Ionic Liquids show promising CO2 capture but their viscosity is a problem for mass transfer, pump requirements, and heat transfer for regeneration. The viscosity can be decreased to a level near MEA solvent by comixing with water, and the capacity in certain situations is not affected, but it is unclear if it is more effective than comixing MEA alone. Poly(ILs), where cations and anions of the IL are linked, show promising results too. All in all, more molecular modeling and experimentation is needed to potentially find a superior combination of properties for overall processing, but ILs are amendable to manipulation and are considered a great hope for CO2 capture by solvent processing. Membranes made from ILs have shown great success as well.
Amines are great for CO2 capture, but they are corrosive and toxic. Still, adding an OH group and producing MEA, for example, make them very beneficial.
References:
[1] Reiner, D., Bui, M., & Mac Dowell, N. (2019). Carbon Capture and Storage. The Royal Society of Chemistry. https://lnkd.in/gSPpKVDg
#directaircapture #carbondioxideremoval #ChemicalEngineering #RetiredLife #FriendOfMIT
Thank you for your post about the potential of Ionic Liquids (ILs) in CO2 capture! It's particularly interesting how the modification of ILs, such as comixing with water or developing Poly(ILs), can address challenges like viscosity while maintaining or even enhancing CO2 capture efficiency. Your point about the need for more molecular modeling and experimentation underscores the importance of a meticulous approach to find the optimal balance of properties for effective processing. It's also fascinating how ILs offer a promising alternative to amines, which, despite their effectiveness in CO2 capture, pose issues due to their corrosive and toxic nature. The development of IL-based membranes is another exciting avenue, suggesting a multifaceted approach to tackling CO2 capture. It will be interesting to see how further research unravels the full potential of ILs in this crucial environmental challenge.