Impact of key new regulations on analytical chemistry

Environmental and health and safety legislation restricting the use of certain solvents will affect the way in which analytical laboratories work. The single piece of legislation which is likely to have the greatest impact on analytical chemistry in the coming years is that enforcing the Montreal Protocol on substances which deplete the ozone layer. This will restrict the supply of a number of chlorinated solvents commonly used in laboratories including 1,1,1-trichloroethane and carbon tetrachloride. There is an urgent need for chemists to seek alternatives to these solvents, either by identifying suitable less damaging solvents, or by developing alternative technologies which require smaller solvent volumes. Analytical chemists should also be aware when developing new procedures of the general pressure (although not regulated at present) to reduce the volumes of all organic solvents used.