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In this study, an ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, was used to prepare ionogels with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and halloysite (Hal). SEM, XRD, TG, DSC, FTIR spectroscopy, conductometry and mechanical tests were used to study the morphology, structure, thermal behaviour and electrophysical and mechanical characteristics of synthesised ionogels. XRD analysis showed a slight decrease in the interlayer space of halloysite in ionogels containing MCC, which may have been associated with the removal of residual water molecules resulting from hydrophilic IL anions and polymer macromolecules. A change in conductivity and glass-transition temperature of the ionic liquid was revealed due to intercalation into halloysite (a confinement effect) and modification with cellulose. For triple IL/Hal/MCC ionogels, the characteristic thermal degradation temperatures were higher than the corresponding values for IL/Hal composites. This indicates that the synthesised IL/Hal/MCC ionogels are characterised by a greater thermal stability than those of IL/Hal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Polystyrene/montmorillonite composite films were prepared via solution cast technique. • Plasma treatment of the produced films was carried out in low-pressure air plasma. • The water contact angle on the composite surface decreased after plasma treatment. • Plasma treatment of the composite led to an increase in MB adsorption efficiency. Polystyrene/montmorillonite (PS/MMT) composite films with high adsorption activity were prepared via solution intercalation technique followed by treatment of composite films in low-pressure air plasma. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the impact of plasma on the elemental composition and morphology of the composite surface. It was revealed that plasma treatment of the PS/MMT composite led to an increase in wettability and adsorption performance. The removal kinetics of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions was experimentally studied. It was determined that plasma processing of the composite resulted in a significant improvement of the MB adsorption process: the initial rate of the process increased by 4 times (from 1.2 × 10−8 to 4.8 × 10−8 mol/(g•min)). Adsorption kinetic curves are obeyed the pseudo-second order reaction equation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]