Single Solvent Research Articles

Aminated alkali lignin nanoparticles enabled formaldehyde-free biomass wood adhesive with high strength, toughness, and mildew resistance

The conversion of industrial lignin into wood adhesives offers a solution to issues related to formaldehyde pollution and the reliance on petrochemical resources of traditional formaldehyde-based resins, while promoting environmental and energy sustainability. However, conventional methods for preparing lignin-based adhesives generally involve the use of materials like formaldehyde, organic solvents, and costly epoxy, hindering their industrial application. This study introduces a novel approach for producing eco-friendly lignin-based wood adhesives using aminated lignin-Cu nanoparticles. The lignin-Cu nanoparticles were synthesized in water as a single solvent through a sedimentation method. Amination modification was achieved by grafting amino-terminated hyperbranched polyamide onto the nanoparticles via a Schiff base reaction. The prepared adhesive demonstrated a remarkable bonding strength of 1.51 MPa and debonding work of 0.272 J, which were 2.75 and 6.33 times higher than those of the pure lignin adhesive, respectively. Moreover, the adhesive exhibited improved water resistance with a wet shear strength of 1.15 MPa and sustained mildew resistance for approximately 100 days. Notably, this adhesive was synthesized without the use of formaldehyde, phenol, acids, or organic solvents, minimizing reliance on fossil resources and lowering costs compared to many formaldehyde-based and biomass adhesives. This research opens up new avenues for the efficient utilization of industrial lignin and the production of formaldehyde-free, environmentally friendly adhesives, which holds significant promise for energy conservation, emission reduction, and sustainable development within the wood-based panel industry.

Design of Experiment (DoE) Approach for Developing Inhalable PLGA Microparticles Loaded with Clofazimine for Tuberculosis Treatment.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), resulting in approximately 1.3 million deaths in 2022 worldwide. Oral therapy with anti-TB drugs often fails to achieve therapeutic concentrations at the primary infection site (lungs). In this study, we developed a dry powder inhalable formulation (DPI) of clofazimine (CFZ) to provide localized drug delivery and minimize systemic adverse effects. Poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MPs) containing CFZ were developed through a single emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Clofazimine microparticles (CFZ MPs) displayed entrapment efficiency and drug loading of 66.40 ± 2.22 %w/w and 33.06 ± 1.45 µg/mg, respectively. To facilitate pulmonary administration, MPs suspension was spray-dried to yield a dry powder formulation (CFZ SD MPs). Spray drying had no influence on particle size (~1 µm), zeta potential (-31.42 mV), and entrapment efficiency. Solid state analysis (PXRD and DSC) of CFZ SD MPs studies demonstrated encapsulation of the drug in the polymer. The drug release studies showed a sustained drug release. The optimized formulation exhibited excellent aerosolization properties, suggesting effective deposition in the deeper lung region. The in vitro antibacterial studies against H37Ra revealed improved (eight-fold) efficacy of spray-dried formulation in comparison to free drug. Hence, clofazimine dry powder formulation presents immense potential for the treatment of tuberculosis with localized pulmonary delivery and improved patient compliance.

Pathway Selection in Temporal Evolution of Supramolecular Polymers of Ionic π-Systems: Amphiphilic Organic Solvent Dictates the Fate of Water.

Understanding solvent-solute interactions is essential to designing and synthesising soft materials with tailor-made functions. Although the interaction of the solute with the solvent mixture is more complex than the single solvent medium, solvent mixtures are exciting to unfold several unforeseen phenomena in supramolecular chemistry. Here, we report two unforeseen pathways observed during the hierarchical assembly of cationic perylene diimides (cPDIs) in water and amphiphilic organic solvent (AOS) mixtures. When the aqueous supramolecular polymers (SPs) of cPDIs are injected into AOS, initially kinetically trapped short SPs are formed, which gradually transform into thermodynamically stable high aspect ratio SP networks. Using various experimental and theoretical investigations, we found that this temporal evolution follows two distinct pathways depending on the nature of the water-AOS interactions. If the AOS is isopropanol (IPA), water is released from cPDIs into bulk IPA due to strong hydrogen bonding interactions, which further decreases the monomer concentration of cPDIs (Pathway-1). In the case of dioxane AOS, cPDI monomer concentration further increases as water is retained among cPDIs (Pathway-2) due to relatively weak interactions between dioxane and water. Interestingly, these two pathways are accelerated by external stimuli such as heat and mechanical agitation.

