Environmental Sustainability of Levulinic Acid Donor-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents for Dichloromethane Absorption

Levulinic acid (LEV) donor-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) demonstrate an excellent dichloromethane (DCM) absorption performance. To evaluate their greenness and sustainability, a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to assess the production of these DESs and their application in DCM absorption. Comparisons were made with commonly used choline chloride (ChCl)-based DESs, organic absorbent triethylene glycol (TEG), and ionic liquid [BMIM][SCN]. The results indicate that the production stage constitutes the primary determinant of environmental impact, emphasizing the importance of selecting absorbents with ecofriendly raw materials and simplified synthesis pathways. Among the evaluated options, TEAC-LEV emerges as the most environmentally favorable choice when considering the combined factors of synthesis complexity, absorption efficiency, and energy requirements. Sensitivity analysis highlights solvent recovery as a critical factor influencing environmental impacts. When recovery processes are implemented, TEAC-LEV demonstrates superior environmental performance compared to those of both TEG and [BMIM][SCN], exhibiting significantly reduced environmental impacts across all assessed categories. This study provides valuable additions to the DES lifecycle inventory database and offers practical guidance for optimizing DCM absorption technologies. The results underscore the importance of considering both production impacts and operational efficiency when selecting sustainable solvent systems for industrial applications.