Two-phase System Research Articles

Synergized enzyme-ultrasound-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction and antioxidant activity validation of polysaccharides from tobacco waste

A powerful and innovative technique was developed to efficiently extract and refine polysaccharides from tobacco waste. This was achieved through a combination of enzyme and ultrasound-assisted extraction assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (EUAATPE). The formation of an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) using various salts and ethanol was investigated. ATPS of 18.0 % (NH4)2SO4 (w/w) and 25.0 % ethanol (w/w) was chosen due to its favorable selection extraction ability and high recovery of 93.68 ± 0.40 %. By utilizing both single-factor experiments and response surface method (RSM), the key factors involved in the EUAATPE process were optimized. The optimal conditions were as follows: ultrasonic power 180 W, ultrasonic time 9 min, cellulase concentration 2.0 %, pectinase concentration 1.0 %, extraction temperature 50 °C, extraction time 1.5 h, and liquid-to-solid ratio 30:1 (g/g). Under the optimal conditions, the extraction yield of polysaccharides was 6.72 ± 0.11 (mg/g), and the purity of the polysaccharides from the bottom phase was 78.73 ± 3.17 %. EUAATPE resulted in a significant enhancement in the extraction yield and purity of polysaccharides from tobacco waste compared to traditional methods such as hot water extraction (HWE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE). Polysaccharides of tobacco waste obtained from various methods had analogous monosaccharide compositions, different molar ratio compositions and surface structure characteristics. Moreover, all polysaccharides exhibited a certain extent antioxidant activities and polysaccharides from the bottom phase (PBP) extracted by EUAATPE showed superior antioxidant activity. Hence, EUAATPE, being an innovative and eco-friendly extraction technique, presents a productive substitute for extracting and refining polysaccharides from discarded tobacco resources.

Purification and recovery of NaCl from epoxy resin waste salt through an integrated process based on aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS)

A substantial amount of waste salt is generated during epoxy resin production, which is accompanied by a high concentration of organic contaminants. This hampers the potential for waste salt reuse, resulting in resource waste. While the direct pyrolysis treatment of epoxy resin waste sodium chloride (NaCl) can remove 99.6 % of the organic contaminants at 550 °C, the treatment cost is relatively high (500 RMB/t). This study proposed a cost-effective, near-zero discharge integrated process for purifying epoxy resin waste salts. Initially, ethanol was introduced into a waste salt solution (300 g/L) to form aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) with salt, and 95.4 % of the total organic carbon (TOC) was efficiently removed. The recrystallized salt obtained from the ATPS treatment was further purified by washing with water (water/salt ratio, 5:8), reducing the TOC to 62.88 mg/kg. Electrolysis evaluation revealed that the voltage of the purified salt treated using the integrated process closely resembled that of the pure salt. This indicated that the purified salt could be utilized as a resource akin to pure salt. Furthermore, compared to direct pyrolysis, the proposed integrated process could reduce the treatment cost to 235 RMB/t and energy consumption by 47.10 %, contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions. Thus, this study proposed a viable method for efficiently separating salt and organic contaminants, enabling the recovery of waste NaCl from epoxy resin production.

ATPSpin: A Single Microfluidic Platform that Produces Diversified ATPS-Alginate Microfibers.

Microfluidic spinning is emerging as a useful technique in the fabrication of alginate fibers, enabling applications in drug screening, disease modeling, and disease diagnostics. In this paper, by capitalizing on the benefits of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) to produce diverse alginate fiber forms, we introduce an ATPS-Spinning platform (ATPSpin). This ATPS-enabled method efficiently circumvents the rapid clogging challenges inherent to traditional fiber production techniques by regulating the interaction between alginate and cross-linking agents like Ba2+ ions. By varying system parameters under the guidance of a regime map, our system produces several fiber forms─solid, hollow, and droplet-filled─consistently and reproducibly from a single device. We demonstrate that the resulting alginate fibers possess distinct features, including biocompatibility. We also encapsulate HEK293 cells in the microfibers as a proof-of-concept that this versatile microfluidic fiber generation platform may have utility in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

3D Printing of Aqueous Two-Phase Systems with Linear and Bottlebrush Polyelectrolytes.