Predicting drug solubility in organic solvents mixtures: A machine-learning approach supported by high-throughput experimentation

A novel approach based on supervised machine-learning is proposed to predict the solubility of drugs and drug-like molecules in mixtures of organic solvents. Similar to quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) models, different solvent types are identified by molecular descriptors, which, in this study, are considered as UNIFAC subgroups. To overcome the potential lack of UNIFAC subgroups for the complex Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) currently developed in the pharmaceutical industry, the API molecule is considered as a unique entity in the proposed modelling approach. Therefore, API solubility is predicted as a function of temperature, functional subgroups of the solvents and composition of the solvent mixture; in turn, regressors’ correlation is handled through Partial Least-Squares (PLS) regression. The method is developed and tested with experimental data of a real API and 14 organic solvents that are industrially employed for crystallisation. Solubility predictions are accurate and precise for single solvents, binary mixtures and ternary mixtures of organic solvents at different compositions and temperatures, with a determination coefficient R2 ≥ 0.90.To further test the applicability of the model, the proposed approach is applied to 9 literature organic solubility datasets of drugs and drug-like compounds and compared to benchmark solubility models in the literature. Results show that the proposed approach provides satisfactory predictions: the majority of validation and calibration data have R2 = 0.95–0.99; the ratio between RMSE (root mean squared error) of the proposed method and the range of measured solubility values is from 1 to 3 orders of magnitude smaller than the RMSE ratio obtained by the benchmark models.

Multi-stimuli-responsive cyanostilbene derivatives: Their fluorescent and mechanochromic properties, and potential application in water sensing and anti-counterfeiting

In recent years, aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have witnessed numerous groundbreaking advances in fundamental theoretical research and functional applications. Notably, stimuli-responsive AIEgens have achieved remarkable results, demonstrating immense potential for application in various fields such as chemistry, materials science, biology, and medicine. Herein, two multi-stimuli-responsive cyanostilbene derivatives TPE-CNTPA and PH-CNTPA were synthesized by introducing tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and trifluoromethyl groups, respectively. Primarily, under the combined mechanism of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT), TPE-CNTPA and PH-CNTPA exhibit “on-off-on” fluorescent emission characteristics in solution. Secondly, under 365 nm ultraviolet light irradiation, the photo-induced isomerization of PH-CNTPA causes changes in photophysical property, demonstrating its responsiveness to ultraviolet light. In addition, TPE-CNTPA and PH-CNTPA exhibit high-contrast mechanochromic properties, providing broader possibilities for their potential applications in various fields. Moreover, owing to the unique fluorescence emission characteristics, TPE-CNTPA and PH-CNTP have enormous potential for application in the field of encryption anti-counterfeiting. Besides, PH-CNTPA can be utilized for the detection of trace water in single or mixed solvents, demonstrating outstanding sensitivity and anti-interference properties in different solvents. This research work reveals the potential in the fields of water sensing and anti-counterfeiting for these two multi-stimuli-responsive compounds.

Ethyl fluoroacetate with weak Li+ interaction and high oxidation resistant induced low-temperature and high-voltage graphite//LiCoO2 batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) operating at low temperature has always been a significant challenge. In this work, Ethyl fluoroacetate (EFA) was utilized as a single solvent to design a low-temperature electrolyte (LTE). The weak Li+-solvent interaction facilitates fast de-solvation process and improved low-temperature performance, while the high oxidation resistance and fluorine-rich electrolyte/electrolyte interface induced by the fluorinated groups enables wide operating voltage and stable cycling of the LIBs. The EFA-based electrolyte endows the high-voltage (4.45 V) Graphite//LiCoO2 pouch cell with prominent low-temperature adaptability (89.7 % capacity retention retains at −40 °C, and capable of charging at −20 °C) and outstanding cycling performance (87.7 % capacity retention after 400 cycles). This work sheds light on the design of high-voltage and low-temperature electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries.

