Recent Applications of Deep Eutectic Solvents in Environmental Analysis

Abstract

The incessant generation of toxic waste and the growing concern over the environment have led the scientific community to delve into the search for more sustainable systems. In this regard, the application of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) has become one of the main strategies in green chemistry. These solvents have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional toxic solvents and even to the well-known ionic liquids. Their unique properties, components availability, and easy preparation, among others, have led to a new trend within the scientific community and industry, based on the use of these up-and-coming solvents not only in science but also in quotidian life. Among the areas that have benefited from the advantages of DESs is analytical chemistry, in which they have been largely used for sample preparation, including the extraction and determination of organic and inorganic compounds from environmental samples. The considerable number of applications developed in the last year in this field and the increasing generation of new data necessitate the continuous updating of the literature. This review pretends to compile the most relevant applications of DESs in environmental analysis and critically discuss them to provide a global vision about the advantages and drawbacks/limitations of these neoteric solvents in the area of environmental analysis.

Neoteric deep eutectic solvents: history, recent developments, and catalytic applications

“…These include analytical chemistry, 159 nanotechnology, 160 biotechnology & bioengineering, 161 electrochemistry, 162 and polymer chemistry. 101,163,164 They are used for CO 2 capture, 165 biodiesel production, 166 oil recovery, 167 food analysis, 168 metal processing, 9 extraction, 169 environmental analysis, 170 catalysis, 171,172 etc. Among these, catalysis is an important application, where DES acts as a catalyst or a solvent or both.…”

Modification of Magnetic Graphene Oxide by an Earth-Friendly Deep Eutectic Solvent to Preconcentrate Ultratrac Amounts of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in Legume Samples

“…The Freundlich model is a multilayer adsorption model. The linear form of the Freundlich model is written in Equation (5).…”

“…Their preparation does not need any extra solvent so no purification step is needed. Therefore, they are applicable substitutions for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), used widely throughout research and industry with the aim of environmental remediation, especially magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) [3][4][5].…”

Synergistic Applications of Graphene-Based Materials and Deep Eutectic Solvents in Sustainable Sensing: A Comprehensive Review

“…Finally, they can be obtained from fully natural compounds, like amino acids, sugars, and choline and organic acids, creating a subset of even more environmentally friendly DESs are highly viscous and dense liquids with low volatility, high thermal and electrochemical stability, low flammability, good conductivity, and the ability to solvate both organic and inorganic compounds [54,58]. Their significant biodegradability and remarkably low toxicity levels, together with their aforementioned properties, allow for their full qualification as "green solvents" [59,60]. Moreover, the starting reagents for their production are easily available, which makes them even more attractive compared to classic organic solvents and ILs.…”