Extraction of chlorogenic acid from Lonicera japonica Thunb. using deep eutectic solvents: Process optimization and mechanism exploration by the combination of experiment and molecular simulation

What if a tree could tell you how green your lab really is? A new tool called the Green Extraction Tree (GET) turns complex sustainability metrics into a simple visual score.

Forget vague promises of 'eco-friendly' chemistry. Scientists have now built a practical scoring system—the Green Extraction Tree—that grades every step of natural product extraction, from sample choice to waste disposal. It merges two established frameworks: the 10 principles of green sample preparation and the 6 principles of green extraction. Each step gets a color: green for low impact, yellow for medium, red for high. Assigning values of 2, 1, and 0 to these colors, the tool produces a final score that allows direct comparison between methods. The tree pictogram makes the results instantly readable, even for non-specialists. The team tested GET on five different extraction methods and successfully pinpointed where each process fell short. Compared to existing green metrics, GET offers a more tailored view for natural product work, making it a sharper compass for sustainable chemistry.

Key Points

• Green Extraction Tree scores extraction greenness with colors.
• Merges 10 sample prep + 6 extraction principles.
• Tested on 5 methods, identifies improvement areas.