Kim’s project, titled “Liquid-phase microextraction with deep eutectic solvents”, investigated the potential of deep eutectic solvents as liquid membranes in liquid-phase microextraction for the extraction of basic pharmaceuticals (0 < log P < 5). Efforts were made to develop deeper insights on how the extraction efficiency was affected by the chemical interactions that can occur between the analytes and the liquid membranes. The present work identified π-π- and ionic interactions as important factors affecting the extraction. Part of her work will also be included in a future publication by the research group.
Shima’s project, titled “A study of liquid membranes for electromembrane extraction of polar basic substances” was an elaborate study on the extraction of 50 polar basic substances, ranging from herbicides, to drugs and endogenous metabolites, in 19 different liquid membranes (SLM) using electromembrane extraction (EME). Her work also included linking analyte descriptors, such as log D, to the extraction recoveries for a selection of the tested membranes. The best performing SLM, consisting of deep eutectic solvents with added ionic carrier obtained an average extraction recovery of 69 %. High analyte log D values and high analyte charge were identified as favorable descriptors for high extraction recoveries. Part of her work has been included in a publication by the research group.