Patent ID: 10233261

Abstract:
A method of making natural polymer (nano)particles, comprises two immiscible phases and a surface active agent, wherein one phase includes a natural polymer source and ionic liquid; stirring the combined phases with surfactant to form a microemulsion; adjusting the ratios of ionic liquid, surfactant, and immiscible phase to determine a particular size of natural polymer nanoparticles; stirring antisolvent into the emulsion; diluting the emulsion; and washing and drying precipitated polymer (nano)particles from the emulsion. The immiscible phase comprises at least one of immiscible solvent, oil, or immiscible ionic liquid. The ionic liquid phase includes natural polymer dissolved in ionic solvent. The antisolvent is water, other protic solvent or additive. The emulsion is diluted with, more immiscible phase, 1-butanol, or a mutually miscible solvent, or oil. The emulsion is diluted with an excess of the volume of the emulsion. The precipitated polymer (nano)particles are washed (sequentially) with 1-butanol and water.