Description of the pVT behavior of ionic liquids and the solubility of gases in ionic liquids using an equation of state

A molecular thermodynamic model developed previously for fluids of chain-like molecules has been extended to correlate the pVT behavior of ionic liquids and the solubilities of gases such as CO₂, C₃H₆, C₃H₈, C₄H₁₀ in various ionic liquids. The relative deviation between the calculated molar volume and experimental data is less than 0.2%. It is shown that this equation of state can be used to correlate the solubility of CO₂ in ionic liquids with only one temperature-independent adjustable interaction parameter, and the accuracy of the correlation can be further improved using two temperature-independent adjustable parameters. The water content of ionic liquids has a large influence on the calculated results. For systems with water content lower than 0.1%, the average relative deviations of bubble point pressure are 3.14 and 4.90% using two parameters and one parameter, respectively. For systems containing C₃H₆, C₃H₈ and C₄H₁₀ two temperature dependent adjustable parameters are needed to obtain a good fit, and the corresponding deviation of the gas solubility is less than 2%, except for C₃H₈.     

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of ionic liquids and determination of their solubility in water

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is used to detect both the cations (C⁺) and the anions (A^–) of ionic liquids (CA). In this study, the ionic liquids are diluted with aqueous methanol before injection. In addition to the main peaks of the parent ions, fragmentation products are observed upon increasing the cone voltage, whereas aggregates of the parent ion with one or more ionic liquid molecules (e.g., C(CA)_n⁺, A(CA)_n^–) are observed upon decreasing the cone voltage. The ions of several ionic liquids in a mixture are also detected and the ratios of their concentrations estimated. A method is developed to determine quantitatively the concentration of an ionic liquid in solution by using the cation and anion of another ionic liquid as internal standards. By using this method, the solubilities in water at room temperature (22±1 °C) of three typical hydrophobic ionic liquids have been determined: 0.70±0.08 g L^–1 for methyltributylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (MeBu₃NNTf₂), 6.0±0.5 g L^–1 for butylmethylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BuMePyrNTf₂), and 18.6±0.7 g L^–1 for 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIPF₆).     

Measuring the solubilities of ionic liquids in water using ion-selective electrodes

Polyvinyl chloride-plasticized membrane ion-selective electrodes (ISE) based on conventional ion-exchangers have been proposed as a cheap universal tool to measure the solubilities of ionic liquids (ILs) in water. They are applicable for ILs with a wide range of solubilities in water, since the linear range of a potentiometric response spans several orders of magnitude. As an example, we have fabricated and tested ISEs for widely used alkylimidazolium ionic liquids. The aqueous solubilities of four typical ILs have been determined at 21 °C: 0.075±0.001 mol l^–1 (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, BMIm, hexafluorophosphate); 0.018±0.001 mol l^–1 (BMIm bis(triflylimide)); 0.054±0.007 mol l^–1 (1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium, BDMIm, hexafluorophosphate); 0.014±0.001 mol l^–1 (BDMIm bis(triflylimide)).     

Solubilities of ammonia in basic imidazolium ionic liquids

Solubilities of ammonia in four conventional imidazolium ionic liquids: [C_nmim][BF₄] (n = 2, 4, 6, 8) have been measured. Isothermally fixed temperatures are 293.15, 303.15, 313.15, 323.15 and 333.15 K; the pressure is from 0 to 1.0 MPa. High solubilities of ammonia are found, and it is also found that the solubilities of ammonia increase when the length of cations’ alkyl increases (the ILs have the same anion), that is: [C₈mim]⁺ > [C₆mim]⁺ > [C₄mim]⁺ > [C₂mim]⁺. The solubility data have been correlated by the Krichevisky–Kasarnovsky equation, and then Henry's constants and partial molar volumes of NH₃ at infinite dilution are obtained. The thermodynamic properties such as solution enthalpy (Δ_solH), solution Gibbs free energy (Δ_solG), solution entropy (Δ_solS), and solution heat capacity (Δ_solC_p) of these systems are obtained.     

Solute-induced dissolution of hydrophobic ionic liquids in water

Significant solubilization of ostensibly water-immiscible ionic liquids (ILs) in acidic aqueous phases is induced by the presence of any of a variety of neutral extractants, the apparent result of the formation of the protonated form of the extractant and its subsequent exchange for the cationic component of the IL. The extent of this solubilization is shown to diminish with increasing hydrophobicity of the IL cation and decreasing extractant basicity. These observations raise concerns as to the viability of ILs as “drop in replacements” for traditional organic solvents in the solvent extraction of metal ions.     

