Abstracts

Composites of SBA-15 and a task specific sulfonic acid ionic liquid, 1-methyl-3-(propyl sulfonic acid) imidazolium triflate, [mimC3SO 3H][TfO], were produced. The ionic liquid was impregnated into SBA-15 silica via the incipient wetness method and the resulting composites were used to capture ammonia. This work examines how exposing the sorbents to water vapor impacts the ammonia adsorption capacity. The work also details the impact of solvent washes on the amount of ionic liquid impregnated in the pores of the SBA-15 silica. The results indicate that composite samples with low loading of the ionic liquid adsorb more ammonia than the parent SBA-15. Also, the data show that after exposure to water vapor, that regeneration at 200 C under vacuum overnight is not sufficient to remove residual water contained in the composite. The following ammonia adsorption not only contains acid-base reaction, but also the combination reaction with formation of hydronium, [H 3O+]. Besides, the water has interaction with anions of the ionic liquid by hydrogen bonding and take the vacancy of the IL, which influences the physical absorption of ammonia. All these effects result in the residual water in the composite reducing the amount of ammonia that is adsorbed.