文摘
The simultaneous determination of halide impurities (fluoride, chloride, bromide, and iodide) and ionic liquid (IL) anions (tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, and triflimide) using ion chromatography was developed with a basic, non-gradient ion chromatography system. The non-gradient method uses the eluent Na2CO3/NaHCO3 in water/acetonitrile (70:30 v:v) on the AS 22 column to enable a rapid and simultaneous analysis of different IL and halide anions within an acceptable run-time (22 min) and with good resolution R of larger than 2.4, a capacity k′ between 0.4 and 5.1, selectivities α between 1.3 and 2.1, and peak asymmetries As of less than 1.5. Halide impurities below 1 ppm (1 mg·L–1 of prepared sample solution) could be quantified. A range of ionic liquids with tetrafluoroborate [BF4]–, hexafluorophosphate [PF6]–, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (triflimide) [NTf2]– anions combined with cations based on imidazole, pyridine, and tetrahydrothiophene could be analyzed for their anion purity. The IL-cations do not influence the chromatographic results. With the analysis of 18 ILs differing in their cation-anion combination we could prove the general applicability of the described method for the anion purity analysis of ionic liquids with respect to halide ions. The IL-anion purity of most ILs was above 98 wt %. The highest IL-anion purity was 99.8 wt %, implying anion impurities of only 0.2 wt %. The used halide anion from the synthesis route was the major anion impurity, yet with chloride also bromide and fluoride (potentially from hydrolysis of [BF4]–) were often detected. When iodide was used, at least chloride but sometimes also bromide and fluoride was present. However, even if the IL-anion content is above 99 wt %, it does not necessarily indicate an ionic liquid devoid of other impurities. From the IC analysis, one can also deduce a possible cation impurity if one takes into account the expected (calculated) IL-anion content. A matching experimental and theoretical IL-anion content excludes, a higher experimental content indicates the presence of residual KBF4, NH4PF6, or LiNTf2 salt from the halide to IL-anion exchange.