Ionic liquids in dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for environmental aqueous samples

[Display omitted] •DLLME is a green sample preparation technique because of its minimal consumption of reagents.•Ionic liquids can replace conventional toxic solvents for DLLME, with improved extraction efficiency.•The physicochemical properties of ionic liquids can affect the efficiency of DLLME extractions.•DLLME and its variations can be exploited for environmental aqueous samples.•Matrix effects from ionic liquids are especially critical for MS detection. Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) is considered an environmentally friendly sample preparation technique due to its few steps and the low consumption of solvents and reagents, as well as the smaller amounts of waste generated. Since its first description in 2006, several advances and variations of DLLME have emerged. With the development of more sensitive and selective methods for determining environmental contaminants, the use of ionic liquids has contributed to improving the extraction step. Herein, this review presents a discussion on the use of ionic liquids as extraction solvents for the DLLME technique and its applications for aqueous environmental samples, as well as the challenges demanded by this analytical sample preparation.