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In the search for pharmaceutically active compounds from natural products, it is crucial and challenging to develop separation or purification methods that target not only structurally similar compounds but also those with specific pharmaceutical functions. The adsorption-based method is widely employed in this field and holds potential for this application, given the diverse range of functional monomers that can be chosen based on structural or functional selectivity. In this work, an imidazolium ionic liquid (IL) modified paper membrane was synthesized via microwave reaction. Caffeic acid (CA), with potential interactions with imidazolium IL and a representative component of phenolic acids in Taraxaci Herba, was chosen as a target compound. After optimization of synthesis and extraction parameters, the resulting extraction membrane could be used to quantitatively analyze CA at ng/ml level, and to extract CA's analogues from the sample matrix. Cheminformatics confirmed the presence of structural and functional similarity among these extracted compounds. This study offers a novel approach to preparing a readily synthesized extraction membrane capable of isolating compounds with structural and functional analogies, as well as developing a membrane solid-phase extraction-based analytical method for natural products., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Composite adsorbents based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are excellent candidates for solid-phase extraction (SPE) due to their diverse chemical functionality and multilevel porosity. MOF superstructures based on self-assembly at room temperature (RT) could have less energy consumption and easier manipulation due to the larger complex geometry. The π-π stacking of the benzene ring could not only enhance the interaction toward hydrophobic or plane-structured targets but also be expected to promote the formation of the MOF superstructure. In this work, in the established RT self-assembly synthesis system, several factors were investigated to see how to obtain functional MOF superstructures with a regular geometry, among which the number of benzene rings in the ligand was mainly tested for its impact on self-assembly and adsorption capacity. By means of adsorption experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, the relationship between structure and activity (SARs) was further explored. Interestingly, the MOF unit with the lowest specific surface area performed the best in adsorption. Then, the selected functional MOF superstructure and ionic liquid were used to produce the composite paper membrane facilely applied in the SPE device. After optimization of the preparation conditions and operation parameters, the established SPE-HPLC-UV method could selectively analyze tetracycline-like antibiotics in the range of 16.6-833.3 ng/g (ppb) in a meat sample. This work provided an RT synthesis method to produce a microsize MOF superstructure, with experimental and theoretical insights into the SARs, which could be expanded in the design of other MOF-based SPE composite membranes toward one group of analogues.

A paper-based polymeric ionic liquid (p-Poly-(MMA-IL)) was successfully developed by grafting the polymeric ionic liquid on the surface of commercial filter paper (FP) by using the dipping method, presenting a new cost-effective film. The newly developed p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP was then applied as a paper-based thin-film microextraction (p-TFME) analytical device to extract 14 compounds as representative of five groups of antibiotic drugs, which were sulfonamides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, penicillin and macrolides in environmental water samples. Besides, p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP, p-Poly-(MMA) FP, and unmodified filter paper were successfully characterised by FTIR, NMR, FESEM, TGA, and XRD techniques. They underwent significant parameters optimisation, which affected the extraction efficiency. Under optimal conditions, the proposed (p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP-TFME) device method was evaluated and applied to analyse multi-class antibiotic drugs in environmental water samples by using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The validation method showed that a good linearity (0.1 μg L -1 - 500 μg L -1 ) was noted (R 2  > 0.993, n = 3). Detection and quantification limits were within 0.05 μg L -1 - 4.52 μg L -1 and 0.15 μg L -1 - 13.6 μg L -1 , respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values ranged at 1.4%-12.2% (intra-day, n = 15) and 4.4%-11.0% (inter-day, n = 10). The extraction recoveries of environmental water samples ranged from 79.1% to 126.8%, with an RSD of less than 15.4% (n = 3). The newly developed paper-based polymeric ionic liquid (p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP) for analysis of multi-class antibiotic drugs under the p-TFME analytical device procedure was successfully achieved with limited sample volume and organic solvent, fast extraction, and feasible in daily analysis. The detection concentration and relative RSD of multi-class antibiotics determined in various environmental water samples by the proposed method (n = 5) were within 0.44 μg L -1 - 54.41 μg L -1 and 0.69%-15.56%, respectively. These results signified the potential of the p-Poly-(MMA-IL) FP-TFME device as an efficient, sensitive and environmentally friendly approach for analysing antibiotics., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Weighing paper-assisted magnetic ionic liquid headspace single-drop microextraction using microwave distillation followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was successfully developed to determine the essential oil components in lavender. The magnetic ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate was successfully synthesized and used as the optimal extraction solvent. An aliquot of 9 μL of magnetic ionic liquid could be stably suspended on the weighing paper for long time extraction. The increase of the extractant volume resulted in a significantly enhanced in extracting efficiency of the weighing paper-assisted magnetic ionic liquid headspace single-drop microextraction than traditional headspace single-drop microextraction method. In this experiment, the optimal conditions were 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate as the extraction solvent, extraction time of 12 min, microwave power of 600 W, cyclohexane as back-extractant and sample amount of 30 mg. The developed method was successfully applied to analyze 16 lavender samples from three different harvest years. A total of 39 compounds in lavender were identified and the principal component analysis provided a clear separation between those lavender samples harvested in different years. The results indicated that the proposed weighing paper-assisted magnetic ionic liquid headspace single-drop microextraction is a novel, fast, simple and sensitive microextration technique for the determination of the essential oil components in lavender., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

