Carbanion engineering for highly efficient selective SO2 capture by ionic liquids based commercializable polymers

Abstract Development of alternative ionic liquid‐based porous materials functionalized with active sites for highly efficient selective and reversible SO 2 capture is highly desired. Here, conjugated carbanion ILs based commercializable [N 1111 ][TTFA]@polymer and [N 1111 ][BTFA]@polymer exhibited macroreticular internal structures and macropores (>50 nm) as well as enhanced hydrophobicity. Efficient SO 2 capture (>7 mmol g −1 ), high SO 2 /CO 2 and SO 2 /H 2 O selectivity could be obtained. Adsorption isotherms were correlated using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips models. The results of adsorption experiments, FT‐IR spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations suggested that the SO 2 ⋯IL@polymer charge‐transfer quasi‐chemical interaction is the key role for highly efficient selective SO 2 capture. Initial isosteric heat (10–20 kJ mol −1 ) increased with SO 2 loading. To our best knowledge, this is the first example of using conjugated carbanion‐derived IL‐based commercializable polymers for highly efficient selective SO 2 capture. The carbanion engineering strategy opens a door to obtain enhanced hydrophobicity as well as efficient selective SO 2 capture by IL‐based commercializable polymers.