Regular Solution Theory for Low Pressure Carbon Dioxide Solubility in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids: Ionic Liquid Solubility Parameter from Activation Energy of Viscosity

The low pressure solubility of carbon dioxide in eight commercially available room temperature ionic liquids was measured at 10, 25, and 40 °C using a transient thin liquid film technique. In this paper, carbon dioxide solubility is reported as the Henry’s law constant for each system. Experimental results were interpreted using regular solution theory where Eyring’s reaction rate theory was successfully applied to estimate the solubility parameter of each ionic liquid from its activation energy of viscosity. Consistent with the regular solution theory, the carbon dioxide solubility was found to be inversely proportional to the solubility parameter of the ionic liquid, and Henry’s law constants were successfully correlated with the square of the difference between ionic liquid and carbon dioxide solubility parameters.