Deep eutectic solvents for polysaccharides processing. A review

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 200; pp. 361 - 380
• Main Authors: Zdanowicz, Magdalena, Wilpiszewska, Katarzyna, Spychaj, Tadeusz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.11.2018
• Subjects: agar; agarose; biodegradability; Biomass; biopolymers; carrageenan; Cellulose; chitin; chitosan; Deep eutectic solvents; delignification; ionic liquids; lignocellulose; Modification; plasticizers; Polysaccharides; solubilization; Starch; toxicity; Modification; Polysaccharides; Biomass; Deep eutectic solvents; Starch; Cellulose
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.07.078

•Deep eutectic solvents (DES) as multipurpose media for polysaccharides treatment.•DES as green, tailorable and cheap alternative for molecular ionic liquids.•DES for polysaccharides isolation, chemical transformation and modification.•Treatment of cellulose, starch, agar, chitin, chitosan, xylan and other carbohydrates. In the review a new class of green solvents – Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) as media for polysaccharides treatment has been presented. They are an alternative for ionic liquids, non- or low toxic, biodegradable multipurpose agents obtained via simple and convenient way. Moreover, a large number of composition possibilities allow to tailor their properties. Because of selective solubilization of polysaccharides DES can be used for lignocellulosic biomass delignification, cellulose extraction as well as cellulose nanofibrillation or nanocrystalization. DES have been applied in extraction, separation or purification of some specific biopolymers like chitin, carrageenans and xylans, but also as components of polysaccharide based materials, e.g. plasticizers (mainly for starch, but also for cellulose derivatives, chitosan, agar and agarose), compatibilizers or modifiers. An interest in applying DES as green solvents increased rapidly within last years and it may be expected that their applications in polysaccharides treatment would be developed also on industrial scale.