Ionic liquids and acid gas capture: water and oxygen as confounding factors.

Amines dissolved in ionic liquids react rapidly with SO(2) to produce new materials. Compounds related to the stepwise conversion of SO(2) to sulfite and sulfate salts have been isolated. Trapping SO(2) in the form of the sulfite anion does not change the oxidation state of sulfur and should maintain the reversibility of the capture system.