Ionic liquids as electrolytes

It is widely believed that a defining characteristic of ionic liquids (or low-temperature molten salts) is that they exert no measurable vapour pressure, and hence cannot be distilled. Here we demonstrate that this is unfounded, and that many ionic liquids can be distilled at low pressure without decomposition. Ionic liquids represent matter solely composed of ions, and so are perceived as non-volatile substances. During the last decade, interest in the field of ionic liquids has burgeoned, producing a wealth of intellectual and technological challenges and opportunities for the production of new chemical and extractive processes, fuel cells and batteries, and new composite materials. Much of this potential is underpinned by their presumed involatility. This characteristic, however, can severely restrict the attainability of high purity levels for ionic liquids (when they contain poorly volatile components) in recycling schemes, as well as excluding their use in gas-phase processes. We anticipate that our demonstration that some selected families of commonly used aprotic ionic liquids can be distilled at 200-300 degrees C and low pressure, with concomitant recovery of significant amounts of pure substance, will permit these currently excluded applications to be realized.

https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=50194

The distillation and volatility of ionic liquids

: The unpolarized absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the fundamental vibrational transitions of the chiral molecule, 4-methyl-2-oxetanone, are calculated ab initio. Harmonic force fields are obtained using Density Functional Theory (DFT), MP2, and SCF methodologies and a 5S4P2D/3S2P (TZ2P) basis set. DFT calculations use the Local Spin Density Approximation (LSDA), BLYP, and Becke3LYP (B3LYP) density functionals. Mid-IR spectra predicted using LSDA, BLYP, and B3LYP force fields are of significantly different quality, the B3LYP force field yielding spectra in clearly superior, and overall excellent, agreement with experiment. The MP2 force field yields spectra in slightly worse agreement with experiment than the B3LYP force field. The SCF force field yields spectra in poor agreement with experiment.The basis set dependence of B3LYP force fields is also explored: the 6-31G* and TZ2P basis sets give very similar results while the 3-21G basis set yields spectra in substantially worse agreements with experiment. jg

Ab initio calculation of vibrational absorption and circular dichroism spectra using density functional force fields

Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts with melting points near room temperature (or by convention below 100 degrees C). Recently, their unique materials and solvent properties and the growing interest in a sustainable, "green" chemistry has led to an amazing increase in interest in such salts. A huge number of potential cation and anion families and their many substitution patterns allows the desired properties for specific applications to be selected. Because it is impossible to experimentally investigate even a small fraction of the potential cation-anion combinations, a molecular-based understanding of their properties is crucial. However, the unusual complexity of their intermolecular interactions renders molecular-based interpretations difficult, and gives rise to many controversies, speculations, and even myths about the properties that ILs allegedly possess. Herein the current knowledge about the molecular foundations of IL behavior is discussed.

Understanding Ionic Liquids at the Molecular Level: Facts, Problems, and Controversies

Trends in bioconversion of lignocellulose: Biofuels, platform chemicals & biorefinery concept

Vapor pressures for a series of 1-n-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (alkyl = ethyl, butyl, hexyl, and octyl) ionic liquids (ILs) were measured by the integral effusion Knudsen method. Thermodynamic parameters of vaporization for ILs were calculated from these data. The absence of decomposition of ILs during the vaporization process was proved by IR spectroscopy. Enthalpies of vaporization of ILs were correlated with molar volumes and surface tensions of the compounds.

Experimental Vapor Pressures of 1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides and a Correlation Scheme for Estimation of Vaporization Enthalpies of Ionic Liquids

Thermodynamic functions for 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C4mim][PF6]) are reported in a range of temperatures from (5 to 550) K, based on new measurements by calorimetry. Heat capacities of the crystal, glass, and liquid phases for [C4mim][PF6] were measured with a pair of calorimeters. A vacuum-jacketed adiabatic calorimeter was used at temperatures between (5 and 310) K, and a heat bridge-scanning calorimeter was used from (300 to 550) K. With the adiabatic calorimeter, the fusion Tfus = 283.51 K, = 19.60 kJ·mol-1, and the glass transition Tg = 190.6 K were observed. The [C4mim][PF6] test sample was determined to have a mole fraction purity of 0.9956 by a fractional melting analysis. Densities of the liquid were measured in a range of temperatures from (298 to 353) K with a pycnometer equipped with a capillary neck. An unexpected endothermal transition, with a very small enthalpy change of 0.25 J·g-1 (0.071 kJ·mol-1), was observed in a range of temperatures from (394 to 412) K. He...

Thermodynamic Properties of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate in the Condensed State

Vapor pressure and thermal stability of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide

Heat capacities of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C6mim][NTf2] have been measured with a new adiabatic calorimeter in a range of temperatures of (5 to 370) K. The substance was found to form glass with Tg = 184.3 K and Cs,m = (170.7 ± 2.8) J·K-1·mol-1. At different modes of crystallization [C6mim][NTf2] forms at least three crystals, the heat capacities of which differ up to 2 % in the temperature range of (220 to 250) K but coincide within 0.1 % in the temperature range of (80 to 220) K. Triple-point temperature for all the crystals is T0 = (272.03 ± 0.01) K, but the enthalpies of fusion are somewhat different. Thermodynamic properties for [C6mim][NTf2] are calculated based on the obtained data.

Gennady J. Kabo

Papers

Experimental Vapor Pressures of 1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides and a Correlation Scheme for Estimation of Vaporization Enthalpies of Ionic Liquids

Thermodynamic Properties of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate in the Condensed State

Vapor pressure and thermal stability of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide

Thermodynamic Properties of [C6mim][NTf2] in the Condensed State

Thermodynamic properties and polymorphism of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(triflamides)