Imidazolium based ionic liquids modified polysaccharides for adsorption and solid-phase extraction applications: A review

Attempt to broaden the application of ionic liquids (ILs) towards synthesis and modification of polysaccharides as adsorbent have gained more attention in the last two decades. This development has been aimed mainly on the use of environmentally friendly chemicals for improving the physical, chemical and adsorptive features of polysaccharides-based adsorbents for various applications. In the build-up to improve the polysaccharides-based adsorbents' characteristics through modification, ILs have been utilised by researcher either as a solvent medium or as a component of the modified natural polymer-based adsorbent. Findings revealed that the imidazolium-based ILs have been the prominent ILs type utilised for polysaccharides modification owing to its ease of preparation and its solvation capability for most commonly applied natural polymer. This review uniquely summarised the trend in the use of imidazolium based ILs to improve the adsorptive features of various polysaccharides adsorbents for adsorption and solid-phase extraction applications.