A dual amino ionic liquid with amino-functionalized imidazolium cation and taurine anion was synthesized and characterized. Absorption isotherm of carbon dioxide into the ionic liquid was investigated using a volumetric method at 303.15 and 323.15K. Results showed that absorption capacity reached about 0.9 mol carbon dioxide per mol of ionic liquid at ambient pressure, which is a chemical process verified by NMR and FTIR. Moreover, the as-synthesized ionic liquid can be recycled at higher temperatures or under vacuum. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.