Development of membranes for highly specific separations is challenging and will depend on specific surface interaction.  Here we have investigated the feasibility of using p election cloud interactions.   Imidazolium based ionic liquids were synthesized using vinyl imidazole and three different alkyl halides (chlorobutane, bromohexane, and allyl bromide). A 0.45 mm pore size PTFE membrane was used as the support structure. The imidazolium based ionic liquids were pumped into the membrane pores using a stirred cell at a pressure of 2 bar producing a supported ionic liquid membrane.  The supported ionic liquid membrane could be used for specific P electron cloud mediated separation of solutes.   Here the separation of  of styrene, divinyl benzene and toluene in hexane (non-aqueous medium) and Ramazol brilliant blue R (RBBR), Congo red (CR) and Eichrome black T (EBT) from aqueous medium have been investigated. The specificity for separation of aromatics was found to be related to the affinity of the ionic liquid towards the p electron cloud density and extent of conjugation in the solute. The separation efficiency for all SIL membranes was observed to be divinyl benzene &gt; styrene &gt; toluene, while in case of dyes the complicated electronic configuration led to Congo red (CR) having the highest selectivity.<br/>            It was also shown that the SIL membranes displayed antibacterial activity.  The antibacterial activity was investigated using two-gram positive bacteria (<b>Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus</b>). SIL membranes with longer carbon side chains on the  imidazolium ring showed greater antibacterial activity (bromohexane &gt; chlorobutane &gt; allyl bromide). The results obtained here indicate that membranes for highly specific separations could be developed based on p electron cloud interactions.<br/>

Advanced supported ionic liquid (SIL) membranes for p electron cloud mediated separation of aromatics

2019 Fall National Meeting

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