Application of Hansen solubility parameters in the eutectic mixtures: difference between empirical and semi-empirical models

Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSPs) are widely used as a tool in solubility studies. Given the variety of existent approaches to predict these parameters, this investigation focused on estimating the HSPs of a set of Natural Deep Eutectic Systems (NADES), using empirical (EM) and semi-empirical models (SEM), and then understanding their differences/similarities. Although these theoretical models are designed and recommended mostly for simple molecules or simple solutions, they are still being used in eutectic systems studies, mainly empirical ones. Thus, a preliminary test was conducted with a set of conventional solvents, in which their experimental values of HSPs are known. Besides the confirmation of the EM as the most suitable for these kinds of regular solvents, the results found also showed a very similar behaviour to what was observed in NADES, i.e., in terms of suggesting the EM and SEM with the highest/lowest similarity. Furthermore, it was concluded that although there is a large discrepancy between the estimated values of the hydrogen bond parameter, especially for systems with a higher polar character, there is still a good similarity for the other parameters. In fact, it was observed that, when combining the semi-empirical models, it was possible to obtain a value of the hydrogen bond parameter more similar to the empirical ones.