IOLITEC IONIC LIQUIDS TECHNOLOGIES GMBH

Their core work

IoLiTec is a German SME that manufactures and supplies ionic liquids — designer solvents with tunable properties used across chemistry, materials science, and industrial processes. In H2020 projects, they serve as the specialized ionic liquid supplier and process developer, enabling partners to use these advanced solvents for CO2 capture and conversion, mineral extraction, enzyme catalysis, and electrochemical applications. Their core business is translating ionic liquid chemistry from lab curiosity into industrial-grade materials for green chemistry and circular economy applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2017), IoLiTec focused on fundamental materials chemistry: photocatalytic diamond materials, scandium extraction from industrial waste, and ionic liquids for cement industry CO2 recycling. By 2020, their focus shifted decisively toward applied green chemistry — artificial photosynthesis for solar-driven CO2 conversion, bio-based valorization of vegetable oil byproducts, and battery materials. The trajectory shows a company moving from supplying ionic liquids for niche research applications toward positioning them as enabling materials for the energy transition and circular bioeconomy.

IoLiTec is pivoting from mining and heavy industry applications toward renewable energy conversion and bio-based circular economy, making them increasingly relevant for green chemistry consortia.

How they like to work

IoLiTec operates exclusively as a participant — never as coordinator — across all six H2020 projects, which is typical for a specialty materials SME that provides a critical but focused component. With 71 unique partners across 17 countries, they are a well-connected node in European research, comfortable integrating into diverse consortia. Their consistent role as the ionic liquid specialist makes them a low-risk, high-expertise addition to any consortium needing advanced solvent capabilities.

Extensive European network spanning 71 unique partners across 17 countries, built through six RIA projects. This breadth — averaging nearly 12 partners per project — reflects experience in large collaborative consortia rather than small bilateral partnerships.

What sets them apart

IoLiTec is one of the few commercial ionic liquid manufacturers in Europe, giving them a rare position at the intersection of advanced chemistry R&D and industrial supply. While many partners in their consortia are universities or research institutes, IoLiTec bridges the gap by providing production-ready ionic liquids tailored to specific project needs. For consortium builders, they offer a proven SME partner that brings both deep materials expertise and the ability to scale results toward commercialization.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RECODE
  Largest funding (EUR 630K) — recycling CO2 from cement production into calcium carbonate nanoparticles, directly combining their ionic liquid expertise with one of Europe's hardest-to-abate industrial sectors.
• SunCoChem
  Represents their strategic pivot: using photoelectrocatalysis to convert CO2 into chemicals powered by sunlight, positioning ionic liquids as enablers for artificial photosynthesis.
• IRODDI
  Unusual cross-sector application — using ionic liquids and enzymes to extract high-value compounds (tocopherol, squalene) from vegetable oil waste, demonstrating versatility beyond traditional chemistry.