Enlargement of cationic alkyl polyglycoside micelles by ionic liquid

The effect of ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BmimPF6) on the micelles formed from cationic alkyl polyglycoside (CAPG), which is derived from renewable material, was studied by solubilization determination, UV–vis spectra, electrical conductivity and Freeze-fracture electron microscopy (FFEM). It was found that addition of small amount of the IL could enlarge the micelles significantly, which enhances the solubilization ability of the micelles considerably. The application of the IL-enlarged CAPG micelles in synthesis of nanomaterial and extraction of cholesterol was studied. It demonstrated that hollow silica spheres were formed in the presence of the IL. In addition, the extraction efficiency for cholesterol using CAPG micelles could be enhanced considerably by the addition of IL.