components, other multicationic components, and mixtures thereof.

9. The PIL of claim 4 , wherein the cationic component comprises an IL monomer modified through one or more of: incorporation of alkyl chains, aromatic components, and/or hydroxyl-functionality.

10. The boron selective polymeric ionic liquid of claim 4 , wherein the alkyl moiety is 10 carbons long.

11. A boron selective polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) of claim 4 , having the general structure of Formula III:

wherein A − is an anion selected from the group consisting of Br − , Cl − , NTf 2 − , BF 4 − , and PF 6 − ; and

R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a proton, an aliphatic group, a cyclic group, and an aromatic group.