Impressive Swelling Abilities Of Polymerized Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid In Polar Organic Solvents

Impressive Swelling Abilities of Polymerized Imidazolium-based Ionic Liquid in Polar Organic Solvents

 

Mary Allison Andrews, W. Jeffrey Horne, Jason E. Bara

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487

Advisor: E. Jason Bara

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487

 

Abstract

Solvent absorption tests were done with polymers made with the C1 monomer (methylimidazolium monomer with a bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)amide anion), which is a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL).  We varied the amount of initiator added to the monomer before polymerization, in order to determine the effects, specifically in cross-linking.  This imidazolium-based ionic liquid, once polymerized, absorbs certain organic solvents.  As the weight percent initiator that was added to the monomer increased, the amount of organic solvent absorbed by the resulting polymer also increased.  Under certain conditions, Dimethyl Sulfoxide swelled the polymers over 200 times their original size.  This incredible behavior is believed to be due to a decrease in cross-linking occurring with the added initiator, as well as longer polymer chains being formed. Allowing for more space in-between polymer chains that solvent can be absorbed into.

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