We formed core-shell-like polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) from an anionic bottlebrush polymer with poly (acrylic acid) side chains with a cationic linear poly (allylamine hydrochloride). By varying the pH, the number of side chains of the polyanionic BB polymers (Nbb), the charge density of the polyelectrolytes, and the salt concentration, the phase separation behavior and salt resistance of the complexes could be tuned by the conformation of the BBs. By combining the linear/bottlebrush polyelectrolyte complexation with all-liquid 3D printing, flow-through tubular constructs were produced that showed selective transport across the PEC membrane comprising the walls of the tubules. These tubular constructs afford a new platform for flow-through delivery systems.

Two-Phase Electrosynthesis of Dihydroxycoumestans: Discovery of a New Scaffold for Topoisomerase I Poison.

Coumestan represents a biologically relevant structural motif distributed in a number of natural products, and the rapid construction of related derivatives as well as the characterization of targets would accelerate lead compound discovery in medicinal chemistry. In this work, a general and scalable approach to 8,9-dihydroxycoumestans via two-electrode constant current electrolysis was developed. The application of a two-phase (aqueous/organic) system plays a crucial role for success, protecting the sensitive o-benzoquinone intermediates from over-oxidation. Based on the structurally diverse products, a primary SAR study on coumestan scaffold was completed, and compound 3 r exhibited potent antiproliferative activities and a robust topoisomerase I (Top1) inhibitory activity. Further mechanism studies demonstrates that compound 3 r was a novel Top1 poison, which might open an avenue for the development of Top1-targeted antitumor agent.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenols from lotus rhizome epidermis by alcohol/salt-based aqueous two-phase system: Optimization, extraction mechanism and antioxidant activities

In this study, ultrasonic-assisted (UA) alcohol/salt-based aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) method was constructed to extract lotus rhizome epidermis (LRE) polyphenols. The extraction conditions were optimized as salt concentration 26.75 %, ethanol concentration 25.45 %, ultrasonic power 487 W and liquid–solid ratio 35.33 mL/g by comparing response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models. Then, l-dopa (2.35 ± 0.036 mg/g dw), gallocatechin (1.66 ± 0.0035 mg/g dw) and epigallocatechin (1.37 ± 0.0035 mg/g dw) were determined as major polyphenols in LRE by using UA-ATPS method. Moreover, study showed that ultrasound, van der Waals force, hydrogen bond and salting out could accelerate the mass transfer and extraction of polyphenols in LRE cells. The high-pressure cavity and collapse effect of ultrasound could also accelerate the extraction of polyphenols. In vitro antioxidant experiments showed that LRE polyphenols have good antioxidant ability. In sum, this study developed a green and efficient extraction method to enhance the profitability of LRE in food and medicine industries.

Pickering Emulsions Biocatalysis: Recent Developments and Emerging Trends.

Biocatalysis within biphasic systems is gaining significant attention in the field of synthetic chemistry, primarily for its ability to solve the problem of incompatible solubilities between biocatalysts and organic compounds. By forming an emulsion from these two-phase systems, a larger surface area is created, which greatly improves the mass transfer of substrates to the biocatalysts. Among the various types of emulsions, Pickering emulsions stand out due to their excellent stability, compatibility with biological substances, and the ease with which they can be formed and separated. This makes them ideal for reusing both the emulsifiers and the biocatalysts. This review explores the latest developments in biocatalysis using Pickering emulsions. It covers the structural features, methods of creation, innovations in flow biocatalysis, and the role of interfaces in these processes. Additionally, the challenges and future directions are discussed in combining chemical and biological catalysts within Pickering emulsion frameworks to advance synthetic methodologies.

The Pathologically Evolving Aggregation-State of Cells in Cancerous Tissues as Interpreted by Fractal and Multi-Fractal Dispersion Theory in Saturated Porous Formations.

A recent author's fractal fluid-dynamic dispersion theory in porous media has focused on the derivation of the associated nonergodic (or effective) macrodispersion coefficients by a 3-D stochastic Lagrangian approach. As shown by the present study, the Fickian (i.e., the asymptotic constant) component of a properly normalized version of these coefficients exhibits a clearly detectable minimum in correspondence with the same fractal dimension (d ≅ 1.7) that seems to characterize the diffusion-limited aggregation state of cells in advanced stages of cancerous lesion progression. That circumstance suggests that such a critical fractal dimension, which is also reminiscent of the colloidal state of solutions (and may therefore identify the microscale architecture of both living and non-living two-phase systems in state transition conditions) may actually represent a sort of universal nature imprint. Additionally, it suggests that the closed-form analytical solution that was provided for the effective macrodispersion coefficients in fractal porous media may be a reliable candidate as a physically-based descriptor of blood perfusion dynamics in healthy as well as cancerous tissues. In order to evaluate the biological meaningfulness of this specific fluid-dynamic parameter, a preliminary validation is performed by comparison with the results of imaging-based clinical surveys. Moreover, a multifractal extension of the theory is proposed and discussed in view of a perspective interpretative diagnostic utilization.

