Novel solvents for biotechnology applications

Biomolecule separation is critical to the field of biotechnology. Biomolecules include a broad diversity of primary and secondary metabolites with distinct structures and functionalities that provide an excellent platform for production of pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, food additives, cosmetics, and advanced materials. However, efficient isolation and purification of biomolecules from natural matrices and fermentation broths represent the bottleneck of the downstream production process. Common methods involve solvent-based extractions, including conventional liquid-liquid or solid-liquid extraction and more advanced microwave- and ultrasound-assisted extraction. In this context, solvent selection remains the key factor in developing cost-effective and environmentally friendly separation processes for biomolecule recovery. Traditionally, extraction techniques rely on harmful volatile organic compound solvents subject to increasing regulations in the chemical, food, and consumer goods industries. Recently, neoteric solvents with improved environmental, health, and safety profile have emerged as promising alternatives for sustainable processing in biotechnological applications. This chapter provides a critical overview of recent advances and future trends in green solvents for bioseparations, focusing on ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, and biobased solvents for extraction of representative biomolecules. Furthermore, modern solvent selection tools will be reviewed to provide a comprehensive framework toward designing the next generation of sustainable bioseparation processes. © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.