Ashless ionic liquid

An ionic liquid comprising:

• an anionic portion that is selected from one or more of formula Ia or formula Ic:
• wherein:
• x is an integer of 3;
• each R1 is independently selected from a linear, branched or cyclic C1-C20 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group that is saturated or unsaturated, a C6-C10 aryl group, and a 5-10 membered heteroaromatic ring system;
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of a linear, branched or cyclic C1-C40 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group that is saturated or unsaturated, a linear or branched C2-C40 polyalkyleneglycol group, a C6-C22 aryl group, a moiety formed by removing two hydroxyl groups from a sugar alcohol, and a moiety formed by removing two hydroxyl groups from a dehydrated sugar alcohol or isosorbide;
• R5 is selected from the group consisting of a linear, branched or cyclic C1-C20 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group that is saturated or unsaturated, a linear or branched C2-C20 polyalkyleneglycol group, a C6-C22 aryl group, a moiety formed by removing x hydroxyl groups from a sugar alcohol, and a moiety formed by removing x hydroxyl groups from a dehydrated sugar alcohol;
• and
• each R6 independently represents a linear, branched or cyclic C1-C20 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group that is saturated or unsaturated,
• wherein for each of R1, R2, R5 and R6:
• each of the C1-C20 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group, C1-C40 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group, C2-C40 polyalkyleneglycol group, and C2-C20 polyalkyleneglycol group are not interrupted or are interrupted by one or more groups selected from an aromatic or non- aromatic ring system having from 5 to 14 atoms, an ester group, an amide group, and a carbamate group, and
• each of the C1-C20 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group, C1-C40 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group, C2-C40 polyalkyleneglycol group, C2-C20 polyalkyleneglycol group, and C6-C22 aryl group are unsubstituted or substituted by one or more groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, primary amino, secondary amino and tertiary amino, where the secondary and tertiary amino groups are substituted by one or two C1-10 hydrocarbyl groups, respectively;
• and
• each J independently represents O or NRN, where RN represents H or a C1-C18 alkyl or alkenyl group
• a cationic portion having formula A:
• (
• X
• )
• n
• a
• +
• ,
• A
• where:
• X represents a cationic species;
• and
• a and n are selected to approximately balance the charge of the ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid is ashless.