Evaluation of toxicity and biodegradability of choline chloride based deep eutectic solvents

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 112; pp. 46 - 53
• Main Authors: Radošević, Kristina, Cvjetko Bubalo, Marina, Gaurina Srček, Višnje, Grgas, Dijana, Landeka Dragičević, Tibela, Radojčić Redovniković, Ivana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-02-2015
• Subjects: Animals; Biodegradability; Biotechnology; Chlorides; Choline; Choline - toxicity; Choline chloride; Deep eutectic solvents; Fish; Glucose - metabolism; Glycerol - metabolism; Hydrogen Bonding; In vitro testing; In vitro toxicity; Oxalic Acid - metabolism; Phytotoxicity; Solvents; Solvents - toxicity; Toxicity; Triticum - drug effects; Triticum aestivum; Waste Water - microbiology; Choline chloride; In vitro toxicity; Phytotoxicity; Deep eutectic solvents; Biodegradability
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.09.034

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been dramatically expanding in popularity as a new generation of environmentally friendly solvents with possible applications in various industrial fields, but their ecological footprint has not yet been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, three choline chloride-based DESs with glucose, glycerol and oxalic acid as hydrogen bond donors were evaluated for in vitro toxicity using fish and human cell line, phytotoxicity using wheat and biodegradability using wastewater microorganisms through closed bottle test. Obtained in vitro toxicity data on cell lines indicate that choline chloride: glucose and choline chloride:glycerol possess low cytotoxicity (EC50>10mM for both cell lines) while choline chloride:oxalic acid possess moderate cytotoxicity (EC50 value 1.64mM and 4.19mM for fish and human cell line, respectively). Results on phytotoxicity imply that tested DESs are non-toxic with seed germination EC50 values higher than 5000mgl−1. All tested DESs were classified as′readily biodegradable′ based on their high levels of mineralization (68–96%). These findings indicate that DESs have a green profile and a good prospect for a wider use in the field of green technologies.
•Cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity and biodegradability of DESs were studied.•Tested DESs possess low to moderate cytotoxicity.•Tested DESs possess low phytotoxicity.•Tested DESs were classified as ‘readily biodegradable′.•The DESs have a potential green profile and a good prospect for a wider use.