High CO2 solubility, permeability and selectivity in ionic liquids with the tetracyanoborate anion

Five different ionic liquids containing the tetracyanoborate anion were synthesized and evaluated for CO2 separation performance. Measured CO2 solubility values were exceptionally high compared to analogous ionic liquids with different anions and ranged from 0.128 mol L-1 atm(-1) to 0.148 mol L-1 atm(-1). In addition, CO2 permeability and CO2/N-2 selectivity values were measured using a supported ionic liquid membrane architecture and the separations performance of the ionic liquid membranes exceeded the Robeson upper bound. These results establish the distinct potential of ionic liquids with the tetracyanoborate, [B(CN)(4)], anion for the separation of CO2.