Ionic liquids are characterized by remaining liquid over a wide
temperature range (about 300 C), being non-volatile, having a high
thermal stability, high ionic conductivity, anti-electrostatic properties,
and easy recyclability. In addition, despite their profound
antimicrobial activity, they belong to the class of compounds that
are nontoxic for homeothermic organisms. They can be solvents for
organic and nonorganic compounds, so have been described as
alternative “green” solvents for clean technology (Seddon, 1997).
New regulations definitely limit application of many commonly
used biocides i.e., EU Directive 98/8/EC on introduction of biocidal
products into the market and withdrawal of products based on
substances exceptionally toxic to humans and the environment.
Therefore, there is growing demand for replacing old and not
always environmentally safe compounds with new, more ecologically
benign ones.
The properties of ILs strongly depend on their structure, and
anion and cation type. Interestingly, ILs with herbicidal anions
named herbicidal ionic liquids (HILs) have been synthesized
(Pernak et al., 2011). The combination of two active chemicals in the
form of cation and anion in a single moiety reduced the number of
additional chemicals, such as adjuvants or surfactants, required per
application. Herbicidal ionic liquids containing 4-chloro-2-
methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) as anion exhibited higher biological
activity than currently used salts of MCPA, and involved
pesticides with a multiorganism activity. The acute toxicity of HILs
might be controlled by the appropriate selection of cation type.
The structure of the ILs determines their antimicrobial activity.
[NO3] and [NO2] salts are very effective agents against bacteria
and fungi (Pernak et al., 2006).
Didecyldimethylammonium nitrate [DDA][NO3] is characterized
by high antibacterial activity, whichmakes possible the antimicrobial
barrier properties of linen fabric to keep human skin micro flora
bacteria from growing (Foksowicz-Flaczyk andWalentowska, 2008).
Linen fabric treated with as little as 8 mg [DDA][NO3] showed high
antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative
bacteria. A 100-times greater concentration caused an inhibition
zone of bacteria growth that exceeded 5 mm around the sample.
Here we report on the application of [DDA][NO3] in the finishing
process of linen fabrics to improve their antifungal functionality