The primary aims of this best practice article are to provide a laboratory perspective of the merits and pitfalls of different markers currently in use in UK National Health Service (NHS) hospital laboratories, and how best these tests can be used for the detection of heavy (harmful) alcohol consumption. Included are suggested testing algorithms for carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), ethyl glucuronide (EtG), ethyl sulphate (EtS) and phosphatidylethanol (PEth16:0/18:1), for the purpose of creating suitable bench-to-bedside alcohol services in support of the delivery of hospital alcohol strategy, and the NHS long-term health plan.

Determining the concentration of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), ethyl sulfate (EtS), and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is crucial for establishing the true scale of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and enabling early diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This study primarily aimed to compare two detection methods: retrospective maternal alcohol consumption surveys and chromatographic analysis of newborn meconium. Among 478 mothers, parallel survey data and meconium samples were collected. Nine FAEEs were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and EtG and EtS by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The study also aimed to establish marker cut-offs and evaluate their clinical utility. While only 4% (approximately) of mothers reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the biomarker analysis suggested a significant underestimation of the actual PAE scale, highlighting the limitations of self-reported data. Analysis using the cumulative biomarker index for two biomarkers with a threshold of ≥5 indicated that alcohol consumption affected approximately 3% of the studied population, further demonstrating the low reliability of maternal self-reports. Ultimately, this study confirms that the combined EtG and EtS measurements provide the most reliable diagnostic information for PAE and underscores the necessity of objective meconium screening in clinical practice.

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulphate (EtS) are non-oxidative metabolites of ethanol, valuable as biomarkers of alcohol consumption in forensic and clinical contexts. This study aims to calculate the elimination half-lives (t₁/₂) of EtG and EtS in apprehended drivers based on two consecutive blood samples, enhancing the reliability of forensic alcohol consumption assessments. Data was extracted from a database including apprehended drivers in Norway from 2019 to 2024. The study included suspected drunk drivers in which ethanol, EtG and EtS were detected in two consecutive blood samples, drawn at least 20 min apart. In cases where the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was at or below 0.20 g/kg, in at least one sample, the t₁/₂ was estimated using both empirical and Bayesian statistical methods. In 670 cases, ethanol, EtG and EtS were detected in two consecutive samples. In 20 of these, the BAC was below 0.20 g/kg. In these 20 cases, the median time between blood samples was 0.46 h. The empirical calculations of t₁/₂ for cases with declining EtG and EtS concentrations yielded a median of 2.6 h for EtG and 2.4 h for EtS. A strong positive correlation was found between empirical t₁/₂ of EtG and EtS (rs=0.81, p < 0.001). The t₁/₂ values for EtG and EtS in apprehended drivers are comparable to those reported in experimental studies. The findings contribute to forensic alcohol assessments and legal expert reports. Additional research is needed to investigate EtG and EtS elimination kinetics in real-life impaired driving scenarios.

Organosulfates (OS) are emerging as a prominent secondary organic aerosol component, which can significantly alter the physicochemical properties and thus broader impacts of atmospheric aerosols. Despite their importance, OS-containing mixtures have yet to be studied using a detailed thermodynamic model which can account for the nonideal mixing among all species. In this work, we have extended the Aerosol Inorganic-Organic Mixtures Functional groups Activity Coefficients (AIOMFAC) model, a robust thermodynamic model that predicts activity coefficients in aerosol mixtures, to support OS-containing mixtures, including solving for the partial dissociation of OS. Simultaneously, we have extended AIOMFAC to support the partial dissociation of dicarboxylic acids (DA). DA are a prevalent class of compounds in tropospheric aerosols, whose pH-dependent dissociation can significantly impact aerosol physicochemical properties. We show that, for simple OS-containing and DA-containing systems, AIOMFAC is able to predict water activity and acidity (pH) behaviors that are physically reasonable and agree well with measurements, including new water activity and pH measurements performed for this study. To date, partial dissociation support in AIOMFAC is limited to select OS (methyl sulfate, ethyl sulfate, isoprene-OS-3, and isoprene-OS-4) and select DA (malonic acid, succinic acid, and glutaric acid) in simple single-phase mixtures. However, as more thermodynamic data become available, AIOMFAC's treatment of organic acids can be further refined and expanded, enabling it to predict how the partial dissociation of organic acids affects the physicochemical properties of realistic multicomponent, multiphase aerosol systems.

