Abstract

Task specific ionic liquids (TSILs) are synthesized and utilized for extraction of different metal atoms from their complexes. Since physico-chemical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) are modified by water (H2O) molecules, less hydrophilic ILs are suitable for the liquid–liquid metal extraction process. Recently, we have synthesized amino acid functionalized imidazolium based TSILs for extraction of rare earth metals. The synthesized ILs have a common functionalized cation [C20H28N3O3]+ and different anions namely, bromide-[Br]− and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide-[NTF2]−. In this study, various first principles (Hatree–Fock and density functional theory) and molecular mechanics calculations are done to understand intermolecular interactions between H2O and the synthesized TSILs. The results of gas phase cluster calculations project the difference in solubility of these two TSILs in H2O.