| Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), otherwise called as "Molten Salts" or "Designer Solvents" are gaining attention in modern chemistry because of their favorable properties. Unlike the molecular solvents, these solvents are comprised entirely of ions. The properties of RTILs can be modified to a considerable extent by varying the structure of their cation and anion.; This work studies the behavior and new applications of biopolymers, such as complex carbohydrates and proteins, in non-aqueous RTIL media. A variety of RTILs have been synthesized and characterized by using 1H NMR, MS, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The behavior of complex carbohydrates have been studied in RTILs by using various approaches including chemically catalyzed reactions, biocatalyzed reactions, dissolution studies, light scattering experiments, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and biomaterial fabrication. A better understanding of the functions of these biopolymers in RTILs has been attained by employing the above-mentioned approaches.; Other projects involving either RTILs or biopolymers have also undertaken. These include the preparation of blood compatible nanomaterials, synthesis of gold nanorods in RTILs, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) growth on ionic liquids and the preparation of enzyme immobilized CNTs. |