Postmortem correlation of ethanol and minor metabolites ethylglucuronide and ethylsulfate in blood, vitreous humor and bile.

Flexible, skin-conformable electrodes require materials that combine mechanical robustness, environmental stability, high electrical performance, and biocompatibility. Here, we present a flexible conductive composite film composed of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), cellulose nanofibers (CNF), and the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate (EMIM ES). The composite is fabricated via a simple aqueous blending and filtration process, yielding a free-standing film with a robust fibrous microstructure. ATR-FTIR analysis confirms the successful integration of all components, while SEM imaging reveals a percolated nanofibrillar architecture that enhances interfacial adhesion and structural integrity. Mechanical testing reveals a tensile strength of up to 335 MPa, accompanied by a strain of 21%, attributed to the increasing CNF content. Composite films with low CNF content exhibit excellent electrical stability across humidity levels between 10% and 90% and temperatures of 15-55 °C, and maintain electrochemical performance after 100,000 cycles of mechanical fatigue testing. On-skin electrophysiological recordings from a rodent model demonstrate stable signal acquisition without skin irritation, establishing the hybrid films as a promising platform for soft, wearable bioelectronic interfaces.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effect of cross‐linker content in tailoring the structure–property correlation of a robust polymeric ionogel for acoustic sensor application. Ionogels are synthesized by incorporating 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium ethyl sulfate [EMIM][EtSO 4 ] inside an acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide copolymer (PAA‐co‐PAAm). Further, the influence of cross‐linker N, N′ ‐methylene bisacrylamide (MBAA) on various key properties required for ionogel to act as an acoustic sensor is studied by varying the concentration from 0.1 to 2 mol% relative to the monomer concentration. The formation of stable polymer‐ionic liquid networks is confirmed using FTIR, DSC, and TGA. Higher cross‐link density enhances thermal stability, environmental stability, and hardness, while decreasing the water absorption. The systematic constriction of the polymeric network, achieved by increasing MBAA, is quantified by determining cross‐link density and microstructural parameters via rheological analysis. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies suggest that increased cross‐link density elevated the bulk resistance (78–182 Ω), lowered the electrical double layer (EDL) capacitance (0.096–0.045 μF/cm 2 at 1 kHz), and ionic conductivity (1.0 × 10 −3 to 4.4 × 10 −4 S/cm). Frequency‐dependent capacitance profiles show stronger drop‐downs at lower frequencies for loose polymer networks formed at low cross‐link density, revealing their enhanced ionic mobility and interfacial charging. Further, in this study, an ionogel acoustic sensor is fabricated, which detected acoustic signals in all the applied frequencies (1–10 kHz). Thus, this work is a novel attempt that highlights the solemn role of cross‐link density in governing the electrochemical responsiveness of an ionogel and presents the potential of ionogel‐based highly sensitive, futuristic, flexible conformal acoustic sensors.

Forensic implications of ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate pharmacokinetics in Japanese adults: the influence of dose, genetic polymorphisms, and habitual alcohol consumption.

