Impact of Hydrophobicity in Deep Eutectic Solvents on Biomass Component Extraction

Authors: Zitong He, Chang Geun Yoo, Jiae Ryu, Linda Darwiche

SUNY Campus: SUNY ESF

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 44

Timeslot: Session A 9:00-10:00 AM

Abstract: Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a unique class of mixtures with significantly lower melting points than their individual components. DESs can be readily synthesized without complicated steps. They have been considered a promising green alternative to traditional organic solvents for various applications, including biomass pretreatment, because of their low vapor pressure, low toxicity, high thermal stability, and sustainability with various natural resources. Also, their physicochemical properties, such as viscosity and hydrophobicity, can be tuned by the selection of the hydrogen-bond donors (HBDs) and hydrogen-bond acceptors (HBAs) and their molar ratio in the solvents. In this study, HBDs, including fatty acids and amino acids, and HBAs, such as monoterpenoid phenol and ammonium salts, were synthesized under different temperatures and molar ratios to tune the hydrophobicity of DESs. We measured the phase transition point of each DES for optimal formation conditions and tested their key physicochemical properties, including viscosity and water solubility. In addition, for an effective biomass fractionation, the solubility of major biomass components (i.e., xylan and lignin) in each DES was tested. Our findings provide insights into DES properties and their potential applications in future biorefinery processes.