Ethanol-water Mixtures Research Articles

Role of solvent on morphology and photoluminescence property of ZnO nano rods synthesized by hydrothermal method

Zinc oxide nano rods are synthesized by hydrothermal method. X ray diffraction studies confirm that the synthesized ZnO exhibited hexagonal wurtzite structure. The crystallite size is found to be 35 nm and 29 nm for the sample prepared from water-ethanol solvent mixture and water respectively. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images confirms that ZnO samples prepared from water solvent are nano rods, whereas samples prepared from ethanol-water mixture are agglomerated. Photoluminescence (PL) emission of the ZnO nano particles prepared from water solvent with peaks at 414 nm, 442 nm and broad emission at 555 nm. The sample prepared from ethanol-water mixture solvent exhibit broad emission at 500 nm.

Deposition of thin layers of CZTS by sol-gel route via spin-coating

This work focuses on the development of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films by chemical sol gel via spin-coating for photovoltaic applications. CZTS thin films were developed using metal salts of copper II chloride dihydrate (CuCl2, 2H2O), zinc(II) chloride (ZnCl2), tin II chloride dihydrate (SnCl2, 2H2O), and thiourea (CS(NH2)2) respectively as precursors of copper, zinc, tin and sulphur dissolved in a solvent consisting of a mixture of ethanol and distilled water (30 % ethanol and 70% water). Monoethanolamine (MEA) was used as a stabilising agent. The characterisation techniques used were X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis). DRX analysis shows that the samples possess the CZTS kesterite phase with a preferential orientation in the (112) direction. This result is confirmed by the Raman spectrum of the samples. Optical characterisation indicates that the layers have a relatively high absorption coefficient (greater than 104 cm−1) in the visible spectrum with a gap energy equal to or close to the optimum value of 1.5 eV.These kesterite-type CZTS samples with good structural and optical properties are likely to fulfil sought-after functionalities as absorber layers for photovoltaic applications.

Sustainable Valorization of Industrial Cherry Pomace: A Novel Cascade Approach Using Pulsed Electric Fields and Ultrasound Assisted-Extraction.

In this study, a two-stage cascade extraction process utilizing pulsed electric fields (PEF) (3 kV/cm, 10 kJ/kg) for initial extraction, followed by ultrasound (US) (200 W, 20 min)-assisted extraction (UAE) in a 50% (v/v) ethanol-water mixture (T = 50 °C, t = 60 min), was designed for the efficient release of valuable intracellular compounds from industrial cherry pomace. The extracted compounds were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (FC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant activity (FRAP), and were compared with conventional solid-liquid extraction (SLE). Results showed that the highest release of bioactive compounds occurred in the first stage, which was attributed to the impact of PEF pre-treatment, resulting in significant increases in TPC (79%), FC (79%), TAC (83%), and FRAP values (80%) of the total content observed in the post-cascade PEF-UAE process. The integration of UAE into the cascade process further augmented the extraction efficiency, yielding 21%, 49%, 56%, and 26% increases for TPC, FC, TAC, and FRAP, respectively, as compared to extracts obtained through a second-stage conventional SLE. HPLC analysis identified neochlorogenic acid, 4-p-coumaroylquinic, and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside as the predominant phenolic compounds in both untreated and cascade-treated cherry pomace extracts, and no degradation of the specific compounds occurred upon PEF and US application. SEM analysis revealed microstructural changes in cherry pomace induced by PEF and UAE treatments, enhancing the porosity and facilitating the extraction process. The study suggests the efficiency of the proposed cascade PEF-UAE extraction approach for phenolic compounds from industrial cherry pomace with potential applications to other plant-based biomasses.

Halloysite Nanotube (HNT) Dispersion Stability in 10% Ethanol-Water Mixture and Water

This study investigates Halloysite Nanotube (HNT) dispersibility in ethanol-water mixtures – 0% and 10% ethanol at 100, 300, and 500 ppm HNT concentrations. Overall, the study finds that changes in HNT concentration linearly affect the response variables and showed that the 10% ethanol solvent has a higher zeta potential, smaller particle size, higher viscosity, and settling velocity. The enlargement of HNT particles at 10% ethanol while keeping better stability than water solvent is unexpected and can open novel studies about the dispersion of HNT in this solvent system.