Abstract Modern HVAC decarbonization demands working fluids that can operate efficiently with low-grade thermal energy, reducing reliance on compressor-driven, high-GWP vapor compression systems. This work investigates a single-effect absorption chiller using a hybrid refrigerant–absorbent system, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate (LiBr + [EMIM][ESO 4 ]/ethanol), benchmarked against conventional LiBr/H 2 O absorption and an R410A vapor-compression baseline, each designed for the same cooling capacity. Unlike the traditional LiBr/H 2 O pair, which typically requires generator temperatures (Tg) of 80°C–90°C, the proposed ternary mixture achieves stable operation at substantially lower driving temperatures (50°C–65°C) while sustaining superior performance. At Tg = 50 °C, the system attains a COP about 15% higher than LiBr/H 2 O. Over a 30-year lifetime, the elimination of compressor electricity demand relative to R410A translates into nearly half the total climate impact, with the Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) cut by 47%. Sensitivity analysis indicates an optimal operating window of Tg 45°C–55°C with weak-solution concentrations of 52.7%–55%. These results highlight the novelty of the LiBr + [EMIM][ESO 4 ]/ethanol pair: enabling absorption cooling to transition from high-grade thermal input to low-grade sources such as solar thermal or industrial waste heat, while achieving higher COPs than conventional refrigerants. Although simulation-based, the findings motivate experimental studies to verify vapor–liquid equilibrium, viscosity, and stability of the mixture, as well as safety protocols addressing ethanol flammability. The techno-economic analysis indicates that competitive payback is achievable only when both abundant low-grade heat is available and electricity tariffs are elevated; outside these conditions, the economic viability remains limited. Collectively, this positions the proposed ternary pair as a promising pathway for low-temperature, low-carbon cooling, contingent on experimental validation.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is considered as an attractive polymer due to its renewable origin, biodegradability, and promising tensile strength and modulus. However, its inherent brittleness, characterized by a low impact resistance and elongation at break, can significantly restrict its application. This work proposes a new insight to improve the toughness of PLA while keeping its biocompatibility by incorporating two biocompatible ionic liquids (ILs), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ([emim][EtSO4]), and tris(2-hydroxyethyl) methylammonium methylsulfate ([Tris][MeSO4]). The modified PLA systems were thoroughly characterized to evaluate their mechanical and thermal behavior. Results demonstrated that the addition of 1 wt% of either IL resulted in significant improvement in modulus. Increasing the amount of IL resulted in an increase in the toughness while maintaining the material’s original stiffness and also the thermal stability. Furthermore, the foaming potential of the modified PLA using supercritical CO2 was investigated as an environmentally friendly processing method. The ionic liquids contributed positively to the foamability of the material, suggesting improved gas solubility and cell nucleation during the foaming process. The addition of both IL decreased the cell size and resulted in narrower cell size distribution. These findings highlight the potential of ionic liquid-modified PLA systems for the processing of lightweight, and high-performance packaging materials.

Abstract. Organosulfate (OS) surfactants can influence cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation and hygroscopic growth by reducing the surface tension of aerosol particles. We investigate the surface tension and hygroscopicity of aerosols containing short- and long-chain OSs in supersaturated aqueous droplets using an electrodeformation method coupled with Raman spectroscopy. For droplets containing short-chain OSs, the surface tension decreases as relative humidity (RH) decreases, even under dry and highly viscous conditions. Sodium ethyl sulfate (SES) lowered surface tension to approximately 30 mN m−1, a value lower than that of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at its critical micelle concentration. We also studied ternary systems containing OSs with citric acid (CA) or sodium chloride (NaCl). Even small amounts of SDS, with a molar ratio of 10−3 relative to CA, reduce surface tension by up to 40 % at low RH compared to CA alone. Despite strong surface tension reduction, ternary OS–CA–water systems show hygroscopicity nearly identical to binary CA–water systems, suggesting that surface tension does not influence water uptake under subsaturated conditions. Ternary systems containing NaCl and OS undergo efflorescence at 47 % RH, but the crystallized NaCl becomes partially engulfed. If the RH is subsequently increased, the particle takes up water. At the deliquescence point (72 % RH), the particle becomes homogeneous again. These findings improve our understanding of particle growth and cloud drop formation processes, which influence cloud properties like albedo and lifetime.

Unlocking the potential of ionic liquid assisted fractionation of grapevine shoots for efficient fermentable sugar production and lignin recovery.

Ecotoxicological risk and seasonal removal of licit and illicit drugs in wastewater treatment plants: A comparison of secondary and tertiary processes.

