Green sample preparation methods in the environmental monitoring of aquatic organic pollutants

Abstract

Sample preparation in analytical chemistry can have considerable environmental impacts. This article highlights sampling and sample preparation methods relating to organic pollutants in water, which have been published over the last 2 years (2019 to present) and aim to address green chemistry concerns, such as solvent and reagent use and energy consumption. Samplers that combine analyte preconcentration with sampling are advantageous, whilst microextraction techniques continue to receive extensive research interest. These include solid-phase microextraction, microsolid-phase extraction, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, single-drop extraction, stir bar sorptive extraction, and QuEChERS. Developments have focused on the synthesis of novel sorptive materials for extraction applications and on alternative extraction setups. The provision of analytical methods, which are facile, effective, and green, continues to pose challenges and will require future innovations to be fully realized.