Synthesis and computational analysis of adsorbents based on low-cost ionic liquids

• Grant number: 24/13807-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: February 15, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Vieira Olivieri
• Grantee: Gustavo Vieira Olivieri
• Visiting researcher: Turco Rosa
• Visiting researcher institution: Università degli Studi di Napoli Frederico II (UNINA), Italy
• Host Institution: Centro Universitário FEI (UNIFEI). Campus de São Bernardo do Campo. São Bernardo do Campo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present proposal for the Visiting Researcher Award is mainly linked to a project involving the analysis of interactions between ionic liquids and water. Ionic liquids consist of salts with low melting point and encompass several combinations of cations and anions with diverse applications: biomass pretreatment, extraction processes, thermofluids, CO2 capture, etc.In a current project of Centro Universitário FEI, low-cost ionic liquids are being synthesized through acid-base neutralization between a carboxylic acid (formic, acetic, or propionic acid) and n-butylamine. Binary mixtures of these ionic liquids with water will be obtained and analyzed in terms of thermodynamic, spectroscopic, and quantum chemistry studies.Prof. Dr. Rosa Turco (NICL-UNINA) has experience with applications of ionic liquids for CO2 capture, with publications in journal articles and conference proceedings. Her studies involved the usage of the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium glycinate to develop an adsorbent based on alumina for CO2 capture.The aim of the current proposal for the Visiting Researcher Award would be to link the projects developed in Centro Universitário FEI and NICL-UNINA, aiming to synthesize an adsorbent with the low-cost n-butylamine-based ionic liquids for future tests in CO2 capture. Therefore, a new application could be associated with the project developed in Centro Universitário FEI, and a different ionic liquid (synthesized) could be applied in studies developed in NICL-UNINA.The NICL (Naples Industrial Chemistry Laboratory) from UNINA (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II) is a well-consolidated team in multidisciplinary fields, with studies involving the usage of ionic liquids for CO2 adsorption, advanced water treatments, reactions involving vegetable oils, etc. Within this, two lectures (1-2 hours each) are also planned for professors, researchers, undergraduate students, and graduate students from Centro Universitário FEI. The lectures were planned for the presentation of Prof. Dr. Rosa Turco and Prof. Riccardo Tesser.The first lecture will focus on computational studies using the Monte Carlo method, and the idea is to teach and capacitate students in advanced studies in this field for future applications in the extension project of the Chemical Engineering Department of Centro Universitário FEI.The second lecture is expected to encompass the definition and application of ionic liquids (to complement the link between the current projects of NICL-UNINA and Centro Universitário FEI) and examples of reactions involving vegetable oils in order to show students environmentally friendly alternatives of products.The total visit period, including round trip travel, is planned to take place between November 1 and 16, 2024. (AU)