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Preparation of Binary and Ternary Deep Eutectic Systems
Published on: October 31, 2019
Natural deep eutectic solvents as new potential media for green technology
Yuntao Dai1, Jaap van Spronsen, Geert-Jan Witkamp
1Natural Products Laboratory, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Analytica Chimica Acta
|February 23, 2013
Summary
Researchers discovered over 100 natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) from plants. These novel green solvents show potential for various chemical applications, offering improved solubility for biomolecules compared to water.
Area of Science:
- Green Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Traditional organic solvents pose environmental and health risks.
- Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents have limitations like toxicity, cost, and physical state.
- Plant-derived primary metabolites can form liquid mixtures, suggesting a role as natural solvents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional solvents.
- To identify and characterize novel NADES from abundant natural products.
- To evaluate the physical properties and solubilization capabilities of NADES.
Main Methods:
- Discovery and identification of over 100 NADES from natural sources.
- Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to confirm hydrogen bonding interactions.
- Measurement of physical properties: water activity, density, viscosity, polarity, and thermal characteristics.
- Assessment of NADES' efficacy in solubilizing biomolecules like natural products, gluten, starch, and DNA.
Main Results:
- Over 100 NADES were successfully identified from various natural sources.
- NMR confirmed significant hydrogen bonding between NADES components.
- NADES exhibited tunable physical properties, influenced by water content.
- Demonstrated significantly enhanced solubility for a wide range of biomolecules compared to water.
Conclusions:
- Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) represent a promising class of green solvents.
- NADES offer superior solubilization capabilities for diverse biomolecules.
- These novel solvents hold potential for sustainable applications in various chemical industries at room temperature.
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