AGREEprep – Analytical greenness metric for sample preparation

This work proposes for the first time, a metric tool that gives prominence to sample preparation. The developed metric (termed AGREEprep) was based on 10 categories of impact that were recalculated to 0–1 scale sub-scores, and then used to calculate the final assessment score. The criteria of assessment evaluated, among others, the choice and use of solvents, materials and reagents, waste generation, energy consumption, sample size, and throughput. Assessment was also based on the possibility to differentiate between criteria importance by assigning them weights. The assessment procedure was performed using an open access, intuitive software that produced an easy-to-read pictogram with information on the total performance and structure of threats. A compiled version of the open access software can be obtained from mostwiedzy.pl/AGREEprep. The applicability of AGREEprep was successfully demonstrated using six different methods as case studies.