Augmented van der Waals equations of state: SAFT-VR versus Yukawa based van der Waals equation

Performance of the SAFT-VR equation of state developed for the hard sphere based simple fluids, namely the square-well, Sutherland and Yukawa fluids, is examined by comparing its results with simulation data and an augmented van der Waals (vdW) equation based on a Yukawa (Y) reference. Its shown that both for the equilibrium vapor-liquid data and data along selected isotherms in the liquid and supercritical fluid phases the vdW(Y) equation provides better results, particularly when going to lower temperatures.     

Dissolution and regeneration of polybenzimidazoles using ionic liquids

We report here the initial results that polybenzimidazole can be dissolved in and regenerated from, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and other hydrophilic ionic liquids, which may enable the application of ionic liquids as alternatives to environmentally undesirable solvents currently used for dissolution of this polymer.     

New chiral imidazolium ionic liquids: 3D-network of hydrogen bonding

New hydrophobic chiral ionic liquids bearing an imidazolium core have been stereospecifically prepared from the chiral pool; their enantiomeric purity and 3D-network of hydrogen bonding were analysed by NMR and X-ray diffraction, respectively.     

Solid-liquid equilibrium using the SAFT-VR equation of state: Solubility of naphthalene and acetic acid in binary mixtures and calculation of phase diagrams

A solid-liquid equilibrium (SLE) thermodynamic model based on the SAFT-VR equation of state (EOS) is presented. The model allows for the calculation of solid-liquid phase equilibria in binary mixtures at atmospheric pressure. The fluid (liquid) phase is treated with the SAFT-VR approach, where molecules are modelled as associating chains of tangentially bonded spherical segments interacting via square-well potentials of variable range. The equilibrium between the liquid and solid phase is treated following a standard thermodynamic method that requires the experimental temperature and enthalpy of fusion of the solute. The model is used to calculate the solubilities of naphthalene and acetic acid in common associating and non-associating organic solvents and to determine the solid-liquid phase behaviour of binary mixtures with simple eutectics. The SAFT-VR pure component model parameters are determined by comparison to experimental vapour pressure and saturated liquid density data with the choice of association models according to the nature of the molecule; in addition, an unlike adjustable parameter (k_ij) is used to model the solutions. The solubility data of naphthalene and acetic acid in both associating and non-associating solvents are reproduced essentially within the accuracy of the experimental measurements. The phase boundaries and the position of the eutectic points in the binary mixtures considered are, in most cases, reproduced with the accuracy commensurate with the industrial applications. Overall, the results presented show that the SAFT-VR EOS can be used with confidence for the prediction of the SLE of binary systems at atmospheric pressure.     

Thermodynamic modeling of CO2 solubility in ionic liquid with heterosegmented statistical associating fluid theory

Heterosegmented statistical associating fluid theory is used to represent the CO₂ solubility in ionic liquids. As in our previous work, ionic liquid molecule is divided into several groups representing the alkyls, cation head, and anion. The cation of ionic liquid is modeled as a chain molecule that consists of one spherical segment representing the cation head and groups of segments of different types representing different substituents (alkyls). The anion of ionic liquid is modeled as a spherical segment of different type. To account for the electrostatic/polar interaction between the cation and anion, the spherical segments representing cation head and anion each have one association site, which can only cross associate. Carbon dioxide is modeled as a molecule with three association sites, two sites of type O and one site of type C, where sites of the same type do not associate with each other. The parameters of CO₂ are obtained from the fitting of the density and the saturation vapor pressure of CO₂. For the CO₂-ionic liquid systems, cross association between site of type C in CO₂ and another association site in anion is allowed to occur to account for the Lewis acid–base interaction. The parameters for cross association interactions and the binary interaction parameters used to adjust the dispersive interactions between unlike segments are obtained from the fitting of the available CO₂ solubility in ionic liquids. The model is found to well represent the CO₂ solubility in the imidazolium ionic liquids from 283 to 415 K and up to 200 bar.     