A new planar sorptive phase based on the simple immobilization of polymeric ionic liquids on paper is proposed. The sorptive phase can develop hydrophobic or mixed-mode (combining hydrophobic and ion exchange) interactions with the target analytes. The polymer is prepared by the Radziszewski reaction, which takes place in aqueous media, and it has been thoroughly characterized by different techniques including infrared spectroscopy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. Three different strategies aimed to immobilize the polymeric ionic liquid on paper have been evaluated. Among them, simple thermal curing at 120 °C was selected. The as-prepared paper has been evaluated for the extraction of several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from urine, the analytes being finally determined by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The method detection limits were 3.8, 7.2, 6.8, 9.4, 15.7, and 5.1 μg/L for indomethacin, diclofenac, tolmetin, ketoprofen, naproxen, and ibuprofen, respectively. Calibration models were linear (R 2  > 0.9949) up to 1000 μg/L. The intra-day precision, expressed as relative standard deviation and calculated at three different concentrations levels (limit of quantification, 250 μg/L, and 1000 μg/L), varied between 1.1 and 13%. The accuracy, calculated as relative recovery, was in the range from 72 to 95%, thus being considered appropriate. The easiness of polymeric ionic liquid paper synthesis and the multi-sample extraction protocol designed allows the processing of a high number of samples at the same time., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A paper-based analytical device (PAD) with an integrated composite electrode for non-enzymatic creatinine sensing was developed. The electrode was produced and optimization was efficiently accomplished using a rapid digital dispensing approach. The electrochemical sensor was fabricated using an HP D300 digital dispenser to deliver a copper oxide and ionic liquid composite onto an electrochemically reduced graphene modified screen-printed carbon electrode (CuO/IL/ERGO/SPCE) on a PAD. The modified electrode was characterized using electrochemical and microscopic techniques. Electrochemical detection of creatinine was performed on the SPCE using amperometry at a constant potential. Under optimized conditions, the paper-based sensor exhibited a linear range of 0.01-2.0 mM (R 2  = 0.99) and the limit of detection was 0.22 μM (S/N = 3, IUPAC definition) for creatinine. The simple fabrication process, low cost, and clinically appropriate creatinine sensitivity make this device applicable for point-of-care use., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Recently, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the water environment exhibited potential risks to both human and aquatic organisms. In order to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of pharmaceutical detection, the polyimidazolyl acetate ionic liquid was synthesized by Radziszewski reaction and coated on cellulose filter papers as a thin-film extraction phase for extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from water. The attenuated total reflection-infrared spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope analyses demonstrated that the polyimidazolyl acetate ionic liquid was successfully prepared and attached to the surface of the cellulose filter paper through chemical bonding. The adsorption capacity of the homemade thin-film extraction material for the four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was greater than 8898 ng/cm 2 under the optimum conditions, and the desorption rate was over 90%. Then, a paper-based thin-film extraction phase-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established for the extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in water. This method provided limits of detection and limits of quantification were in the range of 0.02-0.15 and 0.17-0.50 μg/L, respectively. Hence, the obtained thin-film extraction phase showed excellent recovery and reproducibility for the target non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with carboxyl groups from water., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

As glucose biosensors play an important role in glycemic control, which can prevent the diabetic complications, the development of a glucose sensing platform is still in needed. Herein, the first proposal on the in-house fabricated paper-based screen-printed ionic liquid/graphene electrode (SPIL-GE) modified with MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ), prussian blue (PB), glucose oxidase (GOx), and Nafion is reported. The concentration of PB/Ti 3 C 2 T x was optimized and the optimal detection potential of PB/Ti 3 C 2 T x /GOx/Nafion/SPIL-GE is -0.05 V. The performance of PB/Ti 3 C 2 T x /GOx/Nafion modified SPIL-GE was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry technique. This paper-based platform integrated with nanomaterial composites were realized for glucose in the range of 0.0-15.0 mM with the correlation coefficient R 2 = 0.9937. The limit of detection method and limit of quantification were 24.5 μM and 81.7 μM, respectively. In the method comparison, this PB/Ti 3 C 2 T x /GOx/Nafion/SPIL-GE exhibits a good correlation with the reference hexokinase method. This novel glucose sensing platform can potentially be used for the good practice to enhance the sensitivity and open the opportunity to develop paper-based electroanalytical devices.