A Comprehensive Study on Folate-Targeted Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with 5-Fluorouracil for the Enhanced Treatment of Gynecological Cancers.

Gynecological cancers are a significant public health concern, accounting for 40% of all cancer incidence and 30% of deaths in women. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) can be used with chemotherapy to improve treatment in advanced-stage gynecological cancer. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) can improve drug effectiveness and reduce toxicity. Folic acid can target folate receptors in epithelial malignancies like ovarian and cervical cancer. The mixture of MSN-NH2 was synthesized by dissolving N-lauroylsarcosine sodium in a water-ethanol mixture, adding APTES and TEOS, and heating at 80 °C for 18 h, before being fully characterized. The drug is loaded into a 5-FU solution and functionalized with folate. The drug release mechanism, as well as ex vivo intestinal permeation from MSN-NH2 formulations, was tested. The cell viability study of the nanoparticles was evaluated in various cancer cell lines, and the cellular uptake was measured indirectly using HPLC. The study analyzed the amine content, propylamine loading, and drug loading capacity of MSN-NH2 nanoparticles. It found that the loading of propylamine was around 0.733 mmol/g, and the surface density was 0.81 molecules/nm. The study also showed that the surface decoration of MSN-NH2 with folic acid was successfully achieved. The release rate of 5-FU from MSN-NH2 was slow and controlled, with a slower rate at pH 5.5. The study found that the amin surface functionalization of MSN-NH2 nanoparticles can reduce potential toxicity in ovarian and cervical cancer cells. Based on the results, the encapsulation of 5-FU and functionalization of MSN-NH2 with folic acid can serve as potential carriers for 5-FU in treating gynecological cancer.

Impact of sodium polystyrene sulfonate on micellization behaviour of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in the presence of methyl red in ethanol–water mixture: A conductometric investigation

The triple interaction between dyes, surfactants, and polyelectrolytes is entirely novel and of great research interest due to their potential applications in various fields. In this work, we explored the impact of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (NaPSS) on the micellization behavior of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in the presence of methyl red (MR) varying ethanol volume fraction (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) and temperatures (298.15, 308.15, and 318.15 K) by conductometric approach. From conductivity plots, we determined critical aggregation concentration (CAC), apparent critical micelle concentration (CMC*), and degree of counter ion dissociation (α) for the CTAB-NaPSS and MR-CTAB-NaPSS systems, and the CMC*, CAC, and α values in the presence of the dye for the MR-NaPSS-CTAB system decrease as compared to the NaPSS-CTAB. The CAC, CMC*, and α values obtained, however, increase with increasing temperature and the volume fraction of ethanol. Therefore, the order of CMC* and CAC determined from conductivity data for ethanol–water is (CMC*)0.3>(CMC*)0.2>(CMC*)0.1>(CMC*)water, (CAC)0.3>(CAC)0.2>(CAC)0.1>(CAC)water, and with temperature: (CAC)318.15>(CAC)308.15> (CAC)298.15 and (CMC*)318.15>(CMC*)308.15>(CMC*)298.15. Further, we also determined thermodynamic parameters like the standard free energy change of micellization (ΔGm0), the standard free energy change of binding (ΔGb0), the standard enthalpy change of micellization (ΔHm0), the standard entropy change of micellization (ΔSm)0, the standard free energy change of bound micelles (ΔGmb0), and the standard free energy change of tail transfer (ΔGtrans0) to assess the feasibility of the micellization process. The more positive values of ΔSm0 and more negative values of ΔGm0, ΔGb0, ΔHm0, and ΔGmb0 for the MR-NaPSS-CTAB system, the corresponding values for the NaPSS-CTAB system show that the process of micellization with MR in the ethanol–water mixture is thermodynamically easier, feasible, spontaneous, and stable. Changes in the ΔGm0 with different solvent and solvophobic parameters provide us with valuable insights into the solution's thermodynamic stability, solvent structure, fluidity, micellization and aggregation tendencies, solvent polarity, and the degree of NaPSS-CTAB interaction in aqueous ethanol solutions with and without MR. The findings of this study significantly broaden our knowledge of the intricate relationships between molecules and the implications of these relationships in a variety of scientific, industrial, ecological, medicinal, and technological fields.