Charge transfer and dissipation at the ionic liquid (IL) Taylor cone–vacuum interface critically govern IL electrospray performance, yet remain poorly understood. This study employs the all-atom molecular dynamics method to investigate time-resolved 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate electrospray behavior and electric field regulation of interfacial charge dynamics. Key findings reveal that increasing electric field strength accelerates Taylor cone formation, extends jet length, and elevates cluster emission proportions—with dimers and larger clusters exceeding 60% at 1.4 V/nm. The average emission current increases from 11.8 to 51.5 nA with field strength, while the specific impulse peaks at 612.18 s at 1.3 V/nm before declining at 1.4 V/nm due to intensified cluster interactions. Under constant-polarity fields, emission processes undergo three distinct stages: monomer emission (stage 1), cluster emission (stage 2), and termination. Stage 1 exhibits increasing current and 23% higher average specific impulse than stage 2, where elevated large-cluster proportions reduce charge-to-mass ratios. Surface charge density decay rates increase monotonically with field strength, resulting in accelerated charge depletion at higher fields. After positive-field emission, immediately applying a negative electric field (−0.2 V/nm) can induce the emission of large droplets and anion clusters. In the subsequent cycle, positive fields successfully reignite cation emission but with diminished currents. This work establishes the fundamental stepwise IL ion emission mechanisms, providing theoretical foundations for the IL electrospray optimization.

Stabilization of nanoparticle (NP) dispersions in ionic liquids (ILs) is essential for a range of applications including catalysis, solar power harvesting, and novel technologies like liquid mirrors for space telescopes. Stabilizing these dispersions is particularly challenging as the agglomerated state is thermodynamically more stable than the dispersed state, resulting in a natural tendency to aggregate. However, kinetic stabilization can be achieved by fine-tuning the molecular interactions within the IL and at the IL-NP interface. In this study, using all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we explore these interactions for 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate ([EMIM][ESO4]) IL with silver (Ag) NPs. We show that the imidazolium ring of the cation and the sulfur headgroup of the anion adsorb preferentially on the NP surface forming solvation layers. In particular, the [EMIM] cation closer to the NPs is oriented parallel to the surface, while the [ESO4] ions are oriented perpendicular, with the cation adsorbing slightly stronger than the anion. Additionally, we found that smaller NPs with a higher surface area-to-volume ratio slow down the translational motion of the ions. The predicted potential of mean force for aggregation explicitly highlighted the existence of the potential barrier. For example, the kinetic barrier of ∼ 60 kJ/mol was observed preventing the aggregation of 1.5 nm diameter AgNPs. These findings highlight dispersion characteristics, such as the interaction strength and the particle size, as tunable parameters for introducing kinetic barriers to agglomeration and stabilizing the dispersion. Such studies are crucial for tailoring ILs to specific applications, enabling precise exploration of their vast design space.

Present research work examines the physicochemical interactions of calcium propionate (a widely used food preservative) with two different imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) i.e. 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulphate ([C₂mim][EtSO₄]) and 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C₄mim][Cl]) in aqueous systems. Measurements were conducted across three molal concentrations (0.05, 0.10, 0.15 mol kg⁻¹) of the ILs, spanning a temperature range of 293.15 to 313.15 K at p = 0.1 MPa. Viscosity and refractive index measurements were used to probe molecular interactions as a function of temperature and concentration. The resulting data were analyzed to determine key parameters, viscosity coefficients {Falkenhagen coefficient (A), Jones-Dole coefficient (B)}, viscosity B-coefficients of transfer (ΔtrB) and dB/dT values. The obtained data definitively suggest effective solute-cosolute interactions between calcium propionate and the aqueous ionic liquid media. Notably, the positive ΔtrB values indicate that calcium propionate interacts more strongly in the IL-water mixtures than in pure water. Furthermore, the positive dB/dT values inferred a structure-breaking (chaotropic) effect of the media on the solvent structure. These comprehensive physicochemical insights are vital for formulating more effective hybrid preservative systems and advancing the role of these materials in green chemistry applications.

Abstract Flexible sensing materials have garnered significant attention due to their application value in fields such as wearable electronics and medical monitoring. However, achieving a balance between mechanical performance and sensing performance remains a major challenge. Inspired by the vein network structure of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and their ability to transmit electrical signals under mechanical stimulation, N, N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), acrylamide (AM), and 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate (EMIES) are introduced into a cellulose network skeleton, successfully preparing the microphase‐separated conductive ionogel through copolymerization. The solubility differences of polymer segments in ionic liquids induce microphase separation, while the spatial confinement effect of the cellulose skeleton regulated the growth and distribution of the microphase structure. The obtained ionogel exhibits excellent tensile strength (2.37 MPa) and toughness (4.27 MJ m −3 ). Meanwhile, the cellulose network structure positively contributes to ion transport ( σ EP 3 C 5 = 0.72 mS cm −1 ). The flexible sensor based on the EMIES/P(DMAA‐AM)/cellulose ionogel features a rapid response time (125 ms), good cycling stability, and environmental adaptability, enabling real‐time monitoring of human joint movements and facilitating human‐computer interaction. This spatial confinement strategy achieves synergistic enhancement of the mechanical properties and conductivity of ionogels, providing innovative insights for the design and application of high‐performance flexible sensors.

