Metal-Containing Ionic Liquid Composition for Lower-Viscosity Ethylene Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased viscosity of metal-containing ionic liquids due to higher metal cation concentration hinders efficient contact and transport within ethylene recovery systems, making them difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a viscosity modifier, such as 3,4-dichlorotoluene, sulfolane, or N-methylpyrrolidinone, into the ionic liquid composition to reduce viscosity while maintaining ethylene capture capacity, using methods that select modifiers based on parameters like dipole moment and Hansen solubility parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If metal cation concentration is increased to enhance ethylene capture capacity, then carrying capacity is improved, but viscosity increases sharply
Solution Approach 1:
A viscosity modifier is introduced as an intermediary substance to mediate between the metal-containing ionic liquid and the desired low-viscosity state. The viscosity modifier specifically targets and reduces the harmful viscous effects without interfering with the ethylene capture mechanism, allowing high metal cation concentration to be maintained while achieving acceptable viscosity levels for system implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of viscosity is modified by adding a viscosity modifier substance that changes the rheological properties of the ionic liquid. This parameter change allows the system to maintain high metal cation concentration (for capacity) while achieving reduced viscosity (for operability), effectively decoupling these two previously conflicting parameters
2Ease of operation
If viscosity is reduced to improve transport efficiency, then ease of operation is improved, but metal cation concentration may be diluted
Solution Approach 1:
The viscosity modifier serves as an intermediary that selectively affects viscosity without significantly diluting the metal cation concentration. By choosing a viscosity modifier with appropriate molecular weight and interaction properties, the system achieves viscosity reduction while maintaining sufficient metal cation concentration for effective ethylene capture, thus resolving the trade-off between ease of operation and carrying capacity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The viscosity of the metal-containing ionic liquids is reduced by up to 50% with minimal dilution of metal cation concentration, enabling efficient ethylene recovery with improved transport and capture efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a viscosity modifier, such as 3,4-dichlorotoluene, sulfolane, or N-methylpyrrolidinone, into the ionic liquid composition to reduce viscosity
Implementation Method 2
systems have been developed to contact metal-containing ionic liquids with process streams to capture ethylene through x-bonding interactions with the metal-containing ionic liquids
Data Source
AI summary
Metal-containing ionic liquids can demonstrate a sharply increased viscosity relative to the same ionic liquids without the metal cation. Metal-containing ionic liquid compositions are disclosed that contain viscosity modifiers that reduce viscosity. Metal-containing ionic liquids are applicable to methods and within systems designed for the purpose of removing and recovering certain components of process streams such as ethylene, isobutane, or both. Methods for removing and recovering ethylene from process streams are also disclosed herein as having increased ethylene removal capacity concurrently with reductions in viscosity without corresponding reductions in metal cation concentrations.