Structure effects of imidazolium ionic liquids on integrated CO2 absorption and transformation to dimethyl carbonate

Abstract

The integration of chemical absorption of CO2 and in situ transformation to highly valuable chemicals is a promising process as an alternative toward fossil fuels. Here, three imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium 1,2,4-triazole ([Bmim][Tz]), and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium 1,2,4-triazole were synthesized to absorb and activate CO2 by the formation of CO2-adducts, which can be in situ converted into dialkyl carbonates with alcohols (ROH, R = CH3, C2H5, and C4H9) in solvent diiodomethane under ambient temperature and pressure. The results show [Bmim][Tz] exhibits the best CO2 absorption capacity and dimethyl carbonates (DMC) yield, where CO2 capacity is up to 0.216 gCO2/gIL and DMC yield (based on methanol) is as high as 20.2 %. The structures of imidazolium ILs have significant effects on the absorption of CO2 and subsequent transformation process. Fourier transform infrared and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies demonstrate ILs structures influence binding sites for CO2 absorption, which can combine with CO2 to form CO2-adducts, zwitterion [Bmim-CO2], and [Tz-CO2]−. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations verify the structure effects (binding sites and steric hindrance) of ILs on the activation of CO2 and methanol, through the elongated CO bond lengths of CO2-adducts and O-H bond lengths of methanol in IL-methanol complexes, respectively, leading to different DMC yields. The integrated process is promising for the energy-efficient capture and utilization of CO2 under ambient conditions.