We introduce for the first time a paper-based analytical device (PAD) for the non-enzymatic detection of glucose by modifying a screen-printed carbon electrode with cobalt phthalocyanine, graphene and an ionic liquid (CoPc/G/IL/SPCE). The modifying composite was characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The disposable devices show excellent conductivity and fast electron transfer kinetics. The results demonstrated that the modified electrode on PADs had excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of glucose with NaOH as supporting electrolyte (0.1M). The oxidation potential of glucose was negatively shifted to 0.64V vs. the screen-printed carbon pseudo-reference electrode. The paper-based sensor comprised a wide linear concentration range for glucose, from 0.01 to 1.3mM and 1.3-5.0mM for low and high concentration of glucose assay, respectively, with a detection limit of 0.67µM (S/N = 3). Additionally, the PADs were applied to quantify glucose in honey, white wine and human serum. The disposable, efficient, sensitive and low-cost non-enzymatic PAD has great potential for the development of point-of-care testing (POCT) devices that can be applied in healthcare monitoring., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A sensitive, rapid and efficient ionic liquid-based vortex assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (IL-VALLME) with Liquid Chromatography Mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method is proposed for the determination of bisphenols in thermal paper. Extraction factors were systematically optimized by response surface methodology. Experimental factors showing significant effects on the analytical responses were evaluated using design of experiment. The limit of detection for Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Bisphenol-S (BPS) in thermal paper were 1.25 and 0.93μgkg -1 respectively. The dynamic linearity range for BPA was between 4 and 100μgkg -1 and the determination of coefficient (R 2 ) was 0.996. The values of the same parameters were 3-100μgkg -1 and 0.998 for BPS. The extraction recoveries of BPA and BPS in thermal paper were 101% and 99%. Percent relative standard deviation (% RSD) for matrix effect and matrix match effects were not more than 10%, for both bisphenols. The proposed method uses a statistical approach for the analysis of bisphenols in environmental samples, and is easy, rapid, requires minimum organic solvents and efficient., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This research explores the potential of ionic liquids (ILs) in restoring paper artifacts, particularly an aged book sample. Three distinct ILs—1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-methyl-3-pentylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and 1-methyl-3-heptylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide —both in their pure form and isopropanol mixtures, were examined for their specific consumption in conjunction with paper, with 1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide displaying the highest absorption. Notably, the methyl-3-heptylimidazolium ionic liquid displayed pronounced deacidification capabilities, elevating the paper pH close to a neutral 7. The treated paper exhibited significant color enhancements, particularly with 1-heptyl-3-methylimidazolium and 1-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium ILs, as evidenced by CIE-Lab* parameters. An exploration of ILs as potential UV stabilizers for paper unveiled promising outcomes, with 1-heptyl-3-methylimidazolium IL demonstrating minimal yellowing post-UV irradiation. FTIR spectra elucidated structural alterations, underscoring the efficacy of ILs in removing small-molecular additives and macromolecules. The study also addressed the preservation of inked artifacts during cleaning, showcasing ILs’ ability to solubilize iron gall ink, particularly the one with the 1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium cation. While exercising caution for prolonged use on inked supports is still recommended, ILs are shown here to be valuable for cleaning ink-stained surfaces, establishing their effectiveness in paper restoration and cultural heritage preservation.

This research explores the potential of ionic liquids (ILs) in restoring paper artifacts, particularly an aged book sample. Three distinct ILs—1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-methyl-3-pentylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and 1-methyl-3-heptylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide —both in their pure form and isopropanol mixtures, were examined for their specific consumption in conjunction with paper, with 1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide displaying the highest absorption. Notably, the methyl-3-heptylimidazolium ionic liquid displayed pronounced deacidification capabilities, elevating the paper pH close to a neutral 7. The treated paper exhibited significant color enhancements, particularly with 1-heptyl-3-methylimidazolium and 1-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium ILs, as evidenced by CIE-Lab* parameters. An exploration of ILs as potential UV stabilizers for paper unveiled promising outcomes, with 1-heptyl-3-methylimidazolium IL demonstrating minimal yellowing post-UV irradiation. FTIR spectra elucidated structural alterations, underscoring the efficacy of ILs in removing small-molecular additives and macromolecules. The study also addressed the preservation of inked artifacts during cleaning, showcasing ILs' ability to solubilize iron gall ink, particularly the one with the 1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium cation. While exercising caution for prolonged use on inked supports is still recommended, ILs are shown here to be valuable for cleaning ink-stained surfaces, establishing their effectiveness in paper restoration and cultural heritage preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose extracted from printed paper wastes were selectively depolymerized under controlled conditions into cello-oligomers of controllable chain lengths via dissolution in an ionic liquid, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AMIMCl), and in the presence of an acid catalyst, Amberlyst 15DRY. The depolymerization process was optimized against reaction temperature, concentration of acid catalyst, and reaction time. Despite rapid initial depolymerization process, the rate of cellulose depolymerization slowed down gradually upon prolonged reaction time, with 75.0 wt% yield of regenerated cello-oligomers (mean Viscosimetric Degree of Polymerization value of 81) obtained after 40 min. The depolymerization of cellulose fibers at 80 °C appeared to proceed via a second-order kinetic reaction with respect to the catalyst concentration of 0.23 mmol H3O(+). As such, the cellulose depolymerization process could afford some degree of control on the degree of polymerization or chain lengths of cello-oligomers formed., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Early industrialization and the development of cheap production processes for paper have led to an exponential accumulation of paper-based documents during the last two centuries. Archives and libraries harbor vast amounts of ancient and modern documents and have to undertake extensive endeavors to protect them from abiotic and biotic deterioration. While services for mechanical preservation such as ex post de-acidification of historic documents are already commercially available, the possibilities for long-term protection of paper-based documents against fungal attack (apart from temperature and humidity control) are very limited. Novel processes for mechanical enhancement of damaged cellulosic documents use Ionic Liquids (IL) as essential process components. With some of these ILs having azole-functionalities similar to well-known fungicides such as Clotrimazole, the possibility of antifungal activities of these ILs was proposed but has not yet been experimentally confirmed. We evaluated the potency of four ILs with potential application in paper restoration for suppression of fungal growth on five relevant paper-infesting molds. The results revealed a general antifungal activity of all ILs, which increased with the size of the non-polar group. Physiological experiments and ultimate elemental analysis allowed to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration of each IL as well as the residual IL concentration in process-treated paper. These results provide valuable guidelines for IL-applications in paper restoration processes with antifungal activity as an added benefit. With azoles remaining in the paper after the process, simultaneous repair and biotic protection in treated documents could be facilitated., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Nitrochemie Aschau GmbH holds patents (LU93386B1; EP3339508A1) for the paper reinforcement process discussed in this work. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. CLM still is and KL was employed by Nitrochemie Aschau GmbH as this study was conducted. All other authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Industrial wastewaters and their treatment are now placed at the heart of the environmental concerns that industries face. Some research work has been carried out in order to limit the impact of these wastes on the environment as well as their costs. In this study, wastewater dehydrated sludge (55% wt. water content) from the paper industry was used to recover cellulose by using tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride, [P(CH 2 OH) 4 ]Cl, ionic liquid as a solvent. The ionic liquid has shown remarkable results in terms of cellulose extraction in addition to its non-volatility and lower toxicity compared to organic volatile solvents. All cellulose, based on dry sludge, was recovered from the industrial dehydrated sludge with better operation conditions. The influence of temperature and the quantity of ionic liquid was preliminary studied in order to optimise the extraction conditions.

