A pathway to improve detoxification processes by selective extraction of phenols and sugars from aqueous media using sustainable solvents

•Carboxylic acid-based hydrophobic eutectic solvents were formed and characterized.•Extraction efficiency of hydrophobic eutectic solvents and bio-based solvents were obtained by HPLC-DAD/RI.•Selective extraction of phenols from sugar-rich aqueous streams could enhance fermentation processes.•Best selectivity and efficiency results were obtained with cyclopentyl methyl ether.•The experimental results were analyzed by means of COSMO-RS methodology.