Menthol-based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents: Towards greener and efficient extraction of phytocannabinoids

Data were obtained using capillary electrophoresis with diode array detection (DAD). Initial screening showed that the DES composed of a menthol: acetic acid (1:1 M ratio) mixture showed the greatest extraction efficiency (of all the DESs that were tested), with yields ranging from 118.6% to 132.6% (compared to a methanol: chloroform mixture). In conclusion, menthol: acetic acid DES extraction is efficient, as well as non-toxic and biodegradable. As such it has applications within the pharmaceutical industry and represents a greener alternative organic solvent for the extraction of phytocannabinoids.