Title: Feasibility of using ionic liquids for carbon dioxide capture

Authors: Jennifer L. Anthony, Sudhir N.V.K. Aki, Edward J. Maginn, Joan F. Brennecke

Addresses: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. ' Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. ' Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. ' Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA

Abstract: Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts that are liquids in their pure state at ambient conditions. They are frequently referred to as ||environmentally benign|| due to their immeasurably low vapour pressure. In addition to their more widely studied capabilities as solvents for reactions, several ionic liquids also show potential in other environmentally conscious applications, such as in the capture of CO₂. In previous gas solubility studies with the ionic liquids 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim][PF₆], and 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [bmim][BF₄] [1,2], we have found that CO₂ has a much higher solubility in these ILs than many other gases, including N₂, O₂, and CH₄. Here we show experimental measurements using a static absorber that confirm that [bmim][PF6] can be used to remove CO₂ from a gas mixture containing either N₂ or CH₄. We also compare capture of CO₂ using ILs to conventional technology using monoethanolamine (MEA).

Keywords: CO₂ capture; flue gas; ionic liquids; natural gas.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2004.004624

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2004 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.105 - 115

Published online: 26 May 2004 *

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