Design de líquidos iônicos para captura de gases: avaliação das interações cátion-ânion e íon-gás e seu efeito na solubilidade

Abstract

The energy generation from fossil fuels is one of the greenhouse gases main sources, especially CO2, which have been associated to the global climate change. SO2 e H2S can be encountered in energy plants, such as emitted through volcanic activity and natural gas fields, respectively. In this sense, Ionic Liquids (IL) are promising materials to gas capture and separation, due to properties as: low vapor pressure, low melting points, high stability and capability to dissolute gases. In this work, IL-gas interactions were evaluated, considering CO2, SO2 and H2S gases. In the first step, anion-gas and cation-gas interactions were analyzed for evaluating the cation and anion role in interactions with IL. Imidazolium-based IL, including [C1mim]+ to [C8mim]+, tetraalkylammonium and tetraalkylphosphonium-based IL and Imidazolium-functionalized cations with ether groups were considered in this project, while anions include halide, fluorinated ones, acetate and sulfate/alkylsulfate ones. In the second step, the cation-anion interaction was appreciated and its effect over gas solubility, considering [C1mim]X, where X= [BF4]-, [Tf2N]-, [MeSO4]-, [PF6]-, [EtSO4]-, [Cnmim][Tf2N] and ionic pairs with functionalized cation with ether groups, here called [C1Odmim][Tf2N] a [C1Oemim][Tf2N]. In the last step, CO2-ion pair interaction was assessed in [Cnmim][Tf2N] systems. It was proposed here six novel ionic pairs, corresponding to functionalized systems with ether groups and the system developed about results obtained. For ab initio calculations, it was considered four system configurations, which were optimized using B3LYP and M06-2X levels of theory, this last used for assessment of extended alkyl chains, and 6-311+G** basis set. Vibrational frequencies calculations were made after the optimizations, for analyzing if the geometry corresponds to either minimum or transition state. The interaction strength were evaluated through binding energy calculations with Basis Set Superposition Error correction using Boys-Bernard method, and compared to QTAIM calculations made for some systems. Charge distribution Analysis was done through partial charges calculations and Electrostatic Potential Surfaces. The thermodynamic properties were estimated from the vibrational frequencies obtained for the systems. In this context, it is expected that this work serve as a reference for theoretical and experimental studies of the novel proposed systems.