FE-SEM observation of swelled seaweed using hydrophilic ionic liquid; 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate.
The method to observe the exact morphology of swelled seaweed as an example of biological material by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with the aid of hydrophilic ionic liquid (IL); 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate is reported. Seaweed was first swelled in 3.5% NaCl solution and then treated with the IL and water mixture in 1:7 weight ratios and centrifuged to remove the excess IL solution. Thus treated seaweed maintained its morphology even at high magnification and did not show drying in the FE-SEM chamber. This observation technique might be useful for various kinds of biological materials to be observed under FE-SEM.
Advanced Ceramics Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, 3-101-1 Honmachi, Tajimi, Gifu 507-0033, Japan.
Chisato
C
Takahashi
Takashi
T
Shirai
Masayoshi
M
Fuji
D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*
C419324:1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate; D007093:Imidazoles; D052578:Ionic Liquids