Rethinking the Applications of Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents in Innovative Nano-Sorbents

Abstract

With the development of green chemistry and nano materials, new alternatives to traditional volatile solvents are one of many important hotspots in the field of nano materials. Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as excellent alternative solvents are being applied in the innovation of nano-sorbents, including nanoparticles, nanogels, and nanofluid. ILs and DESs are often used as carriers/modifiers/dispersers of nano-sorbents to enhance the adsorption capacity and selectivity in the extraction procedure. Various extraction technologies, such as solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction, micro-solid phase extraction, hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction, and magnetic solid-phase extraction, have also been promoted by them to achieve rapid development. This paper focused on the latest development of nano-sorbents based on ILs and DESs. The problems and bottlenecks encountered were analyzed in order to provide meaningful and valuable references for the related research and thus promote further development and application of alternative solvents-assisted nano-sorbents.