Near-infrared light radiation-enhanced green extraction of cepharanthine through photothermal conversion using nanofluid system combined with zirconium carbide and deep eutectic solvent (ZrC@DES)

A ZrC@DES nanofluid system based on different deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and Zirconium carbide (ZrC) nanoparticles was synthesized for green extraction of cepharanthine (CEP) for the first time. The basic properties of DESs were explored and the prepared nanofluid system was characterized with a series of ways. As the key performance, the photothermal conversion performance of the latter was investigated in details as well as its stability. On the basis of above results, a novel extraction method for CEP under near-infrared light radiation was established, and the effects of various factors on its extraction yield were systematically studied under optimized conditions. The final yield of CEP reached 7.2978 mg/g, which was approximately four times higher than that of traditional heating method with ethanol. The Fick’s model could be well applied to fit the kinetic data; CEP was recovered and the components of nanofluid system were reused through the developed post-treatment procedures. Finally, the friendliness and low risk were proved by Zebrafish experiment. The whole study aimed to provide new reference for the extraction of natural bioactive products through energy conversion.