Advanced supported liquid membranes for carbon dioxide control in extravehicular activity applications

A portable life support system for removal of at least one selected gas, the system comprising:

• a supported liquid membrane having a first side and a second side in opposition to one another, the first side configured for disposition toward an astronaut and the second side configured for disposition toward a vacuum atmosphere;
• and
• an ionic liquid disposed between the first side and the second side of the supported liquid membrane, the ionic liquid configured for removal of at least one selected gas from a region housing the astronaut adjacent the first side of the supported liquid membrane to the vacuum atmosphere adjacent the second side of the supported liquid membrane, the second side of the supported liquid membrane having a hydrophobic layer so as to prevent removal of the ionic liquid into the vacuum atmosphere, wherein the supported liquid membrane is configured to provide a higher affinity between carbon dioxide and the ionic liquid than a remainder of components of exhaled air, and wherein the supported liquid membrane has a selectivity for carbon dioxide over oxygen;
• wherein the ionic liquid includes a functionalized amine group as the cation and at least one anion including tetrafluoroborate (BF4−);
• and
• wherein the primary amine functionalized cation is 1-(3-aminopropyl)-3-methylimidazolium (AP-Mim+).