Deep eutectic solvents on extraction of bisphenol A from water matrices: COnductor like Screening MOdel for Real Solvents prediction and experimental validation

Application of terpenoids for the remediation of environmental water polluted with bisphenol A and its analogs using an in silico approach

Nowadays, there is a global concern over water quality and the impact of contamination on both natural ecosystems and human well-being. Plastics, ubiquitous in modern life, may release harmful chemicals when they reach aquatic environments. Among them, bisphenol A (BPA) and its alternatives, such as bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and others, are of special concern because their presence in water systems can have detrimental effects on human health and aquatic organisms due to their endocrine-disrupting properties. This study explores the potential of terpenoids, sustainable and environmentally friendly solvents, for efficiently removing bisphenols from contaminated environmental water. Using an in silico approach based on the Conductor-like Screening Model for Realistic Solvents (COSMO-RS) theory, more than 30 terpenoids were screened, and carvone was found to be an excellent candidate due to its high solvent capacity and low toxicity. The impact of pH, temperature, stirring conditions, and sample:extractant phase ratios on the extraction efficiency were investigated. A design of experiments revealed optimal conditions for the extraction process and demonstrated that carvone can effectively extract bisphenols (nearly 100 % for most of them) under a wide range of conditions, showing the robustness and efficiency of the extraction method, even in environmental samples. The paper provides valuable insights into the potential of terpenoids, specifically carvone, as a sustainable and eco-friendly solvent for removing bisphenol contaminants from environmental water bodies. The findings of this study offer a promising solution to address water contamination issues, aligning with the principles of Green Chemistry and contributing to a more environmentally responsible approach to water remediation.

Synthesis and characterization of pH-responsive deep eutectic solvent followed by HPLC for trace determination of bisphenol A in water samples

A microextraction based on pH-responsive deep eutectic solvent combined with high-performance liquid chromatography was developed for the separation, preconcentration, and determination of bisphenol A in water samples. Five deep eutectic solvents were prepared using thymol (hydrogen bond acceptor) and 6-, 8-, 9-, 10-, and 12-carbon carboxylic acids (hydrogen bond donor), and were used as extraction solvent. Herein, by alkalinizing the environment, phase transition takes place, and by adding acid, phase separation and extraction of analytes occur simultaneously. Some important parameters on the extraction such as deep eutectic solvent type, molar ratio of deep eutectic solvent components, deep eutectic solvent volume, potassium hydroxide concentration, hydrochloric acid volume, extraction time, and salt addition were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, intra- and interday precisions of the method based on seven replicate measurements of 10 μg L-1 of bisphenol A in water samples were 2.2% and 4.3%, respectively. The analytical performance of the method showed linearity over the concentration of 0.05-50 μg L-1 with the detection limit of 0.02 μg L-1 . The accuracy of the method was confirmed by spiking different concentrations of bisphenol A in real water samples and obtaining relative recoveries in the range of 92.5%-105.2%.