The urgent need for sustainable waste management strategies has led to the exploration of innovative approaches for the valorization of waste. In this study, a method is proposed for carbonizing waste biomass materials, particularly paper mill waste sludges (primary and biological) and knots, to produce porous carbonaceous supports. Through an initial hydrothermal carbonization followed by carbonization with nitrogen flow, porous carbon materials are successfully generated. The findings of this investigation validate the successful generation of effective carbonaceous supports utilizing waste biomass materials. These materials are then evaluated for their effectiveness as porous supports in the ionic liquid‐catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of CO2 to styrene oxide, achieving a remarkable conversion rate of up to 98% and an impressive selectivity exceeding 99%. Additionally, the results underscore the significant impact of the selected IL on the overall conversion process. Overall, this study presents a promising pathway for the valorization of paper mill waste sludge through the production of porous carbon materials with potential applications in catalysis and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demands for portable, wearable, and implantable sensing devices have stimulated growing interest in innovative electrode materials. In this work, we have demonstrated that printing a conductive ink formulated by blending three-dimensional (3D) porous graphene-carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly with ionic liquid (IL) on two-dimensional (2D) graphene paper (GP), leads to a freestanding GP supported graphene-CNT-IL nanocomposite (graphene-CNT-IL/GP). The incorporation of highly conductive CNTs into graphene assembly effectively increases its surface area and improves its electrical and mechanical properties. The graphene-CNT-IL/GP, as freestanding and flexible substrates, allows for efficient loading of PtAu alloy nanoparticles by means of ultrasonic-electrochemical deposition. Owing to the synergistic effect of PtAu alloy nanoparticles, 3D porous graphene-CNT scaffold, IL binder and 2D flexible GP substrate, the resultant lightweight nanohybrid paper electrode exhibits excellent sensing performances in nonenzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility and mechanical properties., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this article, protic ionic liquids (PILs) and deep eutectic solvent (DESs) were explored to enrich the cellulose content of a paper mill sludge (PMS) received from a sanitary paper manufacturing plant. Compositional, morphological, physico-chemical, and thermal decomposition features of PMS were monitored using XRF, SEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA. Triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TEAHSO4), which functioned selectively for the elimination of mineralogical content and cellulose enrichment of PMS, enhanced the cellulose content of the material from 45% to 74% following the pretreatment at 150 °C. Though DESs such as choline chloride-urea behaved poorly toward demineralization relative to PILs, they preserved cellulose effectively in the structure and gave satisfactory saccharification yields that reached over 90%. In addition to integrating the sustainable benefits of PILs and DESs into the valorization of PMS for the first time in literature, this work highlighted the competency of PMS as a cellulose-rich feedstock for biorefinery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we fabricate a new type of flexible and versatile nanohybrid paper electrode by ultrasonic-electrodeposition of PtPd alloy nanoparticles on freestanding ionic liquid (IL)-functionalized graphene paper, and explore its multifunctional applications in electrochemical catalysis and sensing systems. The graphene-based paper materials demonstrate intrinsic flexibility, exceptional mechanical strength and high electrical conductivity, and therefore can serve as an ideal freestanding flexible electrode for electrochemical devices. Furthermore, the functionalization of graphene with IL (i.e., 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) not only increases the electroactive surface area of a graphene-based nanohybrid paper electrode, but also improves the adhesion and dispersion of metal nanoparticles on the paper surface. These unique attributes, combined with the merits of an ultrasonic-electrodeposition method, lead to the formation of PtPd alloy nanoparticles on IL-graphene paper with high loading, uniform distribution, controlled morphology and favourable size. Consequently, the resultant nanohybrid paper electrode exhibits remarkable catalytic activity as well as excellent cycle stability and improved anti-poisoning ability towards electrooxidation of fuel molecules such as methanol and ethanol. Furthermore, for nonenzymatic electrochemical sensing of some specific biomarkers such as glucose and reactive oxygen species, the nanohybrid paper electrode shows high selectivity, sensitivity and biocompatibility in these bio-catalytic processes, and can be used for real-time tracking hydrogen peroxide secretion by living human cells. All these features demonstrate its promising application as a versatile nanohybrid electrode material in flexible and lightweight electrochemical energy conversion and biosensing systems such as bendable on-chip power sources, wearable/implantable detectors and in vivo micro-biosensors.

