Analysis of microwave-assisted heating and water extraction from imidazolium and phosphonium based ionic liquids

•Development of a non-conventional heating method for ionic liquids.•Heating kinetics were carried out with nine different hydrophobic and hydrophilic ionic liquids.•[BMIM][CH3OSO3] had the fastest heat rate by microwave radiation in comparison with conduction and convection heating.•The removal of water from the LIs by microwaves reduces energy costs and time.•Microwave heating kinetics are key to understanding ILs regeneration.