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Title Stimulus-responsive smart solvents and their application in analytical liquid-liquid (micro)extraction techniques
Type JournalPaper
Keywords Elemental analysis Liquid-liquid microextraction Organic compounds Switchable-hydrophilicity solvents Switchable-polarity solvents
Abstract Switchable-hydrophilicity solvents are a new type of solvents that could be very promising for liquid-liquid (micro)extraction. Nevertheless, they have been scarcely used in this critical step of chemical analysis. This article presents a comprehensive and critical review of fundamentals, chemical factors and stimulus, that reversibly modify the polarity of these solvents. This unique characteristic allows the reversible transition of the solvent from a hydrophobic to a hydrophilic state, favoring liquid-liquid (micro)extraction. Special attention is paid to new types of stimuli as light and voltage to extend the applicability of these exciting solvents in liquid-liquid (micro)extraction.
Researchers Antonio Canals (Fourth Researcher), Mazaher Ahmadi (Third Researcher), Lorena Vidal (Second Researcher), Miguel Ángel Aguirre (First Researcher)