Everything You Wanted to Know about Deep Eutectic Solvents but Were Afraid to Be Told

abstract

Are deep eutectic solvents (DESs) a promising alternative to conventional solvents? Perhaps, but their development is hindered by a plethora of misconceptions. These are carefully analyzed here, beginning with the very meaning of DESs, which has strayed far beyond its original scope of eutectic mixtures of Lewis or Bronsted acids and bases. Instead, a definition that is grounded on thermodynamic principles and distinguishes between eutectic and deep eutectic is encouraged, and the types of precursors that can be used to prepare DESs are reviewed. Landmark works surrounding the sustainability, stability, toxicity, and biodegradability of these solvents are also discussed, revealing piling evidence that numerous DESs reported thus far, particularly those that are choline based, lack sufficient sustainability-related traits to be considered green solvents. Finally, emerging DES applications are reviewed, emphasizing their most remarkable feature: the ability to liquefy a solid compound with a target property, allowing its use as a liquid solvent.

keywords

SOLID-LIQUID EQUILIBRIA; CHOLINE CHLORIDE; COSMO-RS; CO2 SOLUBILITIES; BINARY-MIXTURES; IONIC LIQUIDS; PREDICTION; TOXICITY; BIODEGRADABILITY; DESS

subject category

Chemistry; Engineering

authors

Abranches, DO; Coutinho, JAP

our authors

acknowledgements

This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020, and LA/P/0006/2020, financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES.

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