N-octylpyridine hydrogen sulphate ionic liquid for multifunctional fluorescent response in different solvents

Ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted considerable interest in the last two decades owing to their unique fluorescent properties. Herein, N-octylpyridine hydrogen sulphate ([OP]HSO4) was synthesised and characterised using 1H NMR and infrared spectroscopies. In addition, the fluorescence spectra of [OP]HSO4 in water, methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile were studied. In a single solvent, as the concentration of the solvent (methanol, ethanol or acetonitrile) increases, the fluorescence intensity of the IL first increases and then decreases. A similar trend was observed in their mixed solvents with water. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity of [OP]HSO4 decreases with increasing temperature. A fluorescence intensity reduction of only 4.46% for [OP]HSO4 after continuous scanning for 40 cycles under the maximum excitation state was analysed. The lack of photobleaching observed in [OP]HSO4 indicates its good photobleaching resistance.

Design and synthesis of SO3H-based ionic liquids for direct catalytic conversion of straw to levulinic acid

The utilization of ionic liquids (ILs) in the conversion of lignocellulose to levulinic acid (LA) is a significant pathway in the field of bio-refinery. In this study, a series of sulfonic-based ILs with elongated alkyl chains were synthesized using density functional theory. These ILs were then utilized for the conversion of straw into LA in a single reaction vessel. The yield of LA was compared between a single solvent (water) and a biphasic system comprising water and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Among the investigated ILs, [C3SO3HEim]Cl exhibited a higher yield of LA, reaching up to 11.3 wt% in the aqueous phase and 17.8 wt% in the MIBK-water biphasic system. Furthermore, [C3SO3HEim]Cl displayed a high catalytic efficiency (90.4%) and a yield of LA (16.3 wt%) after 5 cycles. These findings suggest that the elongation of alkyl side chains in ILs enhances the solubility of cellulose and increases the yield of LA. The MIBK-water biphasic system promotes the rehydration of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and reduces the residence time of LA in the aqueous phase, thereby optimizing its yield. This innovative approach involving ILs and the MIBK-water biphasic system presents a novel perspective for the production of LA from biomass.

Hybridizing carbonate and ether at molecular scales for high-energy and high-safety lithium metal batteries

Commonly-used ether and carbonate electrolytes show distinct advantages in active lithium-metal anode and high-voltage cathode, respectively. While these complementary characteristics hold promise for energy-dense lithium metal batteries, such synergy cannot be realized solely through physical blending. Herein, a linear functionalized solvent, bis(2-methoxyethyl) carbonate (BMC), is conceived by intramolecularly hybridizing ethers and carbonates. The integration of the electron-donating ether group with the electron-withdrawing carbonate group can rationalizes the charge distribution, imparting BMC with notable oxidative/reductive stability and relatively weak solvation ability. Furthermore, BMC also offers advantages including the ability to slightly dissolve LiNO3, excellent thermostability and nonflammability. Consequently, the optimized BMC-based electrolyte, even with typical concentrations in the single solvent, demonstrates high-voltage tolerance (4.4 V) and impressive Li plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency (99.4%). Moreover, it fulfills practical lithium metal batteries with satisfactory cycling performance and exceptional tolerance towards thermal/mechanical abuse, showcasing its suitability for safe high-energy lithium metal batteries.