Measurements and equation-of-state modelling of thermodynamic properties of binary mixtures of 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tetracyanoborate ionic liquid with molecular compounds

This paper presents a comprehensive thermodynamic study of binary mixtures formed by 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tetracyanoborate ionic liquid and hydrocarbons (n-heptane, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene), thiophene and alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, 1-decanol and 1-dodecanol). An impact of chemical structure of molecular compounds on their solubility in the ionic liquid and excess enthalpies of mixing is discussed. Furthermore, modelling of the measured properties by using perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) is presented. The theory is applied in both correlative and semi-predictive mode involving temperature-dependent binary corrections fitted to infinite dilution activity coefficients. Solubility curves and excess enthalpies are captured by the model with a reasonable accuracy, when semi-predictive strategy is adopted. Moreover, (liquid + liquid) equilibrium phase diagram in ternary system composed of the investigated ionic liquid, thiophene and n-heptane is predicted with PC-SAFT and then the calculations are confronted with available experimental data. The results indicate that the approach proposed can be perceived as an interesting tool for reproducing the thermodynamic behaviour disclosed by such complex systems as those based on ionic liquids.     

Solubility and rate of dissolution for Miscanthus in hydrophilic ionic liquids

Miscanthus is a potential feedstock for the production of biofuels. Lignocellulosic biomass is not soluble in conventional solvents, but Miscanthus and other lignocellulosic biomass have reasonable solubilities in some ionic liquids. The solubility of Miscanthus in a variety of hydrophilic ionic liquids was measured as a function of particle size, temperature and time for dissolution. In addition to temperature and time, the ionic liquid anion has a significant effect on solubility and rate of dissolution. The moisture content of Miscanthus lowers its solubility in certain ionic liquids. Chloride, acetate, and phosphate-based ionic liquids favor solubility. A tentative correlation for the solubility of Miscanthus is proposed in terms of Abraham solvation parameters obtained from quantum-chemical model COSMO-RS (Conductor like Screening Model-Real Solvents).     

Reduction of silanophilic interactions in liquid chromatography with the use of ionic liquids

A suppression of silanophilic interactions by the selected ionic liquids added to the mobile phase in thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is reported. Acetonitrile was used as the eluent, alone or with various concentrations of water and phosphoric buffer pH 3. Selectivity of the normal (NP) and the reversed (RP) stationary phase material was examined using a series of proton-acceptor basic drugs analytes. The ionic liquids studied appeared to significantly affect analyte retention in NP-TLC, RP-TLC and RP-HPLC systems tested. Consequently, the increased separation selectivity was attained. Due to ionic liquid additives to eluent even analytes could be chromatographed, which were not eluted from the silica-based stationary phase materials with 100% of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. Addition of ionic liquid already in very small concentration (0.5%, v/v) could reduce the amount of acetonitrile used during the optimization of basic analytes separations in TLC and HPLC systems. Moreover, the influence of temperature on the separation of basic analytes was demonstrated and considered in practical HPLC method development.     

Correlation of solubility data of ammonia in ionic liquids for gas separation processes using artificial neural networks

Artificial neural networks have been used for the correlation and prediction of solubility data of ammonia in ionic liquids. This solubility of ammonia is highly variable for different types of ionic liquids at the same temperature and pressure, its correlation and prediction is of special importance in the removal of ammonia from flue gases for which effective and efficient solvents are required. Nine binary ammonia + ionic liquids mixtures were considered in the study. Solubility data (P–T–x) of these systems were taken from the literature (208 data points for training and 50 data points for testing). The training variables are the temperature and the pressure of the binary systems (T, P), being the target variable the solubility of ammonia in the ionic liquid (x). The study shows that the neural network model is a good alternative method for the estimation of solubility for this type of mixtures. Absolute average deviations were below 5.6%, for each isothermal data set and overall absolute average deviations were below 3.0%. Only in the range of low solubility (below 0.2 in mole fraction) did predicted solubility give deviations higher than 10%.     

Indirect catalytic epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide electrogenerated in ionic liquids

Hydrogen peroxide was generated in room temperature ionic liquids by electrolysis, which was then used for the epoxidation of lipophilic alkenes under a carbon dioxide-saturated environment and in the presence of catalytic amount of manganese salt. ¹³C NMR showed that the active peroxymonocarbonate (HCO₄⁻) was generated from the mixture of H₂O₂, CO₂, and water in the ionic liquids. Most lipophilic alkenes were selectively epoxidized within 4-5 h. The ionic liquids can be recovered and reused without any deterioration in the performance.     

