Four low-viscosity protic ionic liquids
(PILs) with the tertiary
amine and rich ether skeletons are designed for selective absorption
of SO2. To evaluate the selective absorption of SO2 by these PILs, the solubilities of SO2, CO2, and H2S are measured in the temperature range
of 303.2–333.2 K and pressures up to 120 kPa by a volumetric
method, respectively. The absorption of SO2 by [TMEA][MOAc]
at 303.2 K and 101.3 kPa was found to be 10.424 mol·kg–1 (4.310 mol·mol–1), and the ideal selectivity
of SO2/CO2 was 86.83. In addition, the solubility
data are fitted using a reaction equilibrium thermodynamic model to
obtain thermodynamics parameters including Gibbs free energy change
(Δr
G
m), enthalpy change
(Δr
H
m, Δphy
H
m, Δchem
H
m), and entropy change (Δr
S
m). The mechanism of SO2 absorption by [TMEA][MOAc]
is also investigated by FTIR and NMR analyses. Mechanistic and thermodynamic
studies suggest that the high SO2 absorption is attributed
to the O–SO2 multisite physical interaction. These
ether-rich PILs are considered as a promising absorber because of
their high SO2 solubility, good cycling performance, and
low viscosity before and after absorption.