Cellulose-based aerogel (CBA) was prepared from waste newspaper (WNP) without any pretreatment using 1-allyl-3-methyimidazolium chloride (AmImCl) as a solvent via regeneration and an environmentally friendly freeze-drying method. After being treated with trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) via a simple thermal chemical vapor deposition process, the resulting CBAs were rendered both hydrophobic and oleophilic. Successful silanization on the surface of the porous CBA was verified by a variety of techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. As a result, the silane-coated, interconnected CBAs not only exhibited good absorption performance for oils (e.g., waste engine oil), but also showed absorption capacity for organic solvents such as chloroform (with a representative weight gain ranging from 11 to 22 times of their own dry weight), making them diversified absorbents for potential applications including sewage purification., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study explores the efficacy of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as cleaning agents for aged cellulosic artifacts. A 10% v/v acetone solution of these ionic liquids (ILs) effectively removes the brownish-yellow color of aged paper in a 10 min immersion treatment. Colorimetric analysis shows a remarkable increase in lightness (L*) by up to 40% and a decrease in red/brownish tones (b*) after IL treatment. The cleaning process also deacidifies the paper, shifting the pH to neutral-slightly basic levels and enhancing its long-term stability. Optimal pH outcomes are achieved, with ionic liquid consumption values of 0.4–0.6 g/g of paper. The FTIR analysis revealed structural changes in cellulose induced by the washing step, which is mainly due to the reorganization effect imparted by the ionic liquids. Furthermore, ILs mobilized degraded compounds and acidic species, aiding in their extraction during the restoration process. Mechanical testing indicated an enhancement in the overall tensile strength and strain at break values for IL-treated papers by up to 33%. This study demonstrates the multiple benefits of alkylimidazolium ionic liquids for preserving and restoring cultural heritage artifacts made of cellulosic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a flexible capacitive pressure sensor based on filter paper substrate is proposed. The electric double layer (EDL) structure was constructed through the introduction of ionic liquid (IL), and the pressure-sensing was realized by using the change of ion-electron interface contact. The paper-based iontronic pressure sensor possesses a high sensitivity of 221.9 kPa−1, which is hundreds of times higher than that of the capacitive pressure sensors with conventional parallel plate structure, as well as an ultra-low detection limit of 2 Pa. The sensor exhibits an enormous application potential in healthcare wearable electronics and human-machine interface equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for treating cellulose paper using the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) was developed. The treatment was intended to reform the paper structure. Filter paper was immersed in 20 g of molten [BMIM]Cl at 80 °C for 20–80 s and then washed with ethanol and distilled water. The treated paper was then immersed in tert-butyl alcohol before drying in a freeze dryer for 30 min. Next, polyethylene glycol (PG) and trichloromethylsilane were fixed to freeze-dried paper. The paper treated with [BMIM]Cl had a higher specific surface area than that not treated with [BMIM]Cl, and the specific surface area increased as the treatment time increased. The amount of PG fixed to the paper increased as the specific surface area of the paper increased, and PG improved moisture retention. The degree to which the moisture retention was improved was therefore related to the increase in the specific surface area caused by [BMIM]Cl treatment. Addition of trichloromethylsilane to the paper treated with [BMIM]Cl improved the hydrophobicity, and this was caused by the [BMIM]Cl treatment. Overall, [BMIM]Cl treatment was effective for reforming the paper structure and this improved the amount of functional material that could be fixed to the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have been exploring dielectric testing techniques both in time and frequency domain for insulation condition assessment of oil-paper insulated transformers. In a practical dielectric system, dipoles are found to behave according to a distribution of elementary Debye relaxation properties. Suitable distribution density functions have been proposed to characterise such many-body interaction processes. Cole–Cole diagrams can be one of the methods for studying the nature of frequency dependency of dielectric materials of complex structure. Cole–Cole plots are commonly used for characterising different materials such as dielectric mixtures, ionic liquids, cable insulating oil, polar liquids etc. The scope of its application for assessing transformer oil-paper insulation considering distributed relaxation process has not been explored yet. The present contribution discusses mathematical formulations used for transforming the experimentally obtained time domain dielectric response test data to distribution domain and further to frequency domain for obtaining the Cole–Cole plots. Findings about the influence of various operating conditions and insulation status on the Cole–Cole diagram have been reported in this contribution. Results of tests on field transformers are also presented. This paper attempts to employ the features of Cole–Cole diagrams as potential indicators for analysing condition of the oil-paper insulation considering distributed relaxation process.

