A novel gas purification material using a supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) has been investigated for removal of NH3 from ambient gas streams (1500 ppm NH3 in Ar). The SILP material is made of a thin film of an imidazolium based ionic liquid and a dissolved copper metal complex ([C(2)C(1)Im]Cl/CuC1(2)), which were dispersed in the pores of a silica 100 support. Diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to investigate the irreversible absorption from a 1500 ppm NH3 gas stream and to identify species formed upon physisorption and chemisorption of ammonia. Additionally, temperature-programmed DRIFTS combined with in situ mass spectrometry were used to evaluate the reversibility and regenerability of the system. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.