Homogeneous Liquid-Liquid Microextraction as an Efficient Sample Preparation Procedure: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Detecting trace analytes in complex matrices is crucial for environmental monitoring, food safety, and diagnostics.
• Traditional sample preparation methods often use excessive solvents and complex procedures, conflicting with green chemistry principles.
• Miniaturized techniques reduce solvent use and simplify workflows, enhancing sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction (HLLME) techniques.
• To discuss HLLME principles, optimization strategies, and diverse applications.
• To explore future prospects of HLLME in analytical chemistry.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction.
• Categorization of HLLME methods: salt-induced, sugaring-out, deep eutectic solvent-based, and switchable hydrophilicity solvent-based.
• Analysis of factors triggering phase separation in HLLME.

Main Results:

• HLLME enables efficient extraction of analytes from complex samples.
• Various HLLME methods offer reduced solvent consumption and simplified procedures.
• HLLME demonstrates versatility across different analytical applications.

Conclusions:

• Homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction is a promising green analytical technique.
• Further research can optimize HLLME for broader applications and improved efficiency.
• HLLME aligns with the growing demand for sustainable analytical methodologies.