Research into paper-based devices and ionic liquids has increased considerably in the past few years. Thus, the combination of paper-based devices with ionic liquids is also becoming an increasingly frequent research subject. However, the influence of the ionic liquid on the paper properties has been hardly considered. In this paper, the influence of a hydrophobic ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide) on the mechanical properties of laboratory paper, isotropic and oriented, made from eucalyptus sulfate and cotton linters, is investigated. The tensile strength, elastic modulus, and breaking strain of papers saturated with ionic liquid were about 60 to 90% of the dry paper characteristics. In contrast to water, the breaking strain did not increase in the presence of the ionic liquid. This is because the ionic liquid only slightly swelled the fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study concerns a practical approach to survey water sorption properties of ionic liquid ([EMIM]OAc) treated papers with and without chemical crosslinking. Ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]OAc) can be used to transform sulfate pulp paper to regenerated cellulose film-like material. The fusion process increases both the dry and wet strength of the paper, improves oxygen and grease barrier properties, and increases paper transparency. The transformation is brought about by dissolution of the surfaces of the cellulosic fibers followed by precipitation and fusion of the fiber surfaces. Treatment conditions can be adjusted to produce partial dissolution of the fibers resulting in paper-like materials with improved wet-strength, or to achieve substantial or full dissolution resulting in transparent, regenerated cellulose film-like materials. From the industrial feasibility point of view, understanding the water sorption properties of IL-treated paper and the process parameters to control it are crucial. Results show that the treatment makes the paper more sensitive to both liquid water and water vapor, the magnitude depending on the degree of fiber dissolution and restraint of sheet shrinking during the treatment. Decreased water absorption and improved sheet dimensional stability were achieved by use of chemical crosslinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose-fibre lifecycle is severely limited within today's recycling methodology. Feedstock cellulose and filler abound in products considered uneconomic, unsuitable for standard deinking or too weak for original product re-use. Regeneration of cellulose from ionic liquid (IL) solution offers a novel valorisation route with potential to replace oil-based plastics, simultaneously bringing filler-containing cellulose waste into circular economy. To exemplify, composite cellulose-CaCO3 filaments were produced from cellulose pulp and waste office paper (already containing 27 w/w% precipitated CaCO3filler), without any pretreatment, using diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-enium-acetate ([DHBN][OAc]) as IL solvent to form a dope. The dope suspension was extruded via dry-jet wet spinning. Surface morphology and elemental analysis were investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction was used to measure the degree of cellulose crystallinity. Static and dynamic mechanical properties were determined. Thermal stability was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. Filaments obtained from waste office paper showed that high filler levels and the presence of print toner enhanced both mechanical and thermal stability, while decreasing, as expected, ultimate breaking strength in comparison to filaments containing virgin cellulose alone. For comparison, 2 w/w% ground CaCO3 introduced into pure cellulose dope led to significant increase in cellulose crystallinity and resulting stiffness, while thermal properties remained unchanged at the low level filler addition. Such addition of CaCO3 during cellulose regeneration, or usage of already filled paper, could be an effective way to obtain high strength cellulose-CaCO3 composite materials, thus valorising in a circular economy renewable cellulosic wastes rejected from the current recycling stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposable paper cups are usually composed of high-grade paper board and an inner polyethylene coatings and are extensively used in daily life. However, most disposable paper cups are only used for a short time and then incinerated or accumulated in landfill at the end of their service due to the difficulty in separating the components, leading to a serious threat to our ecosystem. Therefore, developing a facile and green method to recycle and reuse disposable paper cups is vital. By using ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AmimCl) as a solvent, transparent and homogenous cellulose/polyethylene composite films were successfully prepared from used bamboo-based disposable paper cups through the "one-pot method", without any pre-treatment. It was found that there was a transformation of cellulose I to II after the dissolution and regeneration processes, and the crystallinity degree of the regenerated cellulose-based materials decreased significantly, resulting in a change in thermal properties. Meanwhile, compared to traditional pure cellulose films, the composite films possessed good UV-shielding properties and hydrophobicity. Moreover, they also displayed good mechanical properties. Additionally, the size of the ground PE coatings displayed obvious effects on the structures and properties of the composite films, where the CPE100 (sieved with 100–200 mesh) possessed the most homogeneous texture and the highest tensile strength (82 Mpa), higher than that of commercial polyethylene film (9–12 MPa), showing superiority as packaging or wrapping materials. Consequently, the goals to fabricate uniform cellulose/polyethylene composite films and valorize the solid waste from disposable paper cups were simultaneously achieved by a facile and green "one-pot method". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste newspapers, composed of cellulose (>60wt%), lignin (∼15wt%), hemicellulose (∼10wt%) and other additives, are one kind of low-cost, easily collected and abundant resources. In order to get value-added products from this waste, in this work an attempt was made to directly convert waste newspapers into cellulose-based films by employing an ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AmimCl) as a solvent. Most of the organic substances in this waste were dissolved quickly in AmimCl under mild conditions, and then coagulated and dried. Although containing lignin, hemicellulose and inorganic additives, the regenerated cellulose-based films were smooth, compact and semi-transparent, and exhibited good mechanical properties. If the newspaper/AmimCl solution was filtered to remove undissolved inorganic substances, the regenerated films became transparent and had a tensile strength of 80MPa. Thus, this work provides a new, simple and highly efficient way to achieve a high-valued utilization of waste newspapers for packaging and wrapping., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Keywords: biomass; carbonization; CO2 cycloaddition; ionic liquids; paper mill sludgeUpcycling Waste BiomassIn article number 2300655, Marcileia Zanatta, Marta C. Corvo, and co‐workers show that, by transforming paper industry waste into porous carbonaceous materials, these materials serve as effective supports in the ionic liquid‐catalyzed cycloaddition of CO2 to styrene oxide, achieving high conversion rates and selectivity..By Mónica Stanton Ribeiro; Maria M. R. A. Lima; Márcia Vilarigues; Marcileia Zanatta and Marta C. CorvoReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

