Imidazolium-Based Poly(ionic liquid)s as New Alternatives for CO2 Capture

• Published in: ChemSusChem 2013-08, Vol.6 (8), p.1500-1509
• Main Authors: Privalova, Elena I., Karjalainen, Erno, Nurmi, Mari, Mäki-Arvela, Päivi, Eränen, Kari, Tenhu, Heikki, Murzin, Dmitry Yu, Mikkola, Jyri-Pekka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternatives; Carbon Dioxide - chemistry; Carbon Dioxide - isolation & purification; carbon dioxide fixation; carbon storage; Imidazoles - chemistry; ionic liquids; Ionic Liquids - chemistry; Ions; Molecular Weight; polycations; polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Polymethacrylic Acids - chemistry; Solvents
• ISSN: 1864-5631; 1864-564X; 1864-564X
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201300120

Solid imidazolium‐based poly(ionic liquid)s with variable molecular weights that contain the poly[2‐(1‐butylimidazolium‐3‐yl)ethyl methacrylate] (BIEMA) cation and different counter anions were evaluated in terms of CO2 capture and compared with classical ionic liquids with similar counter anions. In addition to poly(ionic liquid)s with often‐applied ions such as BF4−, PF6−, NTf2−, trifluoromethanesulfonate (OTf−) and Br−, for the first time [BIEMA][acetate] was synthesised, which revealed a remarkably high CO2 sorption performance that exceeded the poly(ionic liquid)s studied previously on average by a factor of four (12.46 mg gPIL−1). This study provides an understanding of the factors that affect CO2 sorption and a comparison of the CO2 capture efficiency with the frequently used sorbents. Moreover, all the studied sorbents were reusable if regenerated under carefully selected conditions and can be considered as suitable candidates for CO2 sorption. Pretty poly(ionic liquid)s! Solid poly(ionic liquid)s that contain the poly[2‐(1‐butylimidazolium‐3‐yl)ethyl methacrylate] cation and different anions, in particular a new combination with the acetate anion, are evaluated for CO2 capture and demonstrated to be alternative CO2 sorption materials.