High-pressure study of the methylsulfate and tosylate imidazolium ionic liquids

Abstract

The considerable interest aroused in recent years by the unique properties and industrial applications of ionic liquids has given rise to the need for a detailed statement of the linkage between their molecular features and the observed macroscopic behavior. A combined experimental/computational approach to the study of ionic liquids is submitted here and applied to the relevant, nonhalogenated ionic liquids 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methylsulfate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tosylate. To establish a reliable equation of state pertinent to these fluids, density data over wide pressure (0.1-60 MPa) and temperature (318.15-428.15 K) ranges, along with high pressure (1-70 MPa) viscosities and other selected ambient pressure properties were measured to assemble sufficient experimental information for the seek of predictive models for process design. A computational method based on ab initio and classical molecular dynamics yielded a deal of structural information, borne out by the experimental readings. Likewise, the predictive ability of the force field applied in molecular dynamics simulations was faced with the measured properties. The pictorial description of the selected ionic liquids reached this way may become widespread to other relevant examples in order to infer valuable structure/property relationships.