Efficient Separation of Re (VII) and Mo (VI) by Extraction Using E-1006–Ammonium Sulfate Aqueous Two-Phase System

Aqueous two-phase extraction (APTE) stands out as an environmentally friendly technique for the separation of metal ions. The separation of Re (VII) and Mo (VI) in an aqueous solution was investigated using a novel aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) consisting of isodecanol polyoxyethylene ether (E-1006), ammonium sulfate, and water. A phase diagram of this system was developed, and the effects of pH, temperature, extraction time, the concentrations of E-1006 and (NH4)2SO4, and metal ions on the separation of Re (VII) and Mo (VI) were examined. The results show that at pH 7.0, Mo (VI) had almost transformed into the (NH4)2SO4-rich phase, while Re (VI) was extracted into the E-1006-rich phase. The increase in temperature induces a transition of Mo (VI) to the salt-rich phase, which is unfavorable for the extraction of Re (VII). The increase in the concentrations of E-1006 and (NH4)2SO4 has a positive effect on the separation of rhenium and molybdenum. Overall, the ATPS consisting of 200 g/L of E-1006, 200 g/L of (NH4)2SO4, and water yields an extraction efficiency of 97.2% for Re and a high separation factor of 2700 for Re (VII) and Mo (VI) from a mixture of 0.1 g/L of Re (VII) and 5 g/L of Mo (VI) at pH 7.0 and 323.15 K. Separation studies of the simulated leaching solution show that the extraction efficiency for Re (VI) is 99.1% and the separation factor of Re (VII) and Mo (VI) is 5100.

Effect of Salt Mixtures on Aqueous Two-Phase System Composed of PEG 35000: Experiment and Correlation

Effect of Salt Mixtures on Aqueous Two-Phase System Composed of PEG 35000: Experiment and Correlation

STUDYING THE INFLUENCE OF NEW COMBINED INHIBITORS ON THE PROCESSES OF CORROSION AND SALT DEPOSITION IN OIL-FIELD EQUIPMENT

Aggressive salts contained in formation waters accelerate the processes of corrosion and salt deposition in oilfield equipment, which leads to unforeseen accidents, contamination of soil and groundwater with harmful substances, as a result of which the ecological balance of the environment is disrupted. Corrosion and scaling that occur during oil production create difficulties during the operation of wells, and, consequently, increase the cost of produced oil.This article covers the results of studies concerning two compositions developed from technical phosphatide - an emulsion obtained by hydration of vegetable oils, as well as sodium hexametaphosphate, ammophos and polypropylene glycol bottoms. When vegetable oils are treated with water and steam (hydration process), the phospholipids contained in the oils combine with water and are released in the form of precipitates called phosphatide emulsions. Such emulsions consist of 45–75 % water, and the rest is phospholipids in the vegetable oil sediment.Technical phosphatides are a group of esters that contain a phosphoric acid residue associated with an amino alcohol. They are natural surfactants and are non-toxic.Preliminary studies have shown that each of the chemical compounds included in the developed reagents has certain inhibitory properties, but when formulated, these compounds provide a synergistic effect.Based on the results of laboratory studies, it was found that at an optimal concentration of reagents of 200 mg/l, the developed compositions provide protection of equipment from corrosion destruction by 94–95 %, and from scaling by 87–88 %. The developed mixed-type inhibitors at optimal concentrations equally effectively inhibit both cathodic and anodic processes on the electrode.The use of these inhibitors leads to the prevention of steel corrosion in the two-phase oil-electrolyte system, as well as to a significant reduction in the rate of scaling.The proposed new compositions can be used in oil wells and in-field transport systems, as well as in reservoir pressure maintenance systems to protect against corrosion and scale deposits.Field tests of the corrosion inhibitor were carried out in deep pumping wells at the Bibieybatneft oil and gas production department. Tests have shown that as a result of using the inhibitor, the protective effect at a concentration of 200 mg/l was 89–90 %, and the effect of salt deposition was 70 %.

