Aggregation in Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs): Formation of Polar DES-in-Nonpolar DES Microemulsions

The versatility of environmentally benign and inexpensive deep eutectic solvents (DESs) lies in their widely varying physicochemical properties. Depending on its constituents, a DES may be highly polar or nonpolar in nature. This offers an enticing possibility of formation of novel nonaqueous microemulsions (MEs). Evidence of the presence of polar DES-in-nonpolar DES MEs is presented with reline (formed by mixing choline chloride and urea in 1 : 2 mol ratio) as the polar DES forming the ME pools, Thy : DA [formed by mixing thymol (Thy) and n-decanoic acid (DA) in 1 : 1 mol ratio] nonpolar DES as the bulk oil phase and nonionic surfactant Brij-35 as the emulsifying agent. While only sparingly miscible in Thy : DA, as high as 2.5 M reline can be solubilized in this DES in the presence of 100 mM Brij-35; reline loading (w_Rel = [reline]/[Brij-35]) as high as 25 can be achieved. The ternary phase diagram of the Thy : DA/Brij-35/reline system reveals a clear and transparent single-phase region where MEs may be forming. Dynamic light scattering confirms the presence of MEs of 2–10 nm size. Even as up to 2.5 M (ca. 0.35 mole fraction) reline, whose dynamic viscosity (η) and electrical conductivity (κ) are very high, is added to 100 mM Brij-35 solution of Thy : DA, the η and κ values of the solution increase insignificantly, thus conforming to the formation of MEs in the solution. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorbance spectra and fluorescence probe responses further indicate that reline is not dispersed in the medium but rather forms polar pools of the MEs. These novel nonaqueous polar DES-in-nonpolar DES MEs will not only expand the application potential of DESs but also offer a new class of organized media with widespread potential.