Three types of N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)-bicarboxylic acid ionic liquid (IL) aqueous solutions were designed and synthesized. The physical properties of these solutions were characterized and the SO2 absorption capacities were investigated. It was found that the molar ratio of MDEA to bicarboxylic acid
as well as anion type
had a great influence on the absorption capacity of the IL solutions. The larger the molar ratio
the higher the SO2 absorption capacity of the solutions. However
the desorption capability of the IL solutions decreased with increasing molar ratio. The IL solutions of different anions had the order of absorption capacity as follows: MDEA- succinic acid ILs>MDEA- glutaric acid ILs>MDEA-malic acid ILs. As far as MDEA-glutaric acid and MDEA-malic acid ILs were concerned
the most promising industrial molar ratios of alkali to acid were 1.2:1 and 1.4:1