Natural deep eutectic solvents for Ultrasonic-Assisted extraction of nutritious date Sugar: Molecular Screening, Experimental, and prediction

What if the key to unlocking the sweet nutrition of dates lies not in harsh chemicals, but in a gentle, eco-friendly solvent? A new study shows that a simple mixture can outperform traditional methods by over 40%.

Dates are a treasure trove of nutritious sugar, but extracting it has often relied on harsh, energy-intensive methods. Now, researchers have turned to Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) — a class of green solvents made from natural ingredients like choline chloride and citric acid. Their goal: a cleaner, more efficient way to unlock the fruit's sweetness.

The team first screened 26 potential molecules using a computational tool called COSMO-RS to find the best partners for sugar extraction. From this, they synthesized five NADES. One standout formula—a mix of choline chloride, citric acid, and water—achieved a sugar yield of 78.30 g per 100 g of date powder. That’s a remarkable jump compared to just 29.92 g with plain water.

To push further, the researchers used statistical models (RSM) and artificial intelligence (ANN) to fine-tune the extraction conditions. This optimization boosted the yield to 87.81 g per 100 g, achieved at a gentle 30°C in just 45 minutes. When compared head-to-head with conventional hot water extraction, the NADES method delivered a 43.1% higher sugar yield.

Beyond the numbers, this approach is kinder to the dates themselves. By avoiding high heat, it preserves heat-sensitive bioactive compounds, making it a promising industrial alternative. The study highlights a smart fusion of green chemistry and advanced data modeling for a sweeter, more sustainable future.

Key Points

• NADES with citric acid yields 78.3 g/100 g sugar.
• Optimization boosts recovery to 87.8 g/100 g.
• 43.1% higher yield than hot water extraction.