GUMBOS are solid-phase organic salts with melting points ranging from 25°C to 250°C^{95, 96} that are particularly valuable in multiple aspects of the analytical workflow.^97-100 For example, the hydrophobicity of GUMBOS can be adjusted by modifying the counterion or by incorporating nanomaterials through a simple reprecipitation method in water (Figure 1).¹⁰¹ Participants involved in this project will develop GUMBOS with magnetic properties and apply them for the extraction and subsequent analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from environmental samples. The goal is to reduce the need for large volumes of solvents while effectively extracting these organic contaminants from water samples. By leveraging the unique properties of these materials, the project seeks to improve extraction efficiency, minimize environmental impact, and advance sensing technologies. GUMBOS will be synthetized (combining DES, Fe₂O₃, and natural polymers such as cellulose, chitosan, chitin or alginate¹³) and then characterized (FT-IR, NMR, Ko/w, etc) to link the structure of the components, with the properties of the resulting materials and the subsequent analytical performance. To further enrich their research experience, participants will also receive hands-on training on multiple instrumental techniques (cheromatography, MS, etc.), data collection and analysis.

Dr. Rocio Perez, Georgia Southern University