Ionic liquids as tools in the production of smart polymeric hydrogels

In this chapter we review the recent advances on the use of ILs in the process of polymeric gels (ionogels) and hydrogels. The tunability and versatility of ILs aligned with the features of natural (as e.g. chitin or cellulose) and/or synthetic polymers has opened up new ways to process them not only as hydrogels, but also as matrices in different shapes and sizes. Particularly, polymeric hydrogels processed in ILs can be useful for a broad range of applications from removal of anionic dyes to biomaterials. We also highlight the physico-chemical properties and characteristics of the natural and synthetic polymers most used in the preparation of polymeric ionogels and hydrogels in ILs.  The authors are thankful for the financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the fellowship grant of Simone S. Silva (SFRH/BPD/112140/2015) “Fundo Social Europeu”- FSE and “Programa Diferencial de Potencial Humano POPH”.