Ionic Liquids for CO2 Capture and Emission Reduction

Ionic liquids, especially those functionalized with amine groups, show significant potential for a wide variety of CO 2 separations, including postcombustion CO 2 capture. By tethering the amine to the anion, the stoichiometry of the reaction can be doubled from one CO 2 for every two amines (as is the case with aqueous monoethanolamine) to one CO 2 for each amine. Moreover, the reaction enthalpy can be actively tuned by the design of the anion, adjusting capacity and regeneration energy. In addition, ILs can be used without added water, further reducing the parasitic energy required for CO 2 removal from flue gas.