Role of the hydrogen bond donor component for a proper development of novel hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents

The environmental impact of chemical applications can be reduced by using novel solvents with green properties. In this field, Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are promising liquids thanks to their low toxicity, high eco-compatibility and high easiness and “greenness” of preparation. DESs are mixtures of a hydrogen bond donor molecule (HBD) and a hydrogen bond acceptor molecule (HBA) at the proper molar ratio. In this paper, we present the preparation of novel hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents and the studies of their properties: density, eutectic profiles, ranges of water separation, contamination of the separated phases, extraction capabilities of phenol model polluting molecules, capabilities of extraction at acidic and basic conditions. Interesting results emerged about the role of the components of the DESs because of the use of a properly-chosen set of liquids. Their capabilities were dependent on the nature of the HBD molecule, and in particular on its hydrophobicity. Even the DESs with highly water-soluble HBA showed to be easily separable from water and really efficacious as extracting agents when prepared with hydrophobic HBDs. The results of the extractions of pollutants in acid and basic conditions showed the capability of water separation and extraction efficiency of these mixtures even with water at pH = 2 and pH = 9; therefore, the phenols could interact with these liquids without involvement of any acid/base-type of interactions. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.