Influence of Pretreatment Severity Factor and Hammett Acidity on Softwood Fractionation by an Acidic Protic Ionic Liquid.

The impact of pretreatment severity in the acidic protic ionic liquid (IL) ,-dimethylbutylammonium hydrogen sulfate, [DMBA][HSO] using pine softwood was investigated using a modified severity factor that considers the IL solution acidity based on Hammett acidity. A Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to evaluate pretreatment severity with temperature, pretreatment time, and IL concentration as factors and degree of delignification as the response variable. The optimal pretreatment conditions were found to be at 170 °C, 30 min, and 80 wt % IL, which yielded nearly 90% of delignification and 95% of glucose yield in enzymatic saccharification.

Industrial sludge valorization and decontamination via lipid extraction and heavy metals removal using low-cost protic ionic liquid.

Sludge is a heterogenous organic-rich matter that comprise of highly valuable biopolymers along with various contaminants including heavy metals. Sludge valorization as a renewable resource and inexpensive feedstock is key for sludge realization in circular economy context. This study presents the use of low-cost protic ionic liquid (PIL) as an integrated process medium to decontaminate heavy metal contaminated industrial sludge while selectively extract the lipid content.