Deep eutectic solvents (DES):Micro-extractions and Sustainable Biotechnological Trends in the Determination of Environmental Contaminants

• Grant number: 24/13902-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mario Henrique Gonzalez
• Grantee: Mario Henrique Gonzalez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Rita de Araujo Nogueira ; Clarice Dias Britto do Amaral ; Geórgia Christina Labuto Araújo ; José de Oliveira Fernandes ; Lorena Vidal ; Paulo Clairmont Feitosa de Lima Gomes ; Sara Cristina da Silva Cunha

Abstract

The development of research with a focus on innovation is crucial to enable environmental challenges to be overcome and to comply with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. The integration of chemistry within the SDGs is essential for achieving sustainability, considering issues including the efficient use of natural resources, the protection of the environment, and the ability to meet the needs of future generations. In the search for sustainable solutions, green analytical chemistry (GAC) plays a vital role in understanding interactions with the environment, aiming at minimizing adverse environmental and human health impacts, thus contributing to achieving the SDGs. Therefore, this research project will undertake the development and physicochemical characterization of new natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES), and their versions employing nanoparticles (NP-NADES and NP-HDES). These solvents will be applied in miniaturized analytical methods (micro-extractions) for the determination of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb by ICP-MS, as well as caffeine, bisphenol A, bisphenol S, and brominated flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers PBDE-47 and PBDE-99) by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Another focus of this proposal is on biotechnological studies to evaluate the use of different types of biomass residues (peanut, rice, coffee, olive, and grape wastes), modified using DES, to produce membranes/films and adsorbent materials suitable for the bioremediation of chemical contamination in water treatment systems. This will enable the proposal of new sustainable solid substrates applicable for the preconcentration and removal of environmental contaminants. (AU)