Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) represent a significant advance in green chemistry, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional organic solvents for applications in extraction, reaction media, and formulations. This study explores the application of NADES in essential oil formulations, using lavender essential oil (LEO) to investigate the solubilization and release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Two distinct NADES formulations were evaluated: hydrophilic NADES combined with surfactants, and hydrophobic NADES. The results show that hydrophilic NADES, when combined with non-ionic surfactants, form stable emulsions that effectively solubilize and release LEO's VOCs, overcoming the high hydrophilicity limitation of NADES. Headspace analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 25 VOCs, with differential components analyzed through orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). VOCs were well-clustered in OPLS-DA and principal component analysis (PCA), with five clearly differentiated groups (C, N1, N3, N5, and N9). However, challenges remain, particularly in the solubilization and gradual release of VOCs. In contrast, hydrophobic NADES demonstrated a controlled release mechanism, effectively encapsulating and steadily releasing VOCs, making them advantageous for sustained fragrance delivery. The study further emphasizes the importance of the Hydrophilic–Lipophilic Balance (HLB) in NADES formulations, showing that adjusting HLB through surfactant concentrations significantly influences VOC release dynamics. In conclusion, this research highlights the potential of NADES as efficient, eco-friendly solvent systems for essential oil applications. By providing insights into optimizing NADES compositions for specific solubility and release profiles, the study identifies both challenges and opportunities, paving the way for further advancements in green chemistry.

中文翻译：

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使用非离子表面活性剂负载的 NADES 和疏水性 NADES 开发精油扩散基质


天然深共熔溶剂 （NADES） 代表了绿色化学的重大进步，为萃取、反应介质和配方中的应用提供了传统有机溶剂的环保替代品。本研究探讨了 NADES 在精油配方中的应用，使用薰衣草精油 （LEO） 来研究挥发性有机化合物 （VOC） 的溶解和释放。评估了两种不同的 NADES 配方：亲水性 NADES 与表面活性剂结合，以及疏水性 NADES。结果表明，亲水性 NADES 与非离子表面活性剂结合时，可形成稳定的乳液，有效溶解和释放 LEO 的 VOCs，克服了 NADES 的高亲水性限制。顶空分析和气相色谱-质谱 （GC-MS） 鉴定了 25 种 VOCs，通过正交偏最小二乘判别分析 （OPLS-DA） 分析了差异成分。VOCs 在 OPLS-DA 和主成分分析 （PCA） 中聚集良好，有 5 个明显分化的组 （C、N1、N3、N5 和 N9）。然而，挑战仍然存在，尤其是在 VOC 的溶解和逐渐释放方面。相比之下，疏水性 NADES 表现出一种控释机制，可有效封装并稳定释放 VOC，使其有利于持续释放香味。该研究进一步强调了亲水-亲油平衡 （HLB） 在 NADES 配方中的重要性，表明通过表面活性剂浓度调节 HLB 会显着影响 VOC 释放动力学。总之，这项研究强调了 NADES 作为精油应用中高效、环保溶剂系统的潜力。 通过提供优化特定溶解度和释放曲线的 NADES 成分的见解，该研究确定了挑战和机遇，为绿色化学的进一步发展铺平了道路。