Numerical modelling of the effects of permeability contrasts on underground hydrogen storage in sandstone reservoirs

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can balance the divergent variations in seasonal energy demand and energy supply from renewables. Underground hydrogen storage in porous formations, such as depleted gas sandstone reservoirs or saline aquifers, provides the capacities needed for large-scale, long-duration energy balancing. This paper reports on the fundamental behaviour of hydrogen in a model reservoir setup, involving a two-phase (H 2 , water) system and a two well (injector, producer) setup placed at different depths in the reservoir. We specifically focus on the impact of natural heterogeneities, and associated permeability contrasts, on flow and efficacy of hydrogen injection and production. We found that positioning the wells, both injector and producer, at the top of the reservoir facilitates the highest hydrogen production. We also found that permeability contrasts of three to four orders of magnitude significantly affect hydrogen flow; however, factors affecting the pressure gradient also need to be considered. These factors include compartmentalization, the behaviour of co-existing fluids and the localized pressure gradient created by the hydrogen plume. Our research underlines the need to understand the architecture of the whole reservoir, from seismic to sub-seismic scales, not just the zones surrounding the wells and pathways in-between, as this controls capacity, pressure fluctuations and informs operational management decisions. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Hydrogen as a future energy source collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/hydrogen

Salinity and flow pattern independent flow rate measurement in a gas-liquid flow with optimum feature selection and novel detection geometry using ANNs

This paper presents a study on the salinity determination and flow rate estimation in a two-phase air-water system. For this purpose, an automated air-water test loop capable of generating different flow patterns in a horizontal pathway was utilized to do numerous experiments at varying flow rates. A nuclear measuring setup, comprising Cs-137 and Am-241 as radiation sources, one NaI (Tl) scintillation detector to register transmission counts of Cs and three scintillator detectors for registering transmission and scattering counts from Am, was prepared. A pressure drop pipe was also employed for flow rate measurement, with MLPs were selected as the processing element. Notable innovations of this paper can be considered from two perspectives. Firstly, a novel paradigm in nuclear measurement geometry. This novelty uses the benefits of three scintillator detectors to extract features with the maximum potential for classifying and determining salinity. Secondly, there is a new method in data processing and utilizing optimum features to achieve the best performance in predicting flow rates. Results in flow rate prediction independent of salinity and flow regime indicate that the proposed paradigm and method are reliable for using in industrial fields related to multi-phase metering.

Study on the variation regularities of minimum explosion concentration of moist magnesium dust/derived hydrogen hybrids under multiple working conditions

Magnesium is widely used but often accompanied by frequent magnesium powder explosion accidents. If the variation regularity and mechanism of the minimum explosion concentration (cm) of magnesium powder under the multi-factor coupling effect can be understood, the occurrence of magnesium powder explosion accidents can be fundamentally avoided, and intrinsic safety can be achieved. In this paper, experiments were conducted using a self-made 20 L explosion device to explore the effects of particle size, initial temperature, and equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) coupling on the cm of magnesium powder. The study found that an increase in ERH of moist magnesium powder would lead to easier agglomeration of the dust, making it less prone to activation. Additionally, excessive moisture also absorbed more heat, reducing the ignition sensitivity of the dust cloud and resulting in a continuous increase in cm. However, increasing the initial temperature and decreasing the dust particle size both decreased the cm of moist magnesium powder, weakening the effect of ERH on cm. Furthermore, using the analysis methods of orthogonal experimental range and AHP model, it was determined that the influence weights of the factors coupling effects on the cm of magnesium powder, from highest to lowest weight, were: particle size > ERH > initial temperature.Furthermore, in order to deeper understand the mechanism of the action process that affect the cm of moist magnesium powder, additional experiments were conducted to further confirm that the addition of hydrogen derived from the erosion reaction of moist magnesium powder to the explosion system can reduce the cm of magnesium dust clouds. Moreover, a quantitative mathematical model for predicting the cm of magnesium powder/hydrogen two-phase system was also established.

