Chapter 4 - Separation of volatile organic compounds by using immobilized ionic liquids

Abstract

This chapter deals with the recent developments on the separation of volatile organic compounds by using ionic liquid membrane technology. Volatile organic compounds comprising a range of toxic substances with vapor pressure over 0.01kPa at 293K pose environmental and health-concerning issues, and thus their release into the atmosphere needs to be controlled and minimized. Separation technology has shown to be an effective technique for the separation of these organic compounds from gas and aqueous phases. Room-temperature ionic liquids have drawn many interests in separation technology because of their unique properties such as low vapor pressure, noncombustibility, and high ion conductivity, offering high selectivity and chemical stability. This chapter discusses several ionic liquid configurations for the recovery of volatile organic compounds in immobilized form (as membranes) from gases and water streams. Several types of supported ionic liquid membranes, including hollow fibers, are presented and discussed, covering the advantages and limitations of such separation options.