An ionic liquid comprising: - at least a compound (a) wherein Compound (a) comprises one or more products of formula X + Y - Formula wherein the anion Y - is an ether carboxylate anion or a mixture thereof of formula wherein P consists of n units of -CH 2 CH 2 O- and m units of -CH 2 CHRO- or -CHRCH 2 O- wherein n represents a number from 2 to 8, m represents a number from 0 to 6, and the sum of n+m represents the average alkoxylation degree which corresponds to a number from 2 to 14;and wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms; R 1 represents a linear or branched alkyl having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms or a linear alkenyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms; and the cation X + is an alkyl ammonium cation or a mixture thereof of formula wherein R 2 represents a linear or branched alkyl, a linear alkenyl or a linear alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, R 3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 4 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkyl, a linear alkenyl or a linear alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms. - at least a compound (a) wherein Compound (a) comprises one or more products of formula X + Y - Formula wherein the anion Y - is an ether carboxylate anion or a mixture thereof of formula wherein P consists of n units of -CH 2 CH 2 O- and m units of -CH 2 CHRO- or -CHRCH 2 O- wherein n represents a number from 2 to 8, m represents a number from 0 to 6, and the sum of n+m represents the average alkoxylation degree which corresponds to a number from 2 to 14;and wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms; R 1 represents a linear or branched alkyl having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms or a linear alkenyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms; and the cation X + is an alkyl ammonium cation or a mixture thereof of formula wherein R 2 represents a linear or branched alkyl, a linear alkenyl or a linear alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, R 3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 4 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkyl, a linear alkenyl or a linear alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms. n units of -CH 2 CH 2 O- and m units of -CH 2 CHRO- or -CHRCH 2 O- wherein n represents a number from 2 to 8, m represents a number from 0 to 6, and the sum of n+m represents the average alkoxylation degree which corresponds to a number from 2 to 14;and wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms; R 1 represents a linear or branched alkyl having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms or a linear alkenyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms; and the cation X + is an alkyl ammonium cation or a mixture thereof of formula wherein R 2 represents a linear or branched alkyl, a linear alkenyl or a linear alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, R 3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 4 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkyl, a linear alkenyl or a linear alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms. R 2 represents a linear or branched alkyl, a linear alkenyl or a linear alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, R 3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 4 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched alkyl, a linear alkenyl or a linear alkynyl group having 6 to 24 carbon atoms.