Eutectic solvent mixtures in environmental contaminants analysis: A review on current trends and future perspectives

This review provides an overview of recent advancements in applying eutectic solvents (ES) to extract and quantify a wide range of environmental contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, plasticizers, metals, and emerging pollutants. The unique physicochemical properties of ES, such as low volatility, thermal stability, and tunable solvation capabilities, align with green analytical chemistry principles, making them attractive alternatives to conventional organic solvents. In particular, ES-based microextraction techniques have emerged as promising strategies to reduce hazardous solvent consumption and minimize waste. Despite these advantages, specific challenges persist, including insufficient toxicity and biodegradability data, incomplete understanding of their long-term environmental fate, and difficulties in meeting regulatory requirements when using ES as extraction media. By evaluating current practices and pinpointing areas that require further investigation, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art, guiding future research toward more informed applications of ES in environmental contaminant analysis and fostering the adoption of sustainable microextraction approaches.