(275c) Separation of Aromatic & Aliphatic Hydrocarbons Using 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Tricyanomethanide Ionic Liquid

With globally increasing population and energy requirement, efficient and economically feasible methods to reduce the aromatic in natural gas and petroleum is the main focus of attention. Various solvents are being utilized to absorb aromatic but the use of the ionic liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Tricyanomethanide ([bmim] [TCM]) as an absorption solvent in the de-aromatization of natural gas and aliphatic offers potential benefits. Solubility measurements of the binary systems of aliphatics (i.e. n-heptane and n-hexane) and aromatics (i.e. benzene and toluene) were performed in the ([bmim] [TCM]) ionic liquid as a function of temperature at a pressure of 0.1 MPa. The solubility measurements were carried out in a jacketed Liquid-Liquid-Equilibria (LLE) cell; Liquid-Liquid-Equilibria (LLE) measurements for the following ternary systems: {hexane (1) + benzene (2) + [bmim][TCM] (3)}, {heptane (1) + toluene (2) + [bmim][TCM] (3)} and {heptane + benzene + [bmim][TCM] (3)} were also measured at 0.1 MPa and 298.15 K. The IL’s viscosity and density were also measured over a range of temperature using a Stabinger viscometer, and it was observed that [bmim][TCM] shows relatively lesser viscosity in comparison with other ILs. It was found that at same T and pressure conditions, aromatic showed a higher solubility in the aforementioned IL than the aliphatic hydrocarbons. Selectivity and solute distribution coefficient values were also calculated and compared and [bmim][TCM] performance in separating aromatics was promising.