Theoretical analysis of hydrogen solubility in direct coal liquefaction solvents

The cyclic hydrogenation technology in a direct coal liquefaction process relies on the dissolved hydrogen of the solvent or oil participating in the hydrogenation reaction. Thus, a theoretical basis for process optimization and reactor design can be established by analyzing the solubility of hydrogen in liquefaction solvents. Experimental studies of hydrogen solubility in liquefaction solvents are challenging due to harsh reaction conditions and complex solvent compositions. In this study, the composition and content of liquefied solvents were analyzed. As model compounds, hexadecane, toluene, naphthalene, tetrahydronaphthalene, and phenanthrene were chosen to represent the liquefied solvents in chain alkanes and monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The solubility of hydrogen X (mol/mol) in pure solvent components and mixed solvents (alkanes and aromatics mixed in proportion to the chain alkanes + bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bicyclic saturated aromatic hydrocarbons + bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons + compounds containing heteroatoms composed of mixed components) are determined using Aspen simulation at temperature and pressure conditions of 373–523 K and 2–10 MPa. The results demonstrated that at high temperatures and pressures, the solubility of hydrogen in the solvent increases with the increase in temperature and pressure, with the pressure having a greater impact. Furthermore, the results revealed that hydrogen is more soluble in straight-chain alkanes than in other solvents, and the solubility of eicosanoids reaches a maximum of 0.296. The hydrogen solubility in aromatic ring compounds decreased gradually with an increase in the aromatic ring number. The influence of chain alkanes on the solubility of hydrogen predominates in a mixture of solvents with different mixing ratios of chain alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons. The solubility of hydrogen in mixed aromatic solvents is less than that in the corresponding single solvents. Hydrogen is less soluble in solvent compounds containing heteroatoms than in compounds without heteroatoms.

Unlocking the Potential of Liquid Multiphase Systems for Metal‐Catalysed Reactions

AbstractLiquid multiphase systems (MPS) have gained attention in recent years due to their versatility for catalytic processes. This review article presents a critical discussion of the most recent advances on the utilization of MPS in both homogeneous and heterogeneous metal‐catalysed reactions. Pros and cons of some exemplificative multiphase configurations are highlighted and compared to conventional methods in single liquid solvents. The application of MPS for the implementation of strategies for the upgrading of biobased molecules is also examined with emphasis on process intensification and sustainability including the catalyst/products separation and the in‐situ recycle and reuse of the metal catalysts. These aspects are analyzed with a view on expanding MPS applications and whenever possible, explore scale‐up opportunities.

A Quality By Design (QbD) Prospect in Fabrication of PLGA-based Antipsychotic Long-acting Microspheres: An Alternative to Combination Therapy

Background: Discontinuation and poor compliance with long-term oral medicine are major therapeutic issues in psychosis treatment. Poorer long-term outcomes may result from non-compliance as well as a higher chance of relapse. In order to sustain therapeutic drug plasma levels, co-administration of oral antipsychotics is necessary for commercially available longacting injections of second-generation antipsychotics, as they have a lag period of approximately three weeks during the drug release process. Methods: Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) encapsulated microspheres loaded with risperidone were fabricated in the current research for intramuscular administration. The single emulsion solvent evaporation technique was applied for the fabrication of microspheres. Risperidone microspheres were prepared using PLGA grade 75:25. Particle size, drug content and entrapment efficiency with a central composite design were the main optimization parameters for the formulation. The microspheres were characterized by different techniques, namely Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The drug content, entrapment efficiency, morphology, particle size, and in vitro release profiles, along with release kinetics of the risperidone microspheres, were studied. Results and Discussion: The microspheres produced by the single emulsion solvent evaporation approach show smooth and spherical morphology, with particle size ranging from 3 μm to 6 μm, drug content of 99.7%, and entrapment efficiency of 98.2% with little burst release of 3% to 10%, providing drug release for 45 days and exhibiting zero order release kinetics and Korsmeyer- Peppas model for non-fickian drug release from the polymeric matrix. By applying the Quality by Design (QbD) approach and formulation parameters, microspheres with appropriate particle size, morphology, enhanced drug content, entrapment efficiency and desirable drug release profile for depot formulation can be obtained successfully. Conclusion: The optimized microspheres, in comparison to the marketed Risperdal Consta™, show enhanced potential for a better depot formulation, which can further improve patient compliance.

