Combustible ionic liquids by design: Destroying another ionic liquid myth

I&EC 103

Marcin Smiglak, smigl001@bama.ua.edu1, W. Matthew Reichert, reich003@bama.ua.edu2, John D. Holbrey2, John S. Wilkes, john.wilkes@usafa.af.mil3, Luyi Sun, sun005@bama.ua.edu2, Joseph S. Thrasher, fluorine@bama.ua.edu1, and Robin D. Rogers, rdrogers@bama.ua.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry and Center for Green Manufacturing, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, (2) Department of Chemistry and Center for Green Manufacturing, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, (3) Department of Chemistry, United States Air Force Academy, 2355 Fairchild Drive, Suite 2N225, USAF Academy, CO 80840-6230
Non-flammability of ionic liquids (ILs) is being highlighted often as a safety advantage over volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but the fact that the ILs are not flammable themselves does not mean that it is safe to use them near fire and/or a heat source. As our investigations demonstrate, a large group of ILs (including protonated imidazolium, C-nitro-substituted protonated imidazolium, C-nitro-substituted azolate ILs, and commercially available Cyphos IL 101), are easily combustible, due to the nature of their decomposition products and/or positive heats of formation. Here we present our initial experimental data (flame tests, TGA, DSC, and ARC analysis) which affords a more clear understanding of the factors involved in controlling the combustibility of ILs.
 

Ionic Liquids: Not Just Solvents Anymore OR Ionic Liquids: Parallel Futures (Sponsored by Green Chemistry and Engineering, Separation Science and Technology and Novel Chemistry with Industrial Applications Sub-Divisions)
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sunday, 26 March 2006 Georgia World Congress Center -- Ex. Hall B4, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 27 March 2006 Georgia World Congress Center -- Ex. Hall B4, Sci-Mix

Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry

The 231st ACS National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, March 26-30, 2006