A convenient assembly recently proposed for screen printed gold electrodes (SPEs) suitable for measurements in gaseous samples is here tested for the analysis of the ethanol content in alcoholic drinks. This assembly involves the use of a circular crown of filter paper, soaked in the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, which is simply placed upon a disposable screen printed cell, so as to contact the outer edge of the gold disc working electrode, as well as peripheral counter and reference electrodes. The electrical contact between the paper crown soaked in RTIL and the SPE electrode is assured by a gasket and all components are installed in a polylactic acid holder. This assembly provides a portable and disposable electrochemical platform, assembled by the easy immobilization onto a porous and inexpensive supporting material such as paper of a RTIL characterized by profitable electrical conductivity and negligible vapor pressure. The electroanalytical performance of this device was assayed for the flow injection analysis of the ethanol concentration in some real samples of wine and beer and the results obtained are compared with the alcoholic degree reported in the relevant bottle‐labels, thus highlighting a substantially satisfactory agreement. Repeatable sharp peaks (RSD=6–8 %) were detected for ethanol over a wide linear range (1–20 % v/v in water) and a detection and quantitation limit of 0.55 % v/v and 1.60 % v/v were inferred for a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3 and 10, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stainless steel mesh (SSM) with the feature of flexibility was employed as the colorimetric biosensor substrate, and aptamer was bond onto the surface of the SSM. Through the cross-linking of ionic liquids (ILs), AuPt nanoparticles were deposited  onto the surface of Fe 3 O 4 material to obtain a magnetic nanozyme with high peroxidase catalytic activity and rapid color change. Through the competing interaction of OTA and cDNA with aptamer, AuPt@IL@Fe 3 O 4 signal probe was separated to catalyze the 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine/hydrogen peroxide (TMB/H 2 O 2 ) system to observe the color by bare eye and record the absorbance at 652 nm using a UV-spectrophotometer. Through the study of the catalytic properties on the basis of the Michaelis equation, AuPt@IL@Fe 3 O 4 nanozyme presented a V max of 3.85 × 10 -8 M s -1 and K m of 0.01 mM. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range of the colorimetric biosensor towards OTA was 5-100 ng mL -1 , and the detection limit was 0.078 ng mL -1 . This biosensor was applied to beer and corn samples with recoveries of 70.4-102.6% and 93.3-104.7%, respectively. Results showed that this sensor is a portable, rapid, economical, sensitive visual sensing platform towards mycotoxin in real samples., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

DNA extraction, playing an irreplaceable role in molecular biology as it is an essential step prior to various downstream biological analyses. Thus, the accuracy and reliability of downstream research outcomes depend largely on upstream DNA extraction methodology. However, with the advancement of downstream DNA detection techniques, the development of corresponding DNA extraction methods is lagging behind. The most innovative DNA extraction techniques are silica- or magnetic-based. Recent studies have demonstrated that plant fiber-based adsorbents (PF-BAs) have stronger DNA capturing ability than classic materials. Moreover, magnetic ionic liquid (MIL)-based DNA extraction has gathered attention lately, and extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and microbial community DNA are current research hotspots. These require specific extraction methods, along with constant improvements in the way they are used. This review discusses the significance as well as the direction of innovation of DNA extraction methods to try to provide valuable references including current status and trends for DNA extraction., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Municipal sludge generated from wastewater treatment plants can cause a serious environmental and economic burden. A novel hybrid conditioning strategy was developed to enhance the dewatering performance of sludge, employing 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([C 4 mim][CF 3 SO 3 ]) treatment combined with H 2 SO 4 acidification. Following conditioning, the capillary suction time ( CST normalized ), the specific resistance of filtration (SRF), and moisture content of the treated sludge were decreased to 1.99 ± 0.24 (s·L/g TSS), 1.33 ± 0.05 (10 12  m/kg), and 72.01 ± 0.94%, respectively. The results were superior to those achieved with sludge treated solely by H 2 SO 4 acidification or [C 4 mim][CF 3 SO 3 ] alone. The biomacromolecules within the sludge flocs were dissolved by [C 4 mim][CF 3 SO 3 ], while simultaneously, the microorganisms were inactivated. Consequently, the colloidal-like structures of the sludge flocs were destroyed. Additionally, the ionizable functional groups of the biomacromolecules were instantly protonated by the introduced H + ions, and their negative charges were neutralized during the H 2 SO 4 acidification process. The presence of H + ions promoted the weakening of electrostatic repulsion between the sludge flocs. As a result, an enhancement of sludge dewaterability was obtained after treatment with [C 4 mim][CF 3 SO 3 ] and H 2 SO 4 acidification. The finding of the intensification mechanism of sludge dewaterability brought by hybrid treatment of acidification and [C 4 mim][CF 3 SO 3 ] provides novel insights into the field of sludge disposal., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, ionic liquid treatment for increasing the wet strength of cellulose paper was studied. The effects of treatment conditions with the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) on the wet strength were investigated. First, the [BMIM]Cl (20 g) was melted at 80-100 °C and the paper was immersed in it for 5-60 s. Next, the paper was immersed in ethanol, and finally, it was washed with distilled water. The paper was dried in a hot press at 110 °C and 1.1 MPa for 5 min. The [BMIM]Cl treatment improved the wet strength of the paper. Disintegration of the papers was investigated by immersing them in distilled water, and the paper treated with [BMIM]Cl did not disintegrate. The minimum treatment time required for improvement of the wet strength of the paper was only 5 s. Excess [BMIM]Cl from the original