Ultrasonication followed by aqueous two-phase system for extraction, on-site modification and isolation of microalgal starch with reduced digestibility

Microalgae are new and sustainable sources of starch with higher productivity and flexible production modes than conventional terrestrial crops, but the downstream processes need further development. Here, ultrasonication (with power of 200 W or 300 W and duration of 10, 15, 20, or 25 min) was applied to simultaneously extract and modify starch from a marine microalga Tetraselmis subcordiformis for reducing the digestibility, and an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) of ethanol/NaH2PO4 was then used to isolate the starches with varied properties. Increasing ultrasonic duration facilitated the partition of starch into the bottom pellet, while enhancing the ultrasonic power was conducive to the allocation in the interphase of the ATPS. The overall starch recovery yield reached 73 ∼ 87 % and showed no significant difference among the ultrasonic conditions tested. The sequential ultrasonication-ATPS process successfully enriched the starch with purities up to 65 % ∼ 88 %, which was among the top levels reported in microalgal starch isolated. Ultrasonication produced more amylose which was mainly fractionated into the interface of the ATPS. The digestibility of the starch was altered under different ultrasonic conditions and varied from different ATPS phases as well, with the one under the ultrasonic power of 200 W for 15 min at the bottom pellet having the highest resistant starch content (RS, 39.7 %). The structural and compositional analysis evidenced that the ultrasonication-ATPS process could exert impacts on the digestibility through altering the surface roughness and fissures of the starch granules, modulating the impurity compositions (protein and lipid) that could interact with starch, and modifying the long- and short-range ordered structures. The developed ultrasonication-ATPS process provided novel insights into the mechanism and strategy for efficient production of functional starch from microalgae with a potential in industrial application.

Numerical Simulation Study of Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow in a Pressurized Leaching Stirred Tank

The gas-liquid flow and oxygen content in a pressurized leaching stirred tank significantly influence the chemical reaction rates, while the specific dynamics of gas-liquid flow in the sulfuric acid system remain largely unexplored. In this study, a mathematical model of gas-liquid flow within a stirred tank is developed using the Euler-Euler approach, with the turbulence and drag force models being validated against experimental data. Utilizing this validated and reliable model, this study investigates the impacts of the sulfuric acid concentration, baffles, air inlet velocity, and bubble diameter on the flow field and gas holdup in a two-phase system consisting of a sulfuric acid solution and oxygen. The findings indicate that introducing a specific concentration of sulfuric acid decreases the solution velocity and increases the gas holdup within the tank. However, once the sulfuric acid concentration reaches a certain threshold, further increases have a diminished effect on the gas-liquid phases. The installation of baffles enhances the turbulent kinetic energy and increases the gas holdup while only resulting in a minimal 1.2% increase in power consumption. Additionally, the inlet velocity and bubble diameter have a relatively minor impact on the tank’s flow field. However, increasing the inlet velocity significantly boosts the gas holdup, whereas an increase in the bubble diameter marginally reduces it. Furthermore, introducing a sulfuric acid solution into the tank can enhance the gas holdup when the gas inlet velocity is low. Conversely, when the gas inlet velocity is high, the addition of sulfuric acid results in a decrease in the gas holdup. The conclusions from this study contribute to enhancing the mixing effectiveness and oxygen content within the tank, providing a substantial theoretical basis for optimizing the design and operating conditions of pressurized leaching stirred tanks.

Partitioning recombinant chitinase from Nicotiana benthamiana by an aqueous two-phase system based on polyethylene glycol and phosphate salts

The objectives of this study were to purify 42 kDa chitinase derived from Trichoderma asperellum SH16 produced in Nicotiana benthamiana by a polyethylene glycol (PEG)/salt aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). The specific activities of the crude chitinase and the partially purified chitinase from N. benthamiana were about 251 unit/mg and 386 unit/mg, respectively. The study found the 300 g/L PEG 6000 + 200 g/L potassium phosphate (PP) and 300 g/L PEG 6000 + 150 g/L sodium phosphate (SP) systems had the highest partitioning efficiency for each salt in primary extraction. However, among the two types of salt, PP displayed higher efficiency than SP, with a partitioning coefficient K of 4.85 vs. 3.89, a volume ratio V of 2.94 vs. 2.68, and a partitioning yield Y of approximately 95 % vs. 83 %. After back extraction, the enzymatic activity of purified chitinase was up to 834 unit/mg (PP) and 492 unit/mg (SP). The purification factors reached 3.32 (PP) and 1.96 (SP), with recovery yields of about 59 % and 61 %, respectively. SDS-PAGE and zymogram analysis showed that the recombinant chitinase was significantly purified by using ATPS. The purified enzyme exhibited high chitinolytic activity, with the hydrolysis zone's diameter being around 2.5 cm–3 cm. It also dramatically reduced the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii; the colony diameter after treatment with 60 unit of enzyme for 104 spores was only about 1 cm, compared to 3.5 cm in the control. The antifungal effect of chitinase suggests that this enzyme has great potential for applications in agricultural production as well as postharvest fruit and vegetable preservation.

