Calcium Removal from Model Oil using Ionic Liquids

The objectives of the research are to identify the potential of ionic liquids for removing calcium and to investigate demetallization process by using selected ionic liquid. Most of the works that has been done before are focusing on removing metal by using acid. The existed way of removing metal by using acid is reported corrosive. Besides, the organic phases used are usually toxic, volatile, flammable organic solvents (VOCs) and their usage involves environmental and safety concerns of emission loss and fire hazard. Therefore, ionic liquid is proposed as substituting organic solvent due to its unique properties and environmentally compatible. Ionic liquid that has negligible vapor pressure will be less volatile that cause to less pollution and safety issue. There are three types of ionic liquids that will be used to extract metal in this research which are 1-ethyl
3-methylimidazolium diethyl phosphate, [EMIM][DEP], 1-ethyl-3 methylimidazoliumtris (pentafluoroethyl) trifluorophosphate, [EMIM][FAP], and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate [EMIM][HSO4]. The scopes of the project are preparing standard of calcium in dodecane and initial metal concentration in dodecane are being measured before extraction. It is followed by extraction process by using three ionic liquids, and final metal concentrations in model oil are being examined by using Ultra-Violet Visible (UV/Vis). In this project, the extraction will be focused on liquid-liquid extraction by using extracting solvent that is ionic liquid. The highest effective ILs in extraction with temperature variation among the three ionic liquids will be compared in the analysis section. The best extracting ionic liquid in demetallization will be further research with kinetic variation. To conclude, the demetallization by using ionic liquid should be further research for more advance separation technology.