treatment was recovered by vacuum distillation and dehydration was used to treat new paper. This recovered [BMIM]Cl enhanced the wet strength to a level similar to that obtained with the virgin [BMIM]Cl. Therefore, the [BMIM]Cl can be efficiently re-used in this method. The paper treated with [BMIM]Cl will be composed completely of cellulose. Therefore, this method is a viable alternative to treatment by adding chemical such as a polyamideamine epichlorohydrin (PAE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Condensed droplets as buffer materials are used to wet the printer paper surface. • On the wetted paper, the liquid metal changes its state from Cassie's to Wenzel's. • Liquid metal can be smoothly written on wetted printer paper. Abstract Liquid metal (In 75.4 Ga 24.5 , LM) with its high electrical conductivity and flexibility at room temperature, has been gradually introduced into printed electronics. However, the low adhesion effect of LM on the common printer paper may restrict its potential value in reducing cost and expanding use. In this study, the surface property of the printer paper has been modified by a wetting method with a coating of micro-size droplets on the paper surface to realize a smooth writing process using the liquid metal ink. The current strategy is expected to enable future flexible electronic circuits on the hard writing substrates. Graphical abstract Liquid metal on the (a1) dried and (b2) wetted printer papers in (a2) Cassie's and (b2) Wenzel's states, respectively, and (c1, c2) obtained cat-writing results. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variety of applications and expected growth in ionic liquid production are raising concerns about the release of these compounds into aquatic systems. Up to date, 103 studies have provided ecotoxicological data regarding the exposure effects of Ionic Liquids towards aquatic microorganisms and invertebrate species: 61 were devoted to freshwater species (n = 28), while marine species (n = 12) were mentioned in 42. The aim of this review, by gathering published studies on ionic liquids and model aquatic organisms, was to present the toxic effects described in distinct species and to understand which are the main factors influencing the toxicity of some ionic liquids. In accordance with the most recognized pattern, freshwater species were featured in a higher number of publications than marine ones. After literature analysis, algal species were the most represented organisms in aquatic toxicity assessments. Among tested compounds, the imidazolium cations in combination with long alkyl-chain anions, showed to be the most toxic one. In analytical terms, it is not straightforward to find the undissociated compound in a natural compartment, as ionic liquids are composed of ionic components, easily subjected to dissociation. Given the aforementioned, the present review paper points out the need of increasing the number of organisms being assessed in ionic liquids toxicity assays, in order to start defining monitoring procedures. Moreover, such would allow a better understanding of ionic liquids contamination status and, also, the opportunity to remark the effectiveness of new in silico methods for the ecotoxicity assessment of this kind of substances., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Lignocellulosic biomass is available in abundance as a renewable resource, but the major portion of it is often discarded as waste without utilizing its immense potential as an alternative renewable energy resource. To overcome recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass, various pretreatment methods are applied to it, so that the complex and rigid polymeric structure can be broken down into fractions susceptible for enzymatic hydrolysis. Effective and efficient biomass processing is the goal of pretreatment methods, but none of the explored pretreatment methods are versatile enough to fulfil the requirement of biomass processing with greater flexibility in terms of operational cost and desired output efficiency. Deployment of green solvents such as ionic liquids for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass has been a topic of discussion amongst the scientific community in recent times. The presented work provides a detailed overview on the deployment of ionic liquid for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass coupled with a brief discussion on other pretreatments methods. The recyclability and reusability along with other unique properties makes an ionic liquid pretreatment different from the other traditional pretreatment methods. Also, this study explores diverse critical parameters that governs the dissolution process of biomass. Hazardous properties of ionic liquids have also been explored. Future perspective and recommendations have been given for an efficient, effective, and eco-friendly deployment of ionic liquid in biomass pretreatment process., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In continuation of previously reported results, the ionic liquid 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene-1-ium acetate was also found to be a powerful non-derivatizing solvent for cellulosic waste such as paper and cardboard. The ionic liquid could dissolve all the present bio-polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) in high concentrations, resulting in solutions with visco-elastic properties that were suitable for dry-jet wet fiber spinning. The cellulosic raw materials were refined gradually to identify the influence of residual components on the spinnability of the respective solution. Polymer degradation and losses in the spinning process could be avoided nearly entirely. With the exception of virtually unrefined cardboard, all the samples showed excellent spinnability, resulting in fibers with high tensile strength. Prototype textiles were produced to validate the quality of the fibers and demonstrate the possibility of using residual lignin in cardboard as a natural dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A commercially available membrane filter paper composed of mixed cellulose esters bearing typically an interconnected pore structure is transformed into a stimuli-responsive bilayer actuator by depositing a thin film of poly(ionic liquid)-modified graphene oxide sheets (GO-PIL) onto the filter paper. In acetone vapor, the as-synthesized bilayer actuator bends readily into multiple loops at a fast speed with the GO-PIL top film inward. Upon pulling back into air, the actuator recovers its original shape. The asymmetric swelling of the top GO-PIL film and the bottom porous filter paper toward organic vapor offers a favorably synergetic function to drive the actuation. The PIL polymer chains in the hybrid film are proven crucial to enhance the adhesion strength between the GO sheets and the adjacent filter paper to avoid interfacial delamination and thus improve force transfer. The overall construction allows a prolonged lifetime of the bilayer actuator under constant operation, especially when compared to that of the GO/filter paper bilayer actuator without PIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]