OPTIMIZATION OF THE METHOD OF ULTRASONIC EXTRACTION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS WITH AN ALCOHOL-WATER MIXTURE FROM THE FRUITS OF VACCINIUM VITIS-IDAEA L., GROWING ON THE KOLA PENINSULA

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) is a profusely fruiting evergreen berry shrub, which is a hypoactic forest species, growing throughout the Kola Peninsula. Fruits have a number of significant therapeutic properties, such as antioxidant, antitumor, neuroprotective, decongestant, antibiotic, due to a significant content of phenolic compounds. The process of complete extraction of polyphenolic components from a complex plant matrix requires the development of extraction conditions aimed at maximum mass transfer of target components with minimal destruction of compounds. In connection with the prospects of using the fruits of lingonberry plants in the pharmaceutical and cosmetology industries, in this work, for the first time, optimization of the conditions of the method of ultrasonic extraction with a water-ethanol mixture using single-factor analysis and the Box-Benken algorithm was carried out. The kinetics of the extraction process is approximated by the second-order reaction equation. The optimal duration of extraction, the concentration of the extractant, the power of ultrasonic exposure, the diameter of the fractions of plant raw materials, the hydromodule and the extraction temperature were determined. The total content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity, as well as the degree of inhibition of free radicals, were determined. The results obtained can be used in the development of technologies for the production of components for use in the pharmaceutical and cosmetology industries.

Preliminary membrane screening and evaluation for the separation of bioethanol obtained from fermentation of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB)

This study evaluates the effectiveness of some commercial membranes (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE], polyvinylidene fluoride [PVDF], polyethersulfone [PES], and nitrocellulose [NC]) in concentrating a binary ethanol-water mixture under different conditions (volumes, temperatures, pressures, and concentrations). Then, the membrane was selected based on its performance for use in ethanol and by-product separation from OPEFB fermentation broth. The optimum result for the binary ethanol-water separation was found in the PVDF membrane with the highest separation factor of 3.03 and flux of 0.015 g.cm−2 s−1 under 10 ml permeate volume, 75 °C temperature, 60 psi pressure, and 20 % (v/v) ethanol concentration. Based on the membrane field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) analysis, the PVDF membrane also had the lowest swelling degree. Utilization of the PVDF membrane to separate crude bioethanol resulting from OPEFB fermentation gave a separation factor of 3.66. The initial bioethanol concentration was 7.67 % (v/v), and the ethanol concentration in the permeate was 23.31 % (v/v). In addition, the separation factor of propanol from the crude mixture was 5.44, and the acetic acid rejection factor was 96.7 %. The S.cerevisiae suspension and the cellulase enzyme were also separated and recovered in the retentate phase. Hence, the PVDF membrane can be used to separate bioethanol from the yeast and enzyme suspension while pre-concentrating the bioethanol product. This could eventually help reduce the energy requirement to obtain industrial-grade bioethanol.

Agave angustifolia Haw. Leaves as a Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds: Extraction Optimization and Extract Characterization.

The leaves of Agave angustifolia Haw. are the main agro-waste generated by the mezcal industry and are becoming an important source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, that could be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, the extraction and identification of these phytochemicals would revalorize these leaf by-products. Herein, maceration and supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extractions were optimized to maximize the phenolic and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant capacity of vegetal extracts of A. angustifolia Haw. In the maceration process, the optimal extraction condition was a water-ethanol mixture (63:37% v/v), which yielded a total phenolic and flavonoid content of 27.92 ± 0.90 mg EAG/g DL and 12.85 ± 0.53 µg QE/g DL, respectively, and an antioxidant capacity of 32.67 ± 0.91 (ABTS assay), 17.30 ± 0.36 (DPPH assay), and 13.92 ± 0.78 (FRAP assay) µM TE/g DL. Using supercritical extraction, the optimal conditions for polyphenol recovery were 60 °C, 320 bar, and 10% v/v. It was also observed that lower proportions of cosolvent decreased the polyphenol extraction more than pressure and temperature. In both optimized extracts, a total of 29 glycosylated flavonoid derivatives were identified using LC-ESI-QTof/MS. In addition, another eight novel compounds were identified in the supercritical extracts, showing the efficiency of the cosolvent for recovering new flavonoid derivatives.

