Ricerc@Sapienza

Even if almost 30 years have passed since the introduction of the Green Chemistry principles, the research on this field is still in its infancy. The present project is just ranked in this framework. In particular, its objectives are the development of low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs) and their application as green solvents in some fields of the Analytical Chemistry, included that of the conservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage. LTTMs is a general term including the so-called type-III deep eutectic solvents (DESs) since both of them are the result of a self-association between an acceptor (HBA) and a donor (HBD) of H-bonds. Compared to ionic liquids, LTTMs are cheaper, easier to prepare and recyclable as the dictates of circular economy require. Most of them are also environmental friendly and non-toxic to the point of being defined ¿drinkable solvents¿. Moreover, thanks to the high number of combinations and stoichiometric flexibility, a variety of LTTMs can be designed with properties advantageously tailored. This also implicates their capability of solubilizing some compounds refractory to the conventional solvents. For these reasons, in this project, natural HBAs and HBDs will be selected to prepare new hydrophilic and hydrophobic LTTMs, liquid at room-temperature. Small angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and other techniques will be used for their characterization and classification into LTTMs (glass transition and lack of any long-distance order) or into DESs (melting point). The obtained mixtures will then be tested as solvents for: i) the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of compounds of interest from environmental waters and biological fluids; ii) the cleaning of works of art surfaces, which is an innovative and almost unexplored topic in the literature. The whole project will be developed in close collaboration among the involved researchers to perfectly integrate their interdisciplinary expertise.