Tunable solvents: Shades of green

Research into the synthesis and application of green solvents is a developing field of interest relevant to a variety of chemical manufacturers. Tunable solvents utilising carbon dioxide lend themselves to a reduction in work-up solvent and can help avoid the need for energy intensive solvent recovery options such as distillation. This perspective examines the potential benefits of tunable solvents to the chemical manufacturing industry and the environment. Freed from the usual reliance on distillation, high boiling solvents with an inherently lessened potential to cause air emissions can be used as part of a tunable solvent system. The application of bio-based solvents as tunable reaction media is highlighted as an area for further development.