Real-time electrochemical monitoring: toward green analytical chemistry

This Account presents a survey of recent advances in electrochemical sensing technology relevant to green analytical chemistry and examines the potential advantages, limitations, and applications of these monitoring devices. Stricter environmental control and effective process monitoring have created considerable demands for innovative analytical methodologies. New devices and protocols, with negligible waste generation or no hazardous substances, and in situ real-time monitoring capability are particularly needed for addressing the challenges of green analytical chemistry. The coupling of modern electrochemical detection principles with recent advances in molecular recognition, microelectronics, and microfabrication has led to powerful, compact, and "user-friendly" analytical devices. The unique features of such electrochemical monitoring systems make them particularly attractive for addressing environmental and industrial problems and the challenges of green chemistry. These developments allow the instrument to be taken to the sample (rather than the traditional way of bringing the sample to the laboratory) and hence to ensure effective process or pollution control.