Process optimization, multi-gene genetic programming modeling and reliability assessment of bioactive extracts recovery from Phyllantus emblica

This study investigates the feasibility of extracting bioactive antioxidants from Phyllantus emblica leaves using a combination of ethanol-water mixture (0-100%) and heat-assisted extraction technology (HAE-T). Operating temperature (30-50°C), solid-to-liquid ratio (1:20-1:60 g/mL), and extraction time (45-180 min) were varied to determine their effects on extract total phenolic content (TPC), yield (EY), and antioxidant activity (AA). The Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) within response surface methodology (RSM) was employed, with multi-objective process optimization using the desirability function algorithm to find the optimal process variables for maximizing TPC, EY, and AA simultaneously. The extraction process was modeled using BBD-RSM and multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP) algorithm, with model reliability assessed via Monte Carlo simulation. HPLC characterization identified betulinic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, and ferulic acid as bioactive constituents in the extract. The study found that a 50% ethanol solution yielded the best extraction efficiency. The optimal process parameters for maximum EY (21.6565%), TPC (67.116 mg GAE/g), and AA (3.68583 µM AAE/g) were determined as OT of 41.61°C, S:L of 1:60 g/mL, and ET of 180 min. Both BBD-RSM and MGGP-based models satisfactorily predicted the observed process responses, with BBD-RSM models showing slightly better performance. Reliability analysis indicated high certainty in the predictions, with BBD-RSM models achieving 99.985% certainty for TPC, 97.569% for EY, and 98.661% for AA values.

Copper and zinc-impregnated mesoporous gamma-alumina catalyst for hydrothermal liquefaction of alkali lignin

The complete utilization of lignocellulose is a sustainable key for bio-refineries, where the utilization of evitable lignin is a great challenge owing to its structural complexity. Here, the effect of Cu and Zn-loaded mesoporous γ-Al2O3 catalysts was examined for the first time for the hydrothermal liquefaction of alkali lignin in an ethanol/water solvent system. It showed excellent performance towards the liquefaction as compared to that of (commercial) com-5Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. Here, the bio-oil yield was observed to be 47.7 wt% for com-5Cu/Al catalyst which was increased to 59.1% for syn-5Cu/Al. It was increased substantially to 65.4 wt% for syn-10Cu/Al. However, only a 40 wt% bio-oil yield was found for the non-catalytic (NC) reaction. Additionally, a further significant improvement to 74.7 wt% was noticed for Zn (5 wt%) modified syn-10Cu/Al catalyst. Here, the screening of the water-ethanol mixture, and reaction parameters were also evaluated which showed a small increase in bio-oil yield to 77.4 wt% for ethanol/water (75/25, v/v). The GC-MS analysis of bio-oil exhibited the high specificity of vanillin (69.3%) for syn-10Cu-5Zn/Al. The 1H NMR and FT-IR investigation also validate the diverse functionality of bio-oils. The reusability of the optimum catalyst (syn-10Cu-5Zn/Al) was also tested for three successive catalytic cycles that exhibited the good performance of the catalyst up to the second cycle.

Studies in the Measurements of Refractive Index of Substituted Thio-Carbamidonapthols In 100% & 90% Binary Mixtures of 70% Etoh-H2O Mixture at 298.15 K

After synthesis of any chemical moiety; physico-chemical properties of that chemical moiety must be investigated. These are essential for predications of medicinal, agricultural, industrial, biochemical and biological applications theoretically and refractometric measurement is one of the best method for the determination of the same in the drug chemistry. Refractometric measurements of chemical moiety are one of the important study for understanding the pharmacokinetics study of synthesized or isolated chemical moiety. Considering all these things refractrometic measurements of 4-amino-1-naphthol [4-AN], 4-phenylthiocarbamido-1-naphthol [4-PTCN], 4-p-chlorophenylthiocarbamido-1-naphthol [4-p-CPTCN] and 4-p-tolylthiocarbamido-1-naphthol [4-p-TPTCN] have been carried out at 100% and 90%, binary mixtures of 70% ethanol-water mixtures in 0.002, 0.004, 0.006, 0.008 and 0.01M concentrations at 298.15K were successfully investigated and gave good results.

