The Brönsted acidic ionic-liquid [HO(3)S(CH(2))(4)mim] HSO(4), a novel dual catalyst-solvent, has been successfully applied in simultaneous microwave-assisted extraction and hydrolysis for the determination of flavonol glycosides in Ginkgo foliage. The parameters, namely the [HO(3)S(CH(2))(4)mim]HSO(4) concentration, microwave-irradiation power, microwave-irradiation time, and solid-liquid ratio, were optimized. The optimum conditions were: an amount of 1.5 M [HO(3)S(CH(2))(4)mim]HSO(4), a microwave-irradiation power of 120 W, an irradiation time of 15 min, and a solid-liquid ratio of 1:30 g/mL. Compared with traditional methods the proposed approach demonstrates higher efficiency in a shorter operating time, and is an efficient, rapid, and simple sample preparation method.
Keywords: Ginkgo biloba; [HO3S(CH2)4mim]HSO4; flavonol glycoside; hydrolysis; ionic liquid; microwave-assisted extraction.