Strategies for solvent selection - A literature review

Legislation restricting the use of certain chemicals will affect the choice of reagents available to analytical laboratories. Analysts may therefore be faced with the problem of finding alternative solvents for established methods, and when developing new methods will want to avoid certain types of compound (e.g., chlorinated solvents which deplete the ozone layer). A review is presented of the literature available which will help analysts to select alternative solvents, with particular emphasis on solvent extraction and liquid chromatography. Methods of classifying solvents are discussed and tables of solvent properties are given. Strategies for optimising mobile phases for high performance liquid chromatography are also described in detail.