Spontaneous Recycling of Electrosprayed Sample by Retrograde Motion of Microdroplets.

Here, we discuss an interesting phenomenon occurring spontaneously near the sample liquid meniscus at the tip of the electrospray emitter. While most ejected droplets move from the emitter tip toward the counter electrode, some of the droplets decelerate and move backward to the liquid meniscus. When they hit the surface of the liquid meniscus, they either merge with the bulk liquid or get recharged during intermittent contact with the liquid meniscus and immediately reaccelerate toward the counter electrode. In some cases, while in contact with the meniscus they spontaneously form a secondary Taylor cone and emit progeny droplets. This observation suggests that the amount of electric charge transferred to such a droplet is sufficient to surpass the Rayleigh limit. Similar effects were previously observed for water as well as for NaCl-water and ethanol-water mixtures. However, here we observed it for electrolyte solutions commonly used in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: methanol-water solutions with the addition of ammonium acetate, formic acid, or ammonium hydroxide. The reported phenomenon reveals the ongoing recycling of sample liquid in electrosprays. Such recycling can contribute to enhancement of sample utilization efficiency in electrospray ionization.

The Influence of Activated Carbon as Adsorbent in Adsorptive – Distillation of Ethanol–Water Mixture

The Influence of Activated Carbon as Adsorbent in Adsorptive – Distillation of Ethanol–Water Mixture

Ultrasound-based separation of ethanol-water mixtures is economically advantageous and sustainable

Ultrasound-based separation of ethanol-water mixtures is economically advantageous and sustainable

Exploring a Sustainable Process for Polyphenol Extraction from Olive Leaves.

Olive leaves are residues from pruning and harvesting and are considered an environmental management problems. Interestingly, these residues contain high polyphenol concentrations, which can be used to treat chronic diseases. However, these compounds are a technological challenge due to their thermolability and reactivity during extraction. Thus, this study assessed the use of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with green solvents like water-ethanol and water-glycerol mixtures (0-15%) at 50 °C and 70 °C to yield polyphenol-rich antioxidant extracts with reduced glucose and fructose content. The use of 30% ethanol at 70°C presented the highest polyphenol content (15.29 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight) and antioxidant capacity, which was expressed as IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration): 5.49 mg/mL and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC): 1259 μmol Trolox equivalent/g dry weight, as well as lower sugar content (glucose: 3.75 mg/g dry weight, fructose: 5.68 mg/g dry weight) compared to water-glycerol mixtures. Interestingly, ethanol exhibits a higher degree of effectiveness in recovering flavanols, stilbenes and secoiridoids, while glycerol improves the extraction of phenolic acids and flavonols. Therefore, to enhance the efficiency of polyphenol recovery during the PLE process, it is necessary to consider its solvent composition and chemical structure.

Design and control of a distillation sequence for the purification of bioethanol obtained from sotol bagasse (Dasylirium sp.)

Sotol bagasse (SB) is a byproduct generated during the fermentation of the sotol plant (Dasylirium sp.) for the production of a traditional alcoholic beverage in Mexico. In this study, a novel ethanol purification distillation sequence is proposed, utilizing ethanol produced from SB treatment as described by González-Chavez et al. (2022). Prior to purification, the ethanol-water mixtures exhibited ratios of 0.054 and 0.935. The proposed distillation sequence comprises three columns: i) depletion, ii) extraction (employing ethylene glycol as the solvent agent), and iii) solvent recovery. To assess energy consumption and controllability, three solvent:feed ratios (1.5:1, 2:1, 2.5:1) were examined, taking into account the feed to the second column. The lowest energy consumption was observed at 31 × 103 kW, corresponding to the 1.5:1 ratio. Optimal controllability was achieved at a solvent:feed ratio of 2.5:1, as evidenced by the lowest Integral Absolute Error (IAE) value of 3.3 × 10–3 and the highest proportional gain (Kc) value of 250. In summary, we leveraged previously reported experimental data to design a new distillation sequence with potential applications in the ethanol purification derived from SB fermentation. The outcomes of this investigation underscore the importance of promoting circular economy practices, particularly in the northern region of Mexico, where significant quantities of agrowastes are generated.