Influences of directional aperture heterogeneity on the performances of two-phase enhanced geothermal system considering the CO2 buoyant force

The technology of Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) using CO2 as working fluid is believed to be a promising method for harnessing geothermal energy, contributing to the reduction of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing the dependency on traditional fossil fuels. Due to the buoyant force of CO2 in water-saturated EGS, the effects of aperture heterogeneity on fluid flow and heat transfer may be directional and differ in the two-phase flow system from the traditional single-phase EGS. In this case, we employed a thermal-hydraulic coupled model, considering a structured fracture geometry to comprehensively investigate the effect of directional distributed aperture combined with buoyant force on the EGS energy performances. The Monte Carlo method is applied to ensure that the simulation results reach statistical equilibrium. Results show that the vertical aperture heterogeneity leads to poorer energy output and carbon sequestration in a two-phase EGS, compared to the horizontal aperture heterogeneity. On the other hand, the negative effects of directional aperture heterogeneity on the total EGS energy output become more significant with the decreasing fracture density. Finally, compared to the EGS using water as the working fluid, those employing CO2 exhibits greater sensitivity to directional aperture heterogeneity for both high and low fracture-density networks due to the buoyant force of CO2.

Reconfigurable aqueous 3D printing with adaptive dual locks.

Using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) for three-dimensional (3D) printed complex structures has attracted considerable attention in the field of biomedicine. In this study, we present an unusual approach to constructing reconfigurable 3D printed structures within an aqueous environment. Inspired by biological systems, we introduce both specific and nonspecific interactions to anchor functionalized nanoparticles to the water-water interface, thereby imparting adaptive dual locks of structural integrity and permeability to the 3D printed liquid structures. Using state-of-the-art in situ liquid-liquid interfacial atomic force microscopy imaging, we successfully demonstrate various morphologies of interfacial films formed at the ATPS interface. In addition, by incorporating d-glucose or sodium alginate into the systems, the dual locks can be easily manipulated. Our study paves a pathway for 3D printing multiresponsive all-aqueous systems with controllable structures and permeability, showing promising implications for the development of smart drug delivery systems and in vivo reactions.

Construction of polyimide composite aerogels via multi-coordination structure of polymer-metal for improving heat-induced shrinkage, thermal insulation, mechanical and dielectric properties

The fabrication of polyimide (PI) composite aerogels can promote and optimize the characteristics and performance efficiency. But in fact, interface effect and assembly technique are the key problems in preparing PI composite aerogels. To settle this critical issue, a series of PI composite aerogels were designed via forming multi-coordination structure between PI molecular chain and Cu(II) metal ions. Multi-coordination structure connects the two-phase systems closely to obtain the improved comprehensive performances. The resulting PI composite aerogels still have high specific surface and mesoporous structure. The addition of Cu(II) improves the thermal and mechanical properties of the PI composite aerogels with an over 581 °C initial decomposition temperature, tensile strength of up to 9.48 MPa and modulus of up to 232.4 Mpa，along with compression Young’s modulus increased by 173% (up to 28.7 MPa) and stress at 10% strain improved by 150% (up to 1.70 Mpa). In the meantime, the brilliantly controllable dielectric property (with the dielectric constant down to 1.60 and the dielectric loss reaching 0.0171 at 10 MHz) and thermal insulation property (with the thermal conductivity down to 31.9 mWm−1K−1) of PI composite aerogels make them can be used as low dielectric and thermal protection materials. The small heat-induced shrinkage between 100 and 250 °C allows the PI composite aerogels to operate in persistent extreme conditions. Besides, this work can provide a new strategy for preparing PI composite aerogels.