Theoretical prediction of the SO2 absorption by hollow silica based porous ionic liquids

As an acid gas, sulfur dioxide (SO2) has caused serious pollution to the environment. Therefore, SO2 capture is crucial. The silica-based porous ionic liquid possesses not only the porosity and high specific surface area of hollow silica, but also the fluidity of the liquid. The absorption mechanism of SO2 absorption by porous ionic liquids through density functional theory (DFT) was systematically studied in this paper. First six kinds of absorption sites were predicted, and then various analyses such as structure, energy, and electrostatic potential analysis (ESP) were employed after optimization. The results show that SO2 has the strongest adsorptive interaction between the canopy and the silica sphere. In addition, the main force between the porous ionic liquid and SO2 is hydrogen bonding and at-hole bonding. Finally, by increasing the degree of polymerization of the canopy, that is, increasing the number of ether groups, will be beneficial to the absorption of SO2. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The absorption mechanism of SO2 by porous ionic liquids was studied through DFT, revealing the strongest adsorptive interaction between the canopy and silica sphere, with hydrogen bonding and at-hole bonding as the main forces. Increasing the degree of polymerization of the canopy, by increasing the number of ether groups, is beneficial to SO2 absorption.