Strategies for the recovery of bioactive molecules from deep eutectic solvents extracts

The need to reduce the ecological impact of the extraction and analysis processes waste has led to use alternative green solvents. Therefore, the use of solvents such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs), natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs), and low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs) has increasingly applied to extraction and recovery of bioactive molecules. DESs show superior extraction capabilities compared to common organic solvents, both in terms of extraction yield and nature of extractable molecules with a single solvent. However, one of the major problems with this type of solvents is the difficulty to remove them from the extracted mixture due to their low vapor pressure and thus recovering analytes to be used. This review aims to provide an overview of the methods for recovery bioactive molecules from extracts obtained by the application of DESs and NADESs to various food and plant matrices. Methods are critically presented both concerning efficacy and eco-compatibility.