Screening ionic liquids based on COSMO-SAC model for extracting organic sulfur from coal and mechanism study

Abstract

Screening suitable ionic liquids（ILs） for removing organic sulfur compounds from coal and discovering new, effective and environmentally friendly coal desulfurization additives is crucial. The solubility properties (SP) of six organic sulfur model compounds (OSMCs) in imidazole ILs were calculated based on the COSMO-SAC model. The results showed that 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid and 2-aminophenyl phenyl sulfone exhibited favorable solubility properties in certain ILs. The solubility properties of partial imidazole ILs consisting of [Cl]- were significantly better than other anions. Through the σ -profiles analysis of ILs anions, cations and OSMCs, it showed that [Cl]- had a higher tendency to be hydrogen bond acceptor than other anions. The polar groups in OSMCs increased the hydrogen bond donor or acceptor sites for interactions with ILs, while extended the optional range of ILs for hydrogen bond interactions with OSMCs. The extraction efficiencies of 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid by ILs were above 25%, with [DMIM][Cl] displaying the highest efficiency at 47.5%. Meanwhile, [DMIM][Cl] was the most effective extractant for removing all OSMCs except benzothiophene, which was basically consistent with the calculation results. Electrostatic potential analysis was used to obtain the sites where OSMCs are the most likely to form hydrogen bond interactions with [DMIM][Cl]. And characterization of hydrogen bond formation between ILs and OSMCs was obtained by FTIR analysis. The hydrogen bond formed by p-thiocresol with [DMIM][Cl] is weak, and the hydrogen bonds formed by 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid, 2-aminophenyl phenyl sulfone with [DMIM][Cl] are relatively strong. The analysis of intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions verified the mechanism underlying the excellent extraction performance for specific OSMCs by the selected ILs.