Antioxidant, antidiabetic effects and polyphenolic contents of propolis from Siirt, Turkey.

Propolis, a natural product collected by honeybees from various plant sources, has gained significant attention due to its diverse bioactive compounds and potential therapeutic properties. To further explore its contents and biological activities, this study aimed to analyze the phenolic compounds in Siirt propolis extracts obtained using different solvents, namely ethanol, water, and ethanol-water mixtures. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the phenolic profile, as well as the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of the propolis extracts. Chemical profiling of extracts was performed using LC-MS/MS. The antioxidant potential of the propolis extracts was evaluated through free radical scavenging methods, including DPPH and ABTS assays. As a result of these analyses, propolis extracts showed moderate radical scavenging potential with 13.86%-35.72% for DPPH and 33.62%-62.50% for ABTS at a concentration of 30 μg mL-1, respectively. This radical scavenging potential of the extracts sheds light on its ability to combat oxidative stress, which is implicated in the development of diabetes, and its potential effects on cellular health. Additionally, the study assessed the antidiabetic properties of the propolis extracts by examining their inhibition effects on α-amylase and α-glycosidase enzymes. Extracts with high phenolic content showed a high inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase with an IC50 of 5.72 ± 0.83 μg mL-1. This research provided significant findings regarding the potential use of propolis in the treatment of diabetes and related metabolic disorders.

Electric-field-induced structure and dynamics of an ethanol-water mixture in hydrophobic-hydrophilic nanochannels.

Understanding the behavior of confined fluid mixtures under external electric fields is essential for advancing scientific knowledge and improving a wide range of technological applications, from energy systems to biological processes. An electric field has been widely used to investigate the phase transition of water and modification of interfacial water at the nanoscale. However, the structure and dynamics of the interfacial layer in complex confined fluid mixtures, such as ethanol-water mixtures, remain unexplored under the influence of an electric field. In this study, we explore the structural and dynamic behavior of binary ethanol-water mixtures confined within slit-like hydrophilic (mica) and hydrophobic (graphene) nanochannels under an external electric field using classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We find two distinct interfacial water layers near the hydrophilic mica surface, and a more pronounced sharp peak appears near the hydrophobic graphene sheet with increasing electric field. The density maxima of the -OH and -CH3 groups of ethanol shift towards and away from the graphene surface with an increasing electric field. Our simulations reveal that the electric field strongly impacts the inter and intralayer hydrogen bonding among water and ethanol molecules. The diffusion coefficient of water slightly increases with the electric field and then reduces with an electric field for a lower concentration of ethanol. This finding reveals that the electric field influences the desorption of interfacial water near the hydrophilic mica surface, which can be an implication for diverse technological applications like modifying surface wettability.

Influence of the coagulation bath on the nanostructure of cellulose films regenerated from an ionic liquid solution.

Cellulose membranes were prepared from an EMIMAc ionic liquid solution by nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) in coagulation baths of water-acetone mixtures, ethanol-water mixtures and water at different temperatures. High water volume fractions in the coagulation bath result in a highly reproducible gel-like structure with inhomogeneities observed by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). A structural transition of cellulose takes place in water-acetone baths at very low water volume fractions, while a higher water bath temperature increases the size of inhomogeneities in the gel-like structure. These findings demonstrate the value of SANS for characterising and understanding the structure of regenerated cellulose films in their wet state. Such insights can improve the engineering and structural tuning of cellulose membranes, either for direct use or as precursors for carbon molecular sieve membranes.