Solubility evaluation of palm-based Mono-diacylglycerols (MDAGs) in food grade solvent (hexane, ethanol, acetone, water) using QSPR model approach

Mono-diacylglycerols (MDAGs) are emulsifiers widely used in the food industry. MDAGs based on refined bleached deodorized palm stearin (RBDPS) have not been widely developed. MDAGs have been synthesized using glicerolysis between RBDPS and glycerols. Due to their low solubility in food-grade solvents (hexane, ethanol, acetone, and water), it has been difficult to purify or fractionate MDAGs only by a simple method. This research attempted to develop a model of MDAGs solubility in food-grade solvents and understand the parameters that influence the solubility of MDAGs in food-grade solvents. The process used a combination of experimental data collection and quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) models. The QSPR model for MDAGs solubility in a single and binary solvent demonstrated that the descriptors of Δ dipole moment (Δµ), E HOMO, E LUMO, electronic energy, gap energy HOMO-LUMO (ΔE1, ΔE2) softness (S), electrophilicity index (ω), and electron transfer (ΔN) have a significant impact in determining the solubility of MDAGs. Both the single and the binary solvents solubility models can give satisfactory prediction results: the square of the correlation coefficient (R2pred) was 0.933 and 0.948, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.075 and 0.031, respectively, for the whole data set. In addition, this paper provided a new and effective method for predicting the solubility of MDAGs in single and binary food-grade solvent systems.

Shapeshifting Nucleophile Singly Hydrated Hydroperoxide Anion Leads to the Occurrence of the Thermodynamically Unfavored SN2 Product.

Single water molecules alone may introduce unusual features into the kinetics and dynamics of chemical reactions. The singly hydrated hydroperoxide anion, HOO-(H2O), was found to be a shapeshifting nucleophile, which can be transformed to HO- solvated by hydrogen peroxide HO-(HOOH). Herein, we performed direct dynamics simulations of its reaction with methyl iodide to investigate the effect of individual water molecules. In addition to the normal SN2 product CH3OOH, the thermodynamically unfavored proton transfer-induced HO--SN2 path (produces CH3OH) was also observed, contributing ∼4%. The simulated branching ratio of the HO--SN2 path exceeded the statistical estimation (0.6%) based on the free energy barrier difference. The occurrence of the HO--SN2 path was attributed to the shallow entrance channel well before a submerged saddle point, thus providing a region for extensive proton exchange and ultimately leading to the formation of CH3OH. In comparison, changing the leaving group from Cl to I increased the overall reaction rate as well as the proportion of the HO--SN2 path because the CH3I system has a smaller internal barrier. This work elucidates the importance of the dynamic effect introduced by a single solvent molecule to alter the product channel and kinetics of typical ion-molecule SN2 reactions.

Temperature-dependent chlorosomal self-aggregation of bacteriochlorophyll-d analogs with a branched alkyl chain in a single 1-chlorooctane solvent

Abstract Recently, the supramolecular polymerization of chlorophyll pigments mimicking a natural light-harvesting apparatus (chlorosome) was demonstrated in low-polar organic solvents or aqueous solutions. To obtain the most aggregation models, a concentrated solution of the pigments in a polar organic solvent was diluted with a large amount of a nonpolar organic solvent or water. Here, bacteriochlorophyll-d analogs possessing branched alkyl chains of different lengths at the peripheral 17-propionate residue on the core chlorin π-system were prepared and their highly soluble chlorosomal supramolecules were produced in single 1-chlorooctane as a low-polar solvent. Temperature-dependent electronic absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopies were employed to analyze their self-aggregation and disaggregation mechanisms. The synthetic analogs were monomeric at high temperatures and self-aggregated during cooling of the hot solution through a non-sigmoidal pathway. The obtained chlorosomal self-aggregates were reversibly monomerized by heating the homogeneous solution. The disaggregation pathway was fitted to an isodesmic model whose melting points depended on the alkyl-chain lengths.

Utilization of composite particles with customizable cross-linked lignin patches for dental cleansing

Lignin, a natural polyphenol polymer, is a biocompatible, cost-effective and accessible material. To fully utilize the benefits of lignin, it is crucial to transform its complex macromolecules into nanoscale particles in a single solvent. In this research, an assembly-mediated internal cross-linking method in single solvent was proposed to manufacture cross-linked lignin colloidal particles with nanoscale particle size controlled to be around 50 nm. Then, cross-linked lignin composite particles with a unique “patchy” structure for dental cleansing were obtained by rapidly grafting the cross-linked lignin colloidal particles onto the surface of silica microspheres through the bridging effect of silane coupling agent. The resulting composite particles have rivets with adjustable hardness, significantly lower than traditional abrasives like silica in both hardness and modulus. Through the group cleansing behavior of soft interlocking, a breakthrough has been achieved in the high solid content agglomeration friction mode of traditional abrasives, which effectively reduces tooth wear and exhibits an excellent plaque removal effect.