The first wastewater-based epidemiology study for alcohol monitoring in Cyprus: Temporal and spatial consumption trends from a one-year study.

BackgroundPhosphatidylethanol (PEth), ethyl glucuronide (EtG), and ethyl sulphate (EtS) are highly sensitive and specific biomarkers of alcohol intake. This study investigated their application and relationship to traditional self‐report measures in a mixed cohort of liver disease patients to guide decision making in liver transplant populations.MethodsWe recruited 183 participants (mean age 49.2 years, 62% male), with N = 99 liver disease (88% alcohol‐associated liver disease [ALD]), N = 35 alcohol use disorder (AUD), and N = 49 healthy volunteers. Patient‐reported alcohol intake and AUDIT score served as references and were compared to traditional biomarkers, PEth and serum EtG/EtS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and a range of biomarker cutoffs were examined to determine optimal test characteristics. A subset of blood samples modified to a standardized hematocrit analyzed the relationship between hematocrit and PEth.ResultsCompared to traditional biomarkers, both PEth and EtG were sensitive and specific for alcohol intake. At the limit of detection (LOD), PEth was 95% sensitive at detecting any drinking. PEth cutoff of 300 μg/L was 86% sensitive and 92% specific for “heavy drinking,” and 600 μg/L was 88% sensitive and specific for “very heavy drinking.” PEth displayed superior test characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and AUC) to all measured traditional biomarkers over two‐day and one‐month time frames. A subset of participants suspected of drinking but reporting abstinence had positive PEth tests (35%), suggestive of unreported drinking. PEth was positively correlated with hematocrit (r2 = 0.83, p < 0.01) and correction to a standardized median resulted in increases in PEth concentration in most cases.ConclusionsPEth is clinically useful as an alcohol biomarker in patients with liver disease and is superior to traditional biomarkers, providing good test characteristics for “heavy” and “very heavy” drinking using stepwise cutoffs. PEth detected a subset of patients underreporting their alcohol use, with implications for the management of patients in liver transplant clinics.

Alcohol consumption is widespread worldwide and a leading cause of injuries, morbidity, and mortality. Accurately detecting alcohol use with reliable biomarkers is crucial in clinical and forensic settings. Direct alcohol biomarkers, i.e., ethanol (EtOH), ethyl glucuronide (EtG), ethyl sulphate (EtS), phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 (PEth) reflect short- and long-term consumption. Nevertheless, complementary biomarkers with improved specificity and sensitivity are needed to better assess alcohol use, including generating a detailed timeline of consumption. Invitro exposure of HepaRG liver cells to EtOH resulted in the generation of ethylated phosphorylcholine (EtOChoP). This is the first study to investigate the invivo presence of EtOChoP and its occurrence in medico-legal samples. Proof-of-concept and observational studies assessed EtOChoP, PEth, EtG, EtS, and EtOH in whole blood, and, when available, other matrices were analyzed for EtG, EtS (plasma, serum, urine, hair), EtOH (urine), and EtOChoP (plasma, serum). A single alcohol exposure event (0.5 g/kg EtOH, with blood EtOH concentration peaking at 0.76 g/L at 100 min) led to EtOChoP presence, and, similar to short-term biomarkers (e.g., EtOH, EtG, and EtS in whole blood), EtOChoP was not detected in the following day(s). However, in the observational study, EtOChoP remained detectable even when short-term biomarkers were absent, resembling long-term biomarkers (PEth and hair EtG). Notably, 14% of samples were positive only for EtOChoP, highlighting the need for additional biomarkers. These findings identify EtOChoP as a promising alcohol (ab)use biomarker formed after EtOH consumption and possibly accumulating during chronic drinking. EtOChoP could potentially differentiate between recent drinking and chronic problematic drinking in individuals with high PEth levels.