L-menthol-based eutectic solvents: Characterization and application in the removal of drugs from water

 

Increasing the sustainability of industrial processes implies the substitution of conventional solvents for others with less environmental impact. For its implementation, it is essential to know the value of the thermodynamic and transport properties. In addition, having theories and correlations to predict their behaviour under varied conditions is very interesting. In this work, we performed the thermophysical characterization of eutectic mixtures formed by L-menthol and medium chain fatty acids, deepening the study of the polymorphic behaviour of L-menthol. In addition, we studied their ability both to dissolve drugs that are poorly soluble in water and to extract them from contaminated water. From the results, we can deduce that these mixtures may be suitable solvents in liquid-liquid extractions, although multistage processes can be necessary.