Investigation of the Microstructure and Dynamical Evolution Following Gradient Hydration of Deep Eutectic Solvent, with Application to Polyphenol Extraction

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are plant secondary metabolites that are also essential plant's food. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an emerging class of green solvents. In this study, polyphenols were used to systematically investigate the key factors affecting the extraction of polyphenols by deep eutectic solvents. In addition, we used a combination of computational and experimental techniques to study the microstructure and dynamic evolution of deep eutectic solvents and gradient hydration on both length and time scales. Our results showed that the systematic addition of water changed the microscopic interactions and dynamics of DESs, enabling efficient extraction of polyphenol components and solubilization of insoluble components.