Thermal hazard and decomposition kinetics of 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium nitrate via TGA/DSC and FTIR

1-Butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium nitrate ([Bmmim][NO₃]), a kind of versatile and novel ionic liquids, is widely applied in the modern petrochemical industry. Nevertheless, its thermal hazard safety data at high temperature or thermal disturbance conditions are currently unavailable. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the thermal risk of [Bmmim][NO₃] through auto-ignition temperature measurements, flash point analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC), TGA-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR) and thermal decomposition kinetics analysis. Additionally, [Bmmim][NO₃] was examined using isothermal thermogravimetric analysis at different temperatures (220, 230, 240, 250, 260 and 270 °C). The experimental results show that the flash point of [Bmmim][NO₃] is 305.70 ± 9.30 °C and the auto-ignition temperature is 341.00 ± 21.60 °C with an ignition delay time of 8.6 s. In addition, using the nitrogen atmosphere TGA data to calculate the activation energy according to the Friedman, Kissinger and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa methods, roughly the same results were obtained. Finally, TGA-FTIR results show that [Bmmim][NO₃] produced acetylene, butane, butanol and carbon dioxide during the thermal decomposition process. This study could provide data support and some guidance for the thermal hazard assessment and safety control of [Bmmim][NO₃] during its use and storage.