Structure and dynamics of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents composed from terpene-fatty acids investigated by molecular dynamics simulation

Hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) composed of Terpenes and Fatty acids have recently been the subject of great interest for removing pollutants from an aqueous environment. Despite the specific application of Hydrophobic DES and the important role of molecular dynamics simulation in predicting the properties of these compounds, not many studies have been done on their intermolecular interaction. In this work, we performed molecular dynamics simulations for the eutectic mixture based on monoterpene (Menthol, Thymol) and Fatty acids such as Caprylic Acid, Decanoic Acid, Lauric Acid, and Myristic acid. Binary mixtures of Terpene and Fatty acids were prepared at molar ratios 1:1, and their properties were investigated at 323 K. We have carried out 50 ns in the ensemble NPT to understand thermo-physical properties that are largely dependent on the interaction between molecules. Here, the structural properties of the binary mixtures were evaluated, and the possible explanations for their thermo-physical properties have been presented. The interaction between Terpenes and Fatty acids was studied by the structural properties such as the atom-atom radial distribution functions (RDF) and the Hydrogen bonding network between species and Spatial distribution functions (SDF). The structural properties studies revealed that the interaction between Terpenes and Fatty acids decreased the reduction of the accumulation of Terpene molecules around each other in the binary mixtures. Evidence has been acquired that the interaction between the menthol molecules was mostly affected by the Fatty acids molecules. Also, the transport properties of the binary mixtures were explored using the mean-square displacement (MSD) for the centers of mass of molecules, self-diffusion of species, and vector reorientation dynamics (VRD) of bonds. The simulation results indicated that intermolecular interactions play an important role in the dynamic properties of species, and maintains the low melting point of the mixture.