Metal-Containing Ionic Liquid Modifiers Reduce Viscosity for Ethylene Recovery
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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 effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating viscosity modifiers such as 3,4-dichlorotoluene, sulfolane, N-methylpyrrolidinone, caprolactone, or propylene carbonate into metal-containing ionic liquids to reduce viscosity while maintaining ethylene capture capacity, achieved by selecting modifiers based on boiling point, 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.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state parameter of the ionic liquid is changed by adding a viscosity modifier, which alters the rheological properties of the system. This parameter change enables the maintenance of high metal cation concentration (for high carrying capacity) while achieving a viscosity profile suitable for practical implementation in ethylene recovery systems.
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 acts as an intermediary that selectively affects viscosity without affecting the metal cation concentration. This allows independent optimization of transport efficiency and carrying capacity, as the modifier works through a different mechanism that does not involve diluting the active metal cation species.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscosity modifier replicates or mimics certain properties of the ionic liquid system without being part of the core metal-ethylene interaction mechanism. By copying the liquid phase behavior and viscosity-reducing effects, it enables improved transport while preserving the functional integrity and concentration of the metal cation capture system.
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 reduced viscosity enables efficient transport and contact of the ionic liquids within ethylene recovery systems, allowing for effective capture and recovery of ethylene with minimal dilution of metal cation concentration.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating viscosity modifiers such as 3,4-dichlorotoluene, sulfolane, N-methylpyrrolidinone, caprolactone, or propylene carbonate into metal-containing ionic liquids to reduce viscosity
Implementation Method 2
systems have been developed to contact metal-containing ionic liquids with process streams to capture ethylene through π-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.