Microstructure of microemulsion modified with ionic liquids in microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography and analysis of seven corticosteroids

In this work, the influences of ionic liquid (IL) as a modifier on microemulsion microstructure and separation performance in MEEKC were investigated. Experimental results showed that synergetic effect between IL 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoro‐borate (BmimBF₄) and surfactant SDS gave a decreased CMC. With increment of IL in microemulsion, negative ζ potential of the microdroplets reduced gradually. The influence of IL on the dimensions of microdroplet was complicated. At BmimBF₄ less than 8 mM, IL made microemulsion droplet smaller in size. While at BmimBF₄ more than 10 mM, the size increased and reached to a maximum value at 12 mM, where the microdroplets were larger than that without IL. After that, the micreodroplet size decreased again. Relative fluorescence intensity of the first vibration band of pyrene to the third one (I₁/I₃) enhanced as IL was added to microemulsion, which indicated that this addition increased environmental polarity in the inner core of microdroplets. Prednisone, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone acetate, cortisone acetate, prednisolone acetate, and triamcinolone acetonide were analyzed with MEEKC modified with IL to evaluate the separation performance. Cortisone acetate and prednisolone acetate could not be separated at all in typical microemulsion. The seven analytes could be separated by the addition of 10 mM BmimBF₄ into the microemulsion system. The method has been used for analysis of corticosteroids in cosmetic samples with simple extraction; the recoveries for seven analytes were between 86 and 114%. This method provides accuracy, reproducibility, pretreatment simplicity, and could be applied to the quality control of cosmetics.     

The effect of hydrogen bond acceptor properties of ionic liquids on their cellulose solubility

It is nowadays well-known that ionic liquids can dissolve cellulose. However, little systematic data has been published that shed light onto the influence of the ionic liquid structure on the dissolution of cellulose. We have conducted 1H NMR spectroscopy of ethanol in a large number of ionic liquids, and found an excellent correlation of the data obtained with the hydrogen acceptor properties (β-values). With this tool in hand, it is possible to distinguish between cellulose-dissolving and non-dissolving ionic liquids. A modulating effect of both, the anion of the non-dissolving ionic liquid and its cation was found in solubility studies with binary ionic liquid mixtures. The study was extended to other non-dissolving liquids, namely water and dimethylsulfoxide, and the effect of the cation was also investigated.     

Measurement and modeling of osmotic coefficients of aqueous solution of ionic liquids using vapor pressure osmometry method

Osmotic coefficients of binary mixtures containing an ionic liquid, (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [BMIm]BF₄, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, [EMIm]ES, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate, [BMIm]MS) with water were measured until about 3 molal concentrations using vapor pressure osmometry method (VPO) at temperature ranges 298.15–328.15 K and modeled using different electrolyte excess Gibbs free energy models including electrolyte non-random two liquids (NRTL), modified NRTL (MNRTL), mean spherical approximation NRTL (MSA-NRTL), non random factor (NRF), and extended Wilson models. The results show that osmotic coefficient data increase with increasing temperature. The calculated standard deviations of the studied systems show that the applicability of these models for the correlation of VLE properties of ionic liquid solutions. The average standard deviations for the models have the order σ(?) MNRTL < σ(?) Wilson < σ(?) NRTL < σ(?) MSA-NRTL < σ(?)NRF. The results show MNRTL model is able to reproduce experimental osmotic coefficients of aqueous solution of studied ionic liquids with good precision.     

Microwave-promoted synthesis of polyhydroxydeoxybenzoins in ionic liquids

A microwave-promoted synthesis of polyhydroxydeoxybenzoins and -phenylpropanones has been developed, using bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}amine (HNTf₂) or BF₃·OEt₂ in an ionic liquid solvent.     

Solubility of CO2 in imidazolium-based tetrafluoroborate ionic liquids

The solubility of CO₂ in imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), 1-hexyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([hmim][BF₄]) and 1-octyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrtafluoroborate ([omim][BF₄]) was determined at 305-25 K and pressures from 1 to 9 MPa. The influence of chain length of alkyl substituents on the imidazolium cation on the solubility of CO₂ was investigated. The differences in solubility with chain length are in the sequence [omim][BF₄] > [hmim][BF₄] > [bmim][BF₄]. The solubility data were correlated by the extended Henry's law, and enthalpy, Gibbs free energy and entropy changes were obtained.