CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Sample preparation is a crucial step for trace elements determination due to their very low concentration and the potential of being seriously affected by concomitants occurring in the samples under analysis. Therefore, for accurate and sensitive determination of trace elements, a preconcentration step is normally required before their detection by different instrumental techniques. However, the toxicity and high volatility of organic solvents must be considered when they are used in classical liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) or solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques for the preconcentration of trace elements prior to total or speciation analysis. On the other hand, modern analytical methods are focused on the development of simple, sensitive and environmentally friendly practices that follow the principles of Green Chemistry (e.g. substitution of toxic reagents, miniaturization and automation). Alternative solvents have gained increasing attention in the last years for sample preparation, since they can be used instead of classical organic solvents that are considered highly toxic, volatile and flammable. The use of alternative solvents has contributed to develop simpler, miniaturized, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly methodologies for the determination of trace elements. Among them, ionic liquids, surfactants and deep eutectic solvents have been increasingly applied for sample preparation in trace elements determination. In this lecture, relevant and useful physicochemical properties of these solvents along with the hybrid materials resulting from their combination with different nanomaterials will be described. Different examples of their analytical application to develop advanced liquid-liquid and solid-phase microextraction techniques will be discussed.

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