Lactic Acid-Based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents to Extract Bioactives from Marine By-Products

What if the key to unlocking ocean treasures lies in a simple mix of lactic acid, fructose, and urea? Scientists have turned marine by-products into a goldmine of bioactives using these natural solvents.

Forget harsh chemicals. Researchers have turned to Nature's own recipe book, using natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) to coax valuable compounds from seafood leftovers. Think codfish bones, mussel meat, and tuna eye fluid—not the usual suspects for high-value extracts.

The team crafted NaDES from lactic acid, fructose, and urea, then measured their physical traits like viscosity and density. Spectroscopy confirmed the solvents were held together by hydrogen bonds, a key to their extracting power.

The results were striking: the extracts' makeup depended heavily on both the solvent and the source material. Mussels yielded proteins and lipids, while codfish bones gave up mostly ash. This shows NaDES can be tailored for specific targets.

Even better, the soluble fractions from these marine by-products actually improved the biocompatibility of the solvents. That means these green solvents could be safe for future biomedical or food applications, turning waste into wellness.

Key Points

• NaDES from lactic acid, fructose, urea extract marine bioactives.
• Extract composition varies with solvent and raw material.
• Marine soluble fractions boost NaDES biocompatibility.