Evaluation of Methylmercury Speciation by UPLC-ICPMS based on Green Analytical Chemistry Principles

Abstract This study comprehensively evaluated the environmental sustainability of a UPLC-ICPMS method for methylmercury (MeHg) speciation using four distinct green analytical chemistry assessment tools: GAPI, ComplexGAPI, the AGREE calculator, and AGREEprep. The visual semi-quantitative evaluations from GAPI and ComplexGAPI underscored domains of environmental impact pertinent to their respective green chemistry principles. The AGREE calculator offered a quantitative score, providing a more detailed insight into the method’s overall greenness profile based on twelve criteria. Furthermore, AGREEprep specifically addressed the sustainability of the sample preparation steps involved in the MeHg analysis. The comparative analysis of the results from these four tools showed that the UPLC-ICPMS method is greener in some ways, such as being more sensitive and using less solvent than traditional methods. There are, however, some areas where it could be better, especially when it comes to picking reagents and making waste. This thorough review shows how useful it is to use a mix of green assessment tools to get a full picture of the environmental effects of analytical methods. It offers significant insights for future enhancements aimed at achieving more sustainable MeHg speciation analysis.