We have constructed gelatin-based ionogel films at ambient conditions. Choline salicylate, a biobased ionic liquid (IL), has been utilized to induce antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in the film. Up to 100 wt % IL loading has been achieved with respect to gelatin matrix. The constructed films have been characterized for their mechanical strength, thermal stability, optical opacity, surface roughness, and antioxidant activity. The films have shown excellent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and UV shielding properties and have exhibited exceptional mechanical strength. The prepared films were used to test their food packaging abilities using Malus pumila. The film showed excellent food packaging applicability by preventing air-oxidation of Malus pumila.

In order to explore the potential of a biamphiphilic ionic liquid surfactant as an enzyme stabilizer in detergents, we have investigated the structural and functional stability of cellulase upon interaction with 3-methyl-1-octylimidazolium dodecylsulfate, [C8mim][C12OSO3], in aqueous medium at pH 4.8. Adsorption and binding isotherms determined from tensiometry and isothermal titration calorimetry indicated that [C8mim][C12OSO3] interacts with cellulase distinctly at the three critical concentrations, viz., aggregation, C1, saturation, C2, and vesicular, C3. Fluorescence (at λex = 280 nm), far UV-circular dichroism spectra, and dynamic light scattering results have shown that [C8mim][C12OSO3] alters the tertiary and secondary structure of cellulase with a slight initial unfolding in the monomeric regime (up to C1), refolding in the aggregation regime (up to C2), and unfolding in the shared aggregation regimes (below C3) and stabilizes the altered conformation in the post-vesicular regime with an overall variation of hydrodynamic diameter from 4.12 to 7.19 nm. A dinitrosalicylic acid sugar assay test showed excellent functional stability of cellulase with an activity of ≥1 unit/mg in all the concentration regimes. A very good surface activity (J. Phys. Chem. B 2012, 116, 14363) complied by the present results vindicates the candidature of [C8mim][C12OSO3] as a potential alternative of mixed micelles or nonionic surfactants for cellulase stabilization in detergent industries.

Significant research is currently underway to develop environmentally friendly UV-shielding materials. Herein,w eh ave constructed cholinec itrate (a biobased ionic liquid, IL) stabilized homogeneous gelatin-lignin UVshielding films with excellent antimicrobial and mechanical properties. The synthesis procedure of the films is less energy demanding, one pot, and sustainable in nature. Prepared films were characterizedb ym echanical and thermal analysis using UTM and TGA, respectively.A TR-IR andP XRD was employed to explore the possible formation of H-bonding between biopolymers and the IL and the changei nc rys-tallinityi nf ilms after addition of IL to the gelatin-lignin matrix. Surfacemorphology of prepared films has been studied using optical microscope,A FM, and field emissionS EM (FE-SEM). Optical properties of prepared films were measured using UV/Vis spectroscopy.A ntimicrobial activity of the prepared films was tested against Bacilluss ubtilis. Prepared biofilmss howed as un-protection factor (SPF) of up to % 45.0, large elongation % 200 %, and tensile strength % 70 MPa, which are as good as those values exhibited by organic polymeric films, indicating ap romising renewableresources-based material for UV light blocking.

We have investigated the solubility behavior of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum, CaSO 4 •2H 2 O) in aqueous NaCl solutions upon the addition of ammoniumor imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs), viz., ethylammonium lactate (EAL), 1-ethyl-3methyl imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([C 2 mim]HSO 4 ), and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([C 4 mim]HSO 4 ) at 30 °C. The addition of ammonium lactate ILs increased solubility significantly, ∼500%, whereas the addition of imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ILs decreased the solubility by ∼60%. The addition of ILs shifted the solubility maximum of CaSO 4 •2H 2 O toward either higher or lower concentration of NaCl in solution depending on the nature of IL additive. Solution properties such as density (ρ) and speed of sound (u) have been measured for the quaternary systems (CaSO 4 •2H 2 O + NaCl + ILs + H 2 O) at 30 °C. Solution isentropic compressibility (κ S ) has been derived from measurements of u and ρ. Physical and derived properties have been fitted with suitable polynomial equations. Crystal growth formation and surface morphology of CaSO 4 •2H 2 O crystals recrystallized from different aqueous IL solutions have also been examined. IL additives have shown good potential for calcium sulfate scale removal and as calcium sulfate precipitation agent.

There is significant interest in the development of a sustainable and integrated process for the extraction of essential oils and separation of biopolymers by using novel and efficient solvent systems. Herein, cassia essential oil enriched in coumarin is extracted from Cinnamomum cassia bark by using a protic ionic liquid (IL), ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), through dissolution and the creation of a biphasic system with the help of diethyl ether. The process has been perfected, in terms of higher biomass dissolution ability and essential oil yield through the addition of aprotic ILs (based on the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (C mim) cation and chloride or acetate anions) to EAN. After extraction of oil, cellulose-rich material and free lignin were regenerated from biomass-IL solutions by using a 1:1 mixture of acetone-water. The purity of the extracted essential oil and biopolymers were ascertained by means of FTIR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and GC-MS techniques. Because lignin contains UV-blocking chromophores, the oil-free residual lignocellulosic material has been directly utilized to construct UV-light-resistant composite materials in conjunction with the biopolymer chitosan. Composite material thus obtained was processed to form biodegradable films, which were characterized for mechanical and optical properties. The films showed excellent UV-light resistance and mechanical properties, thereby making it a material suitable for packaging and light-sensitive applications.

An integrated approach for valorization of lignin under ambient conditions using a protic and metal based ionic liquid system.

A numerical algorithm is presented for the large-scale optimization of catalyst distribution in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The algorithm is based on the evaluation of catalyst sensitivity functions, which show how much the cell voltage or discharge current are increasing when a small amount of catalyst is added at given locations inside the catalyst layers. The catalyst sensitivity functions are evaluated with relatively low computational cost using an adjoint space approach. Using the proposed algorithm one can compute the exact, optimum, three-dimensional (3-D) distribution of platinum particles inside the catalyst layers in order to maximize the overall power density of the cell. It is shown that the optimum distribution depends on the discharge conditions, on the positions of landings and openings, and on the geometry and dimensions of the layers. In general, the optimum catalyst density in the cathode catalyst layer should be larger at the membrane than at the gas diffusion layer interface. In addition, the catalyst density should be slightly larger under the gas channel and smaller under landings.

The effect of addition of aliphatic alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol) on the dissolution characteristics of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum, CaSO4·2H2O) in brines has been studied at 35 °C. Addition of alcohols decreased the dissolution of CaSO4·2H2O in aqueous NaCl solutions significantly and also shifted its solubility maximum toward a lower concentration of NaCl. We have also recorded the density (ρ) and speed of sound (u) for the quaternary systems (CaSO4·2H2O + NaCl + alcohols + H2O) at 35 °C. Using primary data, we derived the isentropic compressibility (κS) of the solutions. The experimentally determined physical and derived properties have been correlated using polynomial or linear fits using the method of least-squares. The crystal growth behavior and morphology of gypsum cocrystallized with NaCl crystals from different solutions has also been examined. Alcohol additives seem to be an environmentally friendly, low-cost additive to decrease the solubility of gypsum in aqueous systems with or without NaCl.