Alternative green solvents in sample preparation

Abstract

Sample treatment is one of the most contaminant steps in the analytical process, mainly due to the high consumption of energy and petrol-based organic solvents, which involve a high environmental impact. One of the most promising strategies to reduce the side effects of the analytical methodology consists of the substitution of organic solvents by a greener alternative. Current green solvents such as subcritical water, supercritical fluids, bio-based solvents, such as methanol, ethanol, d-limonene, and cyrene, surfactant-based solutions including supramolecular solvents and hydrotopes, deep eutectic solvents with special emphasis in natural deep eutectic solvents, and ionic liquids have been evaluated as alternatives to conventional solvents and their advantages and drawbacks have been critically highlighted. Moreover, the different ways employed for evaluate their green character has been discussed including life cycle assessment, CO2 emission or CHEM21 selection guide.

Keywords

• Green analytical chemistry
• Sample preparation
• Subcritical water
• Bio-based solvents
• Ionic liquids
• Deep eutectic solvents