Deep Eutectic Solvents for Lignin solubilisation

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are mixtures of two or more small molecules where strong intermolecular interactions lead to the formation of liquids at room temperatures. These solvents have wide applications from biomass extraction to syntheses, potentially replacing toxic and volatile organic solvents with liquids that can be made from more environmentally friendly components. The ratio of components in a DES affects its properties, including its ability to extract lignin as a solubilized polymeric material or to break it down into smaller components. Here we wish to understand how the ratio of components in a deep eutectic solvent based on xylitol:oxalic acid: ethylene glycol affects its interaction with a model species mimicking lignin to better understand how this solvent solubilizes lignin and the interactions which can enhance lignin extraction but lead either to preservation or break down of the polymer.