Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) applied to the extraction of specialized metabolites from sugarcane agricultura waste

Abstract

The development of sustainable solvents is a major challenge, as the use of solvents often accounts for most of the wasted mass in syntheses and processes. In this context, finding green solvents as substitutes for non-green ones has become a priority target. The so called deep natural eutectic solvents (NADES) appear as an alternative for the development of new media from the combination of two or more compounds of very low toxicity. Annually, more than 400 million tons of sugarcane residues (straw, leaves and thatch) are generated in the fields destined to the production of raw material for sugar and ethanol production. Some of this waste could be removed from the soil without compromising its balance to obtain higher value-added chemicals and additives. In the proposed project, NADES formed by low toxicity components will be tested for the extraction of C- and O-glycosylated flavones, phenolic acids, triterpenes, among others. The quality of the extracts produced will be monitored by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet spectrophotometer and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The results will be compared to those obtained by extraction with traditional organic solvents.