Unlocking superior safety, rate capability, and low-temperature performances in LiFePO4 power batteries

The safety concerns associated with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have sparked renewed interest in lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries. It is noteworthy that commercially used ester-based electrolytes, although widely adopted, are flammable and fail to fully exploit the high safety potential of LiFePO4. Additionally, the slow Li+ ion diffusion and low electronic conductivity of LiFePO4 batteries limit their utility in high-power applications. Despite the crucial role played by liquid electrolytes in LIBs, achieving simultaneous improvements in safety, rate capability, and low-temperature performance remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we addressed these challenges by innovatively applying a single solvent ethyl vinyl sulfone (EVS) electrolyte to graphite/LiFePO4 batteries. While renowned for its broad electrochemical window, low freezing point and superior safety performance, the EVS electrolyte exhibited compatibility issues with the graphite anode. To overcome this hurdle effectively, we utilized vinylene carbonate as an additive with lower reductive reactivity than EVS to modify the interphase formed by EVS successfully. Simultaneously, the EVS-based electrolyte was found to create a sulfone-rich interphase on the LiFePO4 cathode surface, significantly enhancing Li+ ion diffusion both across the interphase and within the material. These modifications culminated in a conspicuous improvement in the performance of graphite/LiFePO4 batteries. Our study illuminates the potential of EVS-based electrolytes in boosting the rate capability, low-temperature performance, and safety of LiFePO4 power lithium-ion batteries. It yields valuable insights for the design of safer, high-output, and durable LiFePO4 power batteries, marking an important stride in battery technology research.

Effects of Assisting Solvents on Purification Efficiency in the Layer Melt Crystallization of Glycerol.

The efficiency of layer melt crystallization for the selective separation of glycerol from a glycerol-diethylene glycol mixture containing 4 wt % of diethylene glycol was evaluated using solvent-free and solvent-aided approaches. The effect of 1-butanol and the binary solvent of 1-butanol and acetone with a total molar composition of 25 mol % on the crystal growth kinetics and the purity of the final product was studied at different undercooling degrees and crystallization yields. The melting point temperature of the mixtures was predicted by using the modified UNIFAC Dortmund model. The addition of both a single and binary solvents significantly increased the crystal growth rate and purity of the final product compared to crystallization from the solvent-free mixture. Additionally, higher crystal growth rates and product purity were observed in the binary solvent system compared to those in the single solvent system at the same degree of undercooling. The second stage of solvent-aided crystallization resulted in glycerol with a purity above 99.5 wt %, depending on the type of solvent used and the rate of crystal growth.

Measurement and PC-SAFT Modeling of the Solubility of the BHET Monomer, the BHET Dimer, and PET in Single Solvents

Measurement and PC-SAFT Modeling of the Solubility of the BHET Monomer, the BHET Dimer, and PET in Single Solvents

The effect of lactic acid fermentation on the phytochemical content of fig leaf extracts compared to single solvent and sequential solvents extraction

The aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant, natural products, and polyphenolic profiles of Ficus carica L. leaf extracts obtained with a sequential solvent extraction (n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol), a single solvent extraction with one of three different solvents (methanol, ethanol and ethyl acetate), and a fermentation assisted extraction. Extracts were assessed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting pattern (before and after derivatization with DPPH free radical, anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid reagent and ferric chloride) and with ATR-FTIR phytochemical profiling. The results show that sequential solvents extraction may maximise the extraction of natural products, especially polyphenolics. However, the highest antioxidant activity was achieved with a single solvent extraction with ethyl acetate. Furthermore, fermentation assisted extraction further improves extraction of antioxidants when compared to single extraction from nonfermented material. In conclusion, brining and spontaneous lactic acid fermentation of plant material is a highly desirable method for improving the functional properties of extracts due to its low cost and low energy requirements.