Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents in the food sector: focus on their use for the extraction of bioactive compounds

Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents (HDESs) represent a novel kind of solvent. While 17 several studies investigated their properties, just a few dealt with their use for extracting 18 and recovering bioactive compounds from raw materials, wastes and by-products, even if 19 HDESs might represent an interesting alternative when producing pharmaceuticals, 20 foodstuffs and cosmetics. Furthermore, their use may contribute to realizing more 21 sustainable green processes. This review focuses on HDESs, with particular emphasis on 22 Natural HDESs, discussing their properties and uses, highlighting their role as extractants 23 in food applications, both from an analytical and processing point of view, and underlining 24 the positive and negative aspects. While of prospective interest, currently the use of HDESs 25 at industrial level remains a challenge, with several aspects needing further investigation. 26 In order to scale-up the process, more research should focus on key issues, such as solute 27 recovery, solvent recycling and extraction yields, as well as potential health hazards