Tuning the structure of pyridinolate-based functional ionic liquids for highly efficient SO2 absorption

A series of pyridinolate anion-functional ionic liquids (ILs) containing different kinds of cations were designed and prepared, including tri- n -hexyltetradecylphosphonium [P 66614 ], tri- n -butylethylphosphonium [P 4442 ], and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguandinium [TMG] cations and pyridinolate [PyO] anions with different N positions. Densities and viscosities at different temperatures were measured because of their importance for the absorption of SO 2 . Effect of different structures on the absorption of SO 2 was studied, including the type and the alkyl chain length of cations, and the N positions of [PyO] anions (2-, 3-, and 4-). Additionally, effects of SO 2 concentration and temperature for absorption were investigated. Especially, up to 6.00 and 2.53 mol SO 2 per mole IL could be obtained by [P 66614 ][4-PyO] at 1 bar and 0.1 bar of SO 2 , respectively, when absorptions performed at 20 °C. The results indicate that (1) the aprotic cations weakened the cation⋯anion interaction and resulted in the released active sites on the anions, and (2) N position has an influence on charge distribution of [PyO] anions and resulted in the tunable absorption of SO 2 . Reversible SO 2 absorption and [P 66614 ][4-PyO] regeneration could be performed several times without losing efficiency. Furthermore, the mechanism of absorption was studied through FT-IR and NMR methods and the results showed that the absorption of SO 2 by [P 66614 ][4-PyO] includes physisorption and chemisorption.