Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Sampling
Sample transport
Sample preservation
Sample preparation
Avoided or simplified through in-situ or on-line determinations
Avoided or simplified taking into account reagents toxicity
Avoided or simplified by incorporating in-field sampling strategies
From hard to soft
Green Analytical
Chemistry
Analytical
Chemistry
Analyte
preconcentration
From liquid-liquid to solid phase extraction
Analyte
separation
From complex clean up to simplified clean up
Determination
From multistep to non-invasive and remote sensing
Analysis
From single determination to total information
New
Wastes
From disposal to on-line detoxification
Figure 1.5
The evaluation of methodologies from classical Analytical Chemistry to Green Analytical Chemistry.
effort to avoid as many as possible steps, especially those concerning the movement of samples from their
original environment to the laboratory, together with an evolution of our mentality from the hard methods of
sample digestion or analyte extraction to the soft ones, involving a strong reduction of energy and reagents
consumed. In many cases the aforementioned changes offer a simplification of matrix problems and opens
exciting possibilities for the characterization of the specific chemical forms existing originally in the samples
thus, also improving the main analytical parameters. As Figure 1.5 shows, additional efforts in greening the
methods involve a transition from high reagent volume strategies like liquid-liquid extraction to microextraction
ones and to solid phase extraction; and a general evolution from complex and multistep strategies to simplified
alternatives and to non-invasive and remote sensing measurements. In short, the basic idea is to move from
single determinations to methodologies providing total information from a reduced number of analytical
measurements. Additionally, a new aspect to be included in our consideration of the analytical process is the
waste generation and its treatment and, in this aspect, the change in mentality must move from disposal to
on-line detoxification of residues generated though analytical measurements.
1.3
The ethical compromise of sustainability
Sustainability is a new concept emerged from the consideration of sustainable development [41] to describe an
economy in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems [42]. So, this idea to recover the equilibrium
between the man and the biosphere after many years of disordered technical development has not taken into
consideration the environmental impact of human activities or all the risks involved of such activities in the long
term, can explain new values established from the conscience about the limits of the development [43] and the
need of the restoration of environmental equilibrium in order to assure the continuity of our life for the future
