ABSTRACT
As a traditional industry, the petrochemical industry has serious energy consumption and environmental pollution problems, which do not meet the requirements of global sustainable development. Under the continuous promotion of ecological civilization construction, the principle of green chemistry should be effectively implemented in the petrochemical industry. Ionic liquid is a new type of “green solvent” that is colourless, odourless, and reused. It is completely composed of ions. It has the advantages of non-volatile, low vapour pressure and wide temperature range. It is often used to increase the yield of crude oil due to its special physical and chemical properties. Alternatively, a new surfactant was added to the emulsion crude oil production process, resulting in demulsification. This paper reviews the development history, physicochemical properties, and applications of ionic liquids. The development prospect and shortcomings of ionic liquids were discussed. In general, further research and innovation of ionic liquids will deeply understand the necessity of their development.
