Effect of alkyl and halide moieties on the absorption and stratification of SO2 in tetrabutylammonium halide aqueous solutions

Stratification occurs after a reaction between SO2 and tetraalkylammonium halide aqueous solution. To explore the interactions between SO2 and tetraalkylammonium halide, the effects of temperature, concentration, length of alkyl chain, and halide anion on the solubility of SO2 in tetraalkylammonium halide aqueous solutions were investigated. To determine the mechanism of absorption of SO2 by aqueous tetrabutylammonium bromide solution, the composition and concentrations of each component in the upper and lower liquid phase were measured from 283.15 K to 303.15 K. The solubility of SO2 in aqueous tetraalkylammonium halide solutions increased with a corresponding increase in the alkyl chain length and a decrease in temperature. When SO2 was added into the solution by bubbling, SO2 molecules diffused into the clathrate compound of tetrabutylammonium bromide center dot center dot center dot nH(2)O (TBAB center dot center dot center dot nH(2)O) hydrate and formed a more stable clathrate inclusion complex.