Generation and Characterization of Nanobubbles in Ionic Liquid for a Green Extraction of Polyphenols from Carya Cathayensis Sarg

Nanobubbles (NBs) generated-nanojets membrane poration have gained enormous attention. In this study, NBs were fabricated as a novel green approach to assist ionic liquid (IL) [C4C1im][BF4] extraction of polyphenols from Carya cathayensis Sarg. husk. NBs were successfully generated with mean size of 85.47 +/- 5 nm, zeta potential of +39 +/- 2.24 mV, and concentration of 21.15 +/- 0.75 x 108 particles/mL (stable for over 48 h in IL solution). Compared to common solutions extract, IL-NBs extract showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity and polyphenols yields with a total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and total tannins contents of 85.67 +/- 2.05 mg GAE/g DW, 42.44 +/- 1.17 mg CE/g DW, and 8.2 +/- 0.05 mg TAE/g DW, respectively. The SEM results confirmed that NBs' nanojets caused morphological destruction of the husk powder. Overall, IL-NBs solution showed better extraction efficiency of polyphenols than other solutions, giving insight into a new "green" nanotechnology-based extraction method.