Green Analytical Chemistry

Green analytical chemistry (GAC) has been described as 'the use of analytical chemistry techniques and methodologies that reduce or eliminate solvents, reagents, preservatives, and other chemicals that are hazardous to human health or the environment. This chapter provides the reader with an overview of current research which is active under the green analytical chemistry 'banner, but more importantly what techniques and approaches provide accessible routes to making their analytical chemistry more environmentally sustainable, safer and potentially cheaper. Many analytical processes require the manipulation of the raw sample into a form that is amenable to the desired analytical technique. Gas chromatography is generally considered a green analytical technique as it generates very little or no liquid waste compared to liquid chromatography. It is very important in biopharmaceutical analysis to determine the presence of biomolecule aggregates which can have very different